Digitized  by  the  Internet  Arcinive 

in  2008  witin  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


littp://www.archive.org/details/empirestatecompeOOIossricli 


THE 


EMPIRE  STATE: 


%  Comp rubious  pistorw 


COMMONWEALTH    OF    NEW    YORK. 


By   BENSON   J.   LOSSING,  LL.D., 

\^ 

AUTHOR  OP 

Pictorial  -Field  Book  of  the  Jievolution,^^  "  T7te  War  of  1812  "  a)id  "  The  Civil  War  in  America; 

"  Mount  Vernon  ;  or,  the  Home  of  Wasfiiiigton  ;  "  ^^Illustrated  IIistoi-y  of  the  United  States  : " 

"  Cyclopedia  of  United  States  History;"  "  Our  Country;"  ^^  History  of  the  City 

of  New  York;"   ^^ Sto)-y  of  the  United  States  Navy,  for  Boys ;" 

"Mary  and  Martha   Washington,"  etc.,  etc. 


ILLUSTRATED 

By  Fao-similea  of  335  Pen-anl-Ink  Drawings 
By   H.    ROSA. 


Nkw  York: 

FUNK  &   WAGNALLS,    Publishers, 

i8  and   20  Astor   Place. 

1887. 


Lfc. 


Entered,  accordins;  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1887, 

By  FUNK  &  WAGNALLS, 

In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Comiress  at  Washington,  I).  C. 


PRKnn  or 
FUNK  &  WAGNALLS, 

18  mid  20  Astor  I'laoe, 

NEW  YORK 


PREFACE. 


Several  years  ago  the  autlior  of  this  work  received  a  letter  from  the 
late  Hon.  Horatio  Seymour,  urging  him  to  supply  a  conspicuous  literary 
want  by  writing  a  compendious  history  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and 
illustrating  it  after  the  manner  of  his  Pictorial  Field-Booh  of  the  Revo- 
lution. No  work  of  the  kind  was  then  in  existence,  nor  has  there  been 
since. 

It  has  been  the  chief  aim  of  the  author,  in  the  jireparation  of  this 
work,  to  embody  in  one  volume,  of  moderate  size  and  price,  a  complete 
outline  narrative  of  the  principal  events  in  the  career  of  the  Conmion- 
wealth  of  New  York  from  its  inception  to  the  close  of  the  first  century 
of  our  Republic  (1875),  so  compact,  as  a  whole,  that  its  purchase  and 
perusal  will  not  burden  the  purses  or  the  leisure  of  a  vast  proportion  of 
our  people. 

As  much  space  has  been  given  to  notices  of  historic  events  outside  of 
the  State  of  New  York  as  seemed  necessary  to  continually  present  the 
Commonwealth  to  the  mind  of  the  reader  as  a  most  important  part  of 
the  great  Republic  of  the  West. 

The  volume  contains  a  brief  history  of  the  powerful  barbarian  republic 
found  by  Europeans  within  the  boundaries  of  the  (present)  State  of 
New  York  ;  a  narrative  of  the  explorations,  emigrations,  and  settle- 
ments of  the  Dutch,  Swedes,  and  English  in  New  Netherland  ;  of  the 
Indian  wars  and  desolations  ;  an  account  of  the  religious,  social,  and 
political  organizations  under  Dutch  rule  ;  of  the  patroon  and  manorial 
estates  planted  along  the  tide-water  region  of  the  Hudson  River  ;  of 
the  seizure  and  occupation  of  the  domain  by  the  English  ;  of  the  devel- 
opment of  democracy  at  every  period  of  the  English  rule,  with  notices 
of  the  most  interesting  events  in  the  political,  social,  and  military  history 
of  the  Province  and  State  down  to  the  kindling  of  the  old  war  for 
independence  and  to  its  close  ;  the  organization  of  the  State  government 
in  1777  ;  the  ever-dominating  influence  of  the  State  in  the  national 
councils  ;  its  political,  social,  and  military  history  as  an  independent 
State  ;  its  part  in  the  drama  of  the  War    of    1812-15  ;   its    munificent 

1746964 


IV  PREFACE. 

contributions  of  men  and  money  during  the  great  struggle  for  the  salva- 
tion of  the  life  of  the  Republic  ;  the  various  changes  in  its  constitution  ; 
notices  of  the  vast  industrial  operations  in  the  State  ;  its  canals  and  rail- 
ways ;  its  agriculture,  manufactures,  and  commerce  ;  its  admirable  popu- 
lar educational  system  ;  its  literature,  and  its  marvellous  growth  in. 
population,  wealth,  and  reiineTnent,  with  biographical  sketches  of  some 
of  the  most  prominent  actors  in  public  life,  from  Stuyvesant  to  Tilden. 

Portraiture  is  made  a  jjrominent  feature  in  the  graphic  illustrations 
of  the  work,  for  we  all  desire  to  see  the  lineaments  of  the  faces  of  those 
whose  careers  interest  us.  The  book  contains  the  portraits  of  many  of 
the  most  conspicuous  men  of  New  York  mentioned  in  its  colonial  and 
State  annals,  with  a  brief  biography  of  each.  Among  them  may  be 
found  tlie  portraits  and  biograpiiical  sketches  of  all  the  governors  of  the 
State,  from  George  Clinton,  its  first  chief  magistrate  in  1777,  until  1876. 
Also  pictures  of  numerous  buildings  in  the  State  which  have  been  made 
famous  by  some  historical  association.  A  greater  portion  of  these  build- 
ings have  been  made  from  drawings  by  the  author  from  the  objects 
themselves.  It  also  contains  a  delineation  of  the  seal  of  every  county 
in  the  State.  The  illustrations  have  been  made  under  the  j^ersonal 
guidance  of  the  author,  whose  special  care  was  to  insure  accuracy  in 
form,  feature,  and  costume. 

Benson  J.   Lossing, 

TuE  Ridge,  Dovek  Plains,  N.  Y.,  October,  1887. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 


What  constitutes  New  York  "The  Empire  State,"  1,  3;  Niagara  Falls,  2;  The 
Iroquois  Confederacy  or  League,  3-10  ;  Henry  Hudson  and  his  exploration  and  dis- 
coveries, 10-13  ;  Claims  for  Verazzaao,  11  ;  Names  of  the  Hudson  River,  13. 


CHAPTER   n. 

Fate  of  Henry  Hudson  ;  Fruits  of  his  discoveries  ;  Traffic  with  the  Indians  opened, 
14  ;  Planting  the  seed  of  empire  ;  First  vessel  built  on  Manhattan  Island  ;  Fort  Nassau, 
on  the  Upix;r  Hudson  ;  Adriaen  Block,  a  Dutch  navigator,  15  ;  A  trading  company 
formed,  16,  17  ;  Champlain  and  the  Iroquois,  18 ;  The  Dutch  make  a  treaty  with  the 
Indians  at  Tawasentha,  19  ;  Social  condition  of  Holland,  20,  21  ;  English  Puritans  pro- 
pose to  go  to  New  Netherland,  21,  22  ;  Dutch  West  India  Company  formed,  22,  23  ; 
An  English  mariner  at  Manhattan,  23  ;  The  Pilgrims  at  Cape  Cod  ;  The  Dutch  prepare 
to  plant  a  colony,  24  ;  Walloons  emigrate  to  New  Netherland,  25 ;  A  French  vessel  at 
Manhattan,  26  ;  Dutch  settlements  in  New  Netherland,  26,  27  ;  Peter  Minuit  director- 
general  ;  Purchase  of  Manhattan  Island,  27  ;  New  Netherland  created  a  province,  28. 

CHAPTER  III. 

Fort  Amsterdam  and  a  trading-house  built  ;  The  beginning  of  the  city  of  New  York  ; 
Robbery  and  murder  of  an  Indian,  29  ;  Trouble  with  the  Mohawks  and  its  effects  ; 
Capture  of  the  Spanish  "silver  fleet"  by  the  Dutch,  30;  Charter  of  Privileges  and 
Exemption,  the  patroon  system,  31  ;  Early  patroons  ;  The  Van  Rensselaer  Manor,  32 ; 
David  Pietersen  de  Vries  founds  a  colony  on  Delaware  Bay,  33 ;  Governor  Walter 
van  Twiller  and  his  administration,  33,  34  ;  First  clergyman  and  schoolmaster  in  New 
Netherland  ;  The  first  English  ship  in  the  Hudson  River,  34  ;  Van  Twiller's  absurd 
conduct,  35,  36  ;  The  Dutch  and  English  in  the  valley  of  the  Connecticut,  35,  38 ;  Van 
Twiller  recalled,  38 ;  William  Kieft  Governor  of  New  Netherland,  39  ;  Condition  of 
public  affairs,  40 ;  Swedes  on  the  Delaware,  41  ;  Trouble  with  Eastern  neighbors  and 
the  Indians,  42  ;  Impending  war  with  the  Indians,  43. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

A  new  charter  for  patroons  and  other  landed  proprietors  ;  Colonic  of  Rensselaer- 
wyck  ;  Arendt  van  Curler,  commissary,  44  ;  Power  exercised  by  Patroon  van  Rensselaer, 
45  ;  First  clergyman  and  church  at  Albany  ;  A  Jesuit  missionary  and  his  career  among 
the  Mohawks ;  First  germ  of  representative  government  in  New  Netherland,  46,  47  ; 
Committee  of  Twelve,  47  ;  Destruction  of  Indians  who  sought  the  hospitality  of  the 
Dutch,  48  ;  A  fierce  war  kindled,  and  its  consequences,  49,  50  ;  The  Council  of  Eight 
Men,  49,  and  their  memorial  to  the  States-General,  50,  51 ;  Condition  of  the  Dutch  West 


VI  CONTENTS. 

India  Company,  51 ;  Now  Sweden,  52  ;  Treaty  of  peace  with  the  Indians  ;  Dominie  Bo- 
gardus's  boldness,  52  ;  Departure  of  Kieft ;  Change  in  the  mode  of  government  ;  Peter 
Stuyvesant  appointed  governor,  53  ;  Arrival  of  Stuyvesant  and  Iiis  reception,  54  ;  Stuy- 
vesant's  administration,  55,  56  ;  The  Committee  of  Nine.  56  ;  Overtures  of  friendship 
with  the  "Pilgrims"  in  the  East,  56,  57  ;  Dutch  embassy  to  New  Plymouth,  57. 

CHAPTER  V. 

CoHferene(i  of  Dutch  and  English  at  Hartford  and  its  results,  58 ;  Affairs  Ijetween  the 
Dutch  and  the  Swedes  on  the  Delaware ;  Improvements  at  the  Dutch  capital,  59  ; 
Brandt  van  Slechtenhorst,  commissary  of  Rensselaerwyck,  defies  Stuyvesant,  60 ; 
Stuyvesant  and  the  Council  of  Nine,  61  ;  Statement  of  the  Nine  to  the  SUites-General ; 
New  Amsterdam  organized  as  a  city,  62  ;  Stuyvesjint  summoned  to  Amsterdam,  63  ; 
The  Dutch  and  New  Englanders  fraternize  ;  Keiiublicanism  nourished  ;  A  represent- 
ative assembly  and  the  governor,  64  ;  A  convention  remonstrates  against  his  rule. 
65  ;  Interview  between  Stuyvesant  and  Beeckmau  and  the  convention  ;  Doings  of  the 
Swedes  on  the  Delaware,  66;  Conquest  of  New  Sweden,  67;  New^  Amsterdam  invaded 
by  Indians,  67,  68 ;  Estates  ravaged  ;  Trouble  with  Indians  at  Esopus  ;  Dutch  mission 
to  Maryland,  68  ;  New  Amsterdam  and  Harlem,  69  ;  Social  life  on  Manhattan,  70. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

State  tricks  ;  Stuyvesant  and  the  Quakers,  71  ;  Colony  of  Mennonites,  71,  72  ;  New 
Amstel  founded,  72  ;  Trouble  with  Indians  at  Esopus,  72,  73  ;  Secession  and  revolution 
on  Long  Island,  73 ;  A  General  Provincial  Assembly  ;  Seizure  of  New  Netherland  by 
the  English  contemplated,  74  ;  A  British  force  before  New  Amsterdam,  75  ;  Rebellion 
in  the  city  threatened,  76,  77 ;  Surrender  of  New  Amsterdam  to  the  English  ;  The 
province  and  city  named  New  York,  78  ;  The  Dutch  rule  in  New  Netherland,  79  ; 
Social  life  at  New  Amsterdam,  80,  81 ;  Character  of  the  Dutch,  81,  82  ;  Stuyvesant  and 
the  Dutch  West  India  Company,  82. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Provincial  goveriunent  for  New  York  organized  ;  Public  woi'ship  at  New  York,  84  ; 
English  rule  at  New  York,  85-87  ;  Duke's  laws,  85  ;  Municipal  government  for  the 
city,  85,  86  ;  New  Jersey  granted  to  royal  favorites,  86  ^  The  Dutch  retake  New  York, 
88,  89  ;  Restored  to  the  British  crown  by  treaty,  90  ;  The  Jesuits  among  the  Iroquois, 
90 ;  French  ijitrigues  with  tlu;  Iroquois  unsuccessful,  91  ;  Characters  of  Governor 
Andros  and  the  Duke  of  York,  92  ;  Administration  of  Andros  ;  King  Philip's  War,  93  ; 
An  important  royal  marriage  ;  Affairs  in  New  Jersey,  94  ;  A  claim  to  Staten  Island,  95. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

First  popular  government  for  New  York,  96,  97  ;  (^barter  of  Liberties  and  Privileges, 
97  ;  Political  divisions  of  New  York,  97,  98  ;  Dongan's  administration,  99, 100  ;  Designs 
of  the  French  against  the  Five  Nations  of  the  Iroquois,  100;  Pertidy  of  King  James; 
Dongan's  i)atriolism,  101,  102  ;  De  Nonville's  expedition,  102,  103  ;  "  Dominion  of  New 
England  ;"  Birth  of  an  heir  to  the  British  throne,  103  ;  Revolution  in  England,  104  ; 
Effect  of  the  revolution  in  New  York,  105  ;  Leisler's  administration  of  affairs,  106-112  ; 
Affairs  at  Albany,  108  ;  Conspiracy  against  the  lifi'  of  Leisler  successful,  112  :  Remorse 
and  death  of  Governor  Sloiighter,  118. 


CONTENTS.  vii 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Invasion  of  New  York  by  French  and  Indians  ;  Destruction  of  Schenectady,  114  ; 
Provincial  expeditions  against  the  French  in  Canada,  115  ;  Failure  of  these  expeditions, 
116  ;  Arrival  and  character  of  Governor  Fletcher  ;  Popular  opposition  to  Fletcher,  117  ; 
Invasion  by  the  French  led  by  Frontenac,  118,  119  ;  Fletcher's  administration,  119,  120  ; 
Appointment  :ind  character  of  Governor  Bellomont ;  Privateering,  121  ;  Captain  Kidd 
and  piracy,  122  ;  Bellomont's  administration,  122-26 ;  Leislerians  and  Anti-Leisle- 
rians,  123,  124  ;  The  French  in  Canada  hostile  to  the  Iroquois  ;  Bellomont  defends  the 
latter,  123,  124  ;  Reinterment  of  Leisler's  remains,  124  ;  The  Assembly  change  politi- 
cally ;  Fletcher's  fraudulent  land  grants,  125,  126  ;  Death  of  Bellomont,  126. 

CHAPTER  X. 

Defences  against  the  French  strengthened,  128  ;  Leislerians  control  the  government, 
128,  129  ;  Contests  with  Assembly ;  Lord  Cornbury  governor,  129 ;  Nicholas 
Bayard  and  his  fate,  130  ;  Cornbury's  character  and  conduct,  131,  132  ;  Queen  Anne's 
War,  132  ;  Governor  Lovelace,  133  ;  Attempt  to  conquer  Canada,  134  ;  Peter  Schuyler 
takes  Indians  to  England,  135  ;  Naval  expedition  against  Quebec,  136  ;  Governor  Hunter 
and  his  administration,  137,  138  ;  Emigration  of  Germans  to  New  York  ;  The  United 
Six  Nations,  137  ;  First  Negro  Plot,  138  ;  Governor  Burnet  and  his  administration,  139, 
140  ;  Inter-colonial  traflic  prohibited,  140  ;  Governor  Montgomery's  short  administra- 
tion, 141,  142  ;  Boundary  line  between  New  York  and  Connecticut  settled  ;  Governor 
Cosby  and  his  character,  142  ;  Cosby 's  contest  with  Rip  Van  Dam,  143  ;  Liberty  of  the 
press  struggled  for  and  vindicated,  143-147 ;  Zenger's  trial,  145-147  ;  A  popular 
triumph,  147. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Social  condition  of  the  province  of  New  York,  148,  and  the  city  of  New  York,  149, 
150 ;  Aspects  of  social  life  at  Albany,  151  ;  Lieutenant-Governor  Clark,  152  ;  The  sec- 
ond Negro  Plot,  152,  153  ;  A  victim  of  perjury,  154  ;  Governor  Sir  George  Clinton  and 
bis  administration,  154-59 ;  King  George's  War,  155  ;  Surrender  of  Louisburg  and 
Cape  Breton  to  the  English  ;  Saratoga  desolated  by  French  and  Indians,  156 ;  Prepa- 
rations to  conquer  the  French  dominions  in  America  ;  William  Johnson  and  the 
Mohawks,  157  ;  Rancorous  party  strife  prevalent  ;  Political  influence  of  James  de 
Lancey,  158  ;  Governor  Sir  Danvers  Osborne,  suicide  of,  159  ;  De  Lancey  acting  gov- 
ernor of  New  York  ;  Governor  Sir  Charles  Hardy  ;  French  Jesuits  and  their  influence, 

160  ;  Aggressive  movements  of  the  French  in  the  West ;  ColoniaJ  convention  at  Albany. 

161  ;  Hostilities  between  the  French  and  English  begun,  162  ;  Conference  of  governors 
with  General  Braddock,  163. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Expeditions  against  the  Fi-ench  begun,  164  ;  General  Lyman  and  General  Johnson, 
165-167 ;  King  Hendrick,  165,  166  ;  A  battle  near  Lake  George  ;  The  French  defeated 
at  Lake  George,  166  ;  Expedition  against  Forts  Niagara  and  Frontenac  unsuccessful ; 
Great  Britain  declares  war  against  France,  and  prepares  for  the  conflict,  167 ;  The 
Seven  Years'  or  French  and  Indian  War,  167-184  ;  Abercrombie's  tardy  movements ; 
Bradstreet's  efficiency  ;  Montcalm's  operations,  168  ;  Lord  Loudon's  inefficiency  illus- 
trated, 169,  170  ;  Invasion  of  New  York  by  French  and  Indians,  170  ;  Capture  of  Fort 
William  Henry,  171  ;  A  massacre  of  English  troops  ;  Pitt  prime-minister,  172 ;  His 
policy  in  American  affairs  ;  British  conquests,  173 ;   Expedition  against  Ticonderoga, 


vin  CONTENTS. 

174 ;  English  repulsed.  175 ;  Fort  Frontenac  taken  ;  Expedition  against  Fort  Duqucsne 
successful,  176,  177. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

A  final  struggle  for  the  mastery  ;  Pitt's  work,  178  ;  Expeditions  against  Quebec,  Fort 
Niagara,  and  Montreal,  179  ;  Capture  of  Fort  Niagara,  179,  180 ;  The  French  driven 
from  Lake  Champlain,  180  ;  Capture  of  Quebec,  181,  183  ;  Conquest  of  Canada,  184; 
France  stripped  of  her  possessions  in  America  by  treaty  at  Paris,  185  ;  Pontiac's 
conspiracy ;  Civil  affairs  in  New  York,  186 ;  Important  social  movements  in  New 
York,  187  ;  Institutions  for  intellectual  cultivation  founded  ;  A  sectarian  controversy, 
188  ;  Dr.  Colden  acting  governor  ;  An  arbitrary  royal  act,  189  ;  Disputes  about  the 
New  Hampshire  Grants,  189-191. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Accession  of  George  III.,  192  ;  His  great  mistake,  193 ;  Governor  Monckton,  192, 193  ; 
Governor  Moore  and  the  king's  prerogative,  193  ;  Writs  of  Assistance  and  the  Stamp 
Act,  194  ;  Opposition  to  the  Stamp  Act,  194-197  ;  "  Sons  of  Liberty,"  195  ;  Stamp  Act 
Congress  at  New  York  ;  A  riot,  196  ;  Non-importation  league,  197,  198  ;  Repeal  of  the 
Stamp  Act  and  its  effects,  199  ;  Troops  sent  to  enslave  the  New  Yorkers,  200 ;  Oppres- 
sive acts  of  Parliament,  201  ;  Open  rebellion  imminent ;  The  Boston  massacre,  203 ; 
Popular  committees  and  patriotic  movements,  203  ;  Excitement  about  tea,  204,  205 ; 
Boston  Tea  Party,  205,  207  ;  A  general  Congress  recommended,  207  ;  Great  meeting  in 
"  The  Fields,"  208  ;  Delegates  to  a  General  Congress  appointed,  209. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Committees  of  Correspondence  ;  First  Continental  Congress,  210 ;  Its  proceedings 
and  effects,  211,  212  ;  The  American  Association,  211  ;  Committee  to  carry  it  into 
execution,  212  ;  An  American  episcopate  proposed  ;  The  New  York  Assembly,  213  ; 
Doings  of  the  Assembly,  214  ;  The  people  aroused,  215  ;  New  York  Provincial  Con- 
gress, 216,  217  ;  Committee  of  One  Hundred,  217  ;  Capture  of  Fort  Ticonderoga  by  the 
Americans,  218  ;  The  functions  of  Congress  considered,  219  ;  General  Wooster  with 
troops  near  New  York  ;  Reception  of  Washington  and  Governor  Tryon,  220  ;  Political 
complexion  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  221  ;  Northern  MiliUiry  Department ;  Affairs 
on  Lake  Champlain,  and  the  Canadians  ;  The  first  Continental  Navy  created,  222  ; 
Ethan  Allen  and  his  "  Green  Mountain  Boys  ;"  General  Schuyler  authorized  to  invade 
Canada,  223. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  Johnson  Family,  224  ;  Guy  Johnson  and  Indian  councils,  225,  226  ;  British 
coalition  with  Indians  and  Tories  ;  Invasion  of  Canada  begun,  227-229  ;  New  Yorkers 
complained  of  ;  A  mission  to  the  Canadians,  228  ;  St.  Johns  and  Montreal  taken,  229  ; 
Siege  of  Quebec,  230,  231  ;  Schuyler  and  Sir  John  Johnson,  231  ;  Cannons  removed 
from  the  Battery  at  New  York,  232  ;  Sears's  raid  on  Rivington's  printing-house,  233 ; 
General  Lee  with  troops  in  New  York  City  ;  Siege  of  Boston.  234  ;  Plot  to  murder 
Washington,  235,  236  ;  Washington's  Life  Guard,  235  ;  Thomas  Paine,  in  Common 
Sense,  advocates  political  independence.  236  ;  Congress  and  colonial  legislators  advo- 
cate independence,  237  ;  Change  in  the  New  York  Provincial  Congress  ;  A  capital  plan 
of  the  British  Ministry.  238  ;  Commissioners  sent  to  Canada,  239  ;  End  of  the  invasion 
of  Canada  ;  Sir  John  Johnson  and  his  parole  of  honor,  240 ;  Flees  to  Canada  ;  Lady 
Johnson  taken  to  Albany,  241. 


CONTENTS.  ix 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

A  strong  British  armament  appears  before  New  York  ;  Mission  of  General  and  Ad- 
miral Howe,  243 ;  Washington's  successful  appeal  to  the  people  ;  Preparations  for 
battle,  243  ;  Battle  of  Long  Island,  244,  245  ;  The  famous  retreat  of  the  Americans 
from  Brooklyn,  245  ;  A  peace  conference  ;  Condition  of  the  American  Army,  246  ;  The 
Americans  on  Harlem  Heights  ;  Battle  on  Harlem  Plains  ;  Conflagration  in  New  York 
City,  247  ;  Battle  at  White  Plains,  248  ;  The  British  capture  Fort  Washington,  248,  249  ; 
Prisons  and  prison-ships,  249  ;  The  British  occupy  New  York  City  ;  Preparations  to 
invade  Nortliern  New  York,  250  ;  Naval  operations  on  Lake  Champlain,  251,  252  ; 
Creation  of  a  navy,  252  ;  Flight  of  the  American  Army  across  New  Jersey  ;  Americans 
victorious  at  Trenton,  254  ;   Battle  at  Princeton,  255. 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Migration  of  the  Provincial  Congress  ;  Convention  of  representatives  of  the  State 
of  New  York,  256,  257  ;  Framing  a  State  Constitution  and  its  adoption,  257,  258  ;  Jay's 
desires  concerning  the  Constitution,  258,  259  ;  Character  of  the  Constitution,  259,  260  ; 
A  Council  of  Safety  appointed,  260  ;  A  Vigilance  Committee  appointed ;  An  Act  of 
Attainder,  and  the  victim  of  it,  262  ;  State  officers  chosen,  260-262  ;  First  meeting  of  the 
State  Legislature,  262  ;  Preparation  to  invade  New  York,  263  ;  Burgoyne's  campaign, 
264-282  ;  Marauding  expeditions  ;  Baron  de  Riedesel,  264  ;  In'dians  feasted  ;  Ticonde- 
roga  ;  Burgoyne's  proclamation,  265  ;  Fort  Ticonderoga  captured,  266 ;  Battle  of 
Hubbardton  ;  The  British  forces  push  toward  the  Hudson  River,  267  ;  Schuyler's  proc- 
lamation ;  The  Jane  McCrea  tragedy,  268  ;  British  expedition  to  Bennington  ;  Burgoyne's 
perilous  position. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

St.  Leger's  invasion  ;  Fort  Schuyler,  270  ;  Battle  at  Oriskany,  271  ;  Siege  of  Fort 
Schuyler,  272  ;  Fort  Schuyler  relieved,  273  ;  Burgoyne  perplexed  ;  Gates  supersedes 
Schuyler  in  command,  274 ;  Burgoyne's  army  moves  forward  ;  Battle  on  Bemis's 
Heights,  275  ;  General  Arnold  in  the  battle  ;  Petty  jealousy  of  the  opposing  command- 
ers, 276  :  Wretched  condition  of  Burgoyne's  army  ;  A  council  of  war,  277  ;  Second 
battle  on  Bemis's  Heights,  278-280  ;  Bravery  of  Arnold,  who  really  won  the  victory, 
279,  280  ;  Burgoyne  retreats  to  the  Heights  of  Saratoga,  and  surrenders,  281  ;  The  sur- 
rendered troops  paroled,  but  detained  in  America  ;  Effects  of  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne, 
282. 

CHAPTER  XX. 

The  British  under  Sir  Henry  Clinton  capture  Stony  Point,  283  ;  They  capture  Forts 
Montgomery  and  Clinton,  in  the  Hudson  Highlands,  284  ;  The  boom  across  the  Pludson 
broken  ;  Clinton's  despatch  to  Burgoyne  and  fate  of  the  bearer,  285  ;  Marauding  British 
troops  burn  Kingston  ;  Battle  on  the  Brandywine  Creek  ;  Americans  defeated  ;  Massacre 
near  the  Paoli  Tavern,  286  ;  Flight  of  Congress  from  Phiiadciphia  ;  Americans  defeated 
at  Germantown,  and  retire  to  Whitemarsii,  287  ;  Conspiracy  against  Washington— 
"  Conway's  Cabal  ;"  Loyalty  of  Lafayette,  288  ;  A  council  with  Indians  at  Johnstown. 
289  ;  Desolations  by  Indians  and  Tories  in  the  interior  of  New  York,  290  ;  Massacre  at 
Cherry  Valley,  291  ;  Invasion  of  the  Wyoming  Valley,  292  ;  Resistance  to  the  invasion, 
293  ;  Desolation  of  Wyoming,  294  ;  Alliance  with  France  ;  An  English  peace-commis- 
.sioner  ;  The  British  flee  from  Philadelphia  ;  Battle  at  Monmouth  Court-House,  295  ; 
Hostilities  in  Rhode  Island  and  off  the  coast,  297. 


X  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

British  expedition  up  the  Hudson,  297  ;  Capture  of  Stony  Point  and  Verplanck's 
Point ;  British  marauders  on  the  coasts  of  Connecticut,  298  ;  Wayne  attacks  Stony 
Point,  299  ;  Tlie  Americans  recapture  Stony  Point,  300  ;  Indian  atrocities  ;  Expedition 
against  the  Onondagas;  Tragedy  at  Miuisink,  301  ;  Honors  to  the  dead  at  Goshen,  302; 
Sullivan's  campaign,  303,  304  ;  Siege  of  Savannah  ;  A  naval  fight  ;  Sir  John  Johnson's 
raid  into  the  Mohawk  Valley,  305,  306  ;  Schoharie  Valley  desolated,  306  ;  Operations  in 
the  Mohawk  Valley,  307  ;  Battle  at  "  Klock's  Field  ;"  Invasion  of  a  motley  army  from 
Canada  ;  Sir  Henry  Clinton  sails  for  Charleston  ;  Surrender  of  Charleston,  308  ;  Oper- 
ations of  Cornwallis  in  the  Carolina^  ;  Battle  of  King's  Mountain  ;  Arrival  of  a  land  and 
naval  force  from  France,  309. 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Arnold's  treason,  310-315  ;  Complot  of  Arnold  and  Major  Andr6,  311  ;  Arrival  of 
Major  Andre,  312 ;  Events  at  Arnold's  headquarters,  313,  314 ;  Escape  of  Arnold  ; 
Andr6  conveyed  to  Tappan,  314  ;  Trial  and  execution  of  Andre,  314,  315  ;  The  fate 
of  Arnold  and  Andre  ;  Stirring  event  on  Long  Island,  315  ;  Civil  events  in  the  region  of 
the  New  Hampshire  Grants,  or  Vermont,  316 ;  Leaders  in  Vermont  coquet  with 
British  authorities  in  Canada,  317,  318  ;  Settlement  of  disputes  between  New  York  and 
Vermont  ;  Continental  paper  currency  and  Articles  of  Confederation,  319  ;  Weakness 
of  the  general  government ;  Arnold  serving  his  purchasers  in  Virginia.  320  ;  British 
troops  in  Virginia,  321  ;  Allied  armies  and  the  British  in  Virginia.  322  ;  Surrender  of 
Cornwallis  ;  War  in  the  South,  323  ;  Greene's  famous  retreat  ;  Greene  turns  upon  his 
enemies,  324,  325  ;  Battles  at  Guilford  Court-House,  near  Camden,  Fort  Ninety-Six,  and 
Eutaw  Spring,  324,  325. 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Closing  events  of  the  Revolution,  326-331 ;  Discontents  of  the  soldiers  ;  A  proposal 
to  Washington  to  become  king;  The  "  Ntwburg  Addresses,"  327 ;  The  results  of  a 
meeting  of  officers,  328  ;  Disbanding  of  the  Continental  Anny  begun,  328.  329  ;  Latest 
survivors  of  the  army,  329  ;  The  Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  329,  330  ;  Flight  of  Tories 
from  New  York,  and  confiscations,  330  ;  The  British  evacuate  New  York  ;  Washington 
parts  with  his  officers.  331  ;  Surrenders  his  commission  ;  Foundation  of  a  State  Govern- 
ment laid,  332,  333  ;  Political  capital  of  New  York  :  Adjustment  of  boundaries,  333  ; 
Land  cessions  by  the  Six  Nations,  334  ;  Territorial  claims  adjusted,  335  ;  Formation  of 
a  National  Constitution,  336  ;  Federalists  and  Anti-Federalists,  337  ;  Popular  discussions 
of  the  Constitution,  338 ;  Constituent  Convention  at  Poughkeepsie,  339  ;  Adoption  of 
the  Constitution  ;  Membere  of  the  National  Congress  for  New  York,  341. 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Political  divisions  of  New  York  ;  Emigrations  and  settlements,  342 ;  Land  pur- 
chasers ;  A  great  wagon-road  constructed  ;  Party  strife,  343  ;  First  meeting  of  C'ongress 
under  the  Constitution,  344  ;  Washington  inaugurated  President  of  the  United  States, 
345  ;  Official  ai)pointm('nts  ;  Spirit  of  the  Constitution  of  New  York  ;  A  political  coa- 
lition, 346  ;  Origin  of  the  canal  system  in  the  State,  347,  348 ;  The  early  promoters  of 
the  system,  347-349  ;  Condition  of  New  York  City  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  350  ; 
A  Federal  celebration,  351  ;  A  newspaper  office  mobbed  ;  Yellow-fever  in  New  York 
City,  352. 


CONTENTS.  xi 

CHAPTER  XXY. 

Effect  of  the  Freneli  Revolution  on  American  politics,  353  ;  Jefferson's  expectations, 
disappointments,  and  suspicions,  353,  354  ;  Jefferson  the  leader  of  the  Republican  Party  ; 
Arrival  of  "  Citizen"  Genet,  354  ;  Reception  of  Genet  in  Philadelphia,  355  ;  Democratic 
societies  formed  ;  Conduct  of  Genet  and  his  friends,  356  ;  Reception  of  Genet  in  New 
York  ;  His  recall,  357 ;  Social  influence  of  French  emigrants  in  New  York  ;  Jay's 
treaty,  358,  359  ;  The  Whiskey  insuirection,  358  ;  Opposition  to  Jay's  treaty,  359  ;  The 
Tammany  Society,  or  Columbian  Order  ;  Legislative  aid  for  common  schools  provided, 
360,  361 ;  State  Literature  Fund ;  Support  of  popular  education,  361  ;  Board  of 
Regents,  362  ;  Electors  ;  Abolition  of  slavery  proposed  ;  Albany  made  the  Stale  capital, 
363  ;  The  alliance  with  France  celebrated  ;  Political  strife,  364 ;  Manhattan  Water 
Company  and  Bank,  365  ;  De  Witt  Clinton  ;  Jefferson  elected  President ;  Downfall  of 
the  Federal  Party  ;   Death  of  Washington,  366. 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Social  aspects  of  New  York  State  and  City  at  the  beginning  of  this  century,  367-370  ; 
The  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  benevolent  societies,  369  ;  Churches  and  country-seats  ; 
First  revision  of  the  State  Constitution,  370  ;  Political  influence  of  two  families,  371  ;  A 
bitter  personal  and  political  warfare,  372  ;  Schism  in  the  Democratic  Party  ;  Hamilton  and 
Burr,  373  ;  Hamilton  slain  by  Burr  in  a  duel,  374,  375  ;  Burr's  political  death,  and  trial 
for  treason  ;  The  West  Point  ^lilitary  Academy  ;  Governor  Morgan  Lewis,  375 ; 
Foundation  of  a  permanent  school  fund  laid  ;  The  Free  School  Society,  376  ;  Navigation 
by  steam  established,  377  ;  Embargo  Act,  378 ;  Cause  of  the  downfall  of  the  Federal 
Party  ;  Coquetting  with  the  "  Burrites,"  379,  380  ;  The  State  prepares  for  war  ;  Gov- 
ernor Tompkins,  380;  The  British  Orders  in  Council  unrepealed,  381. 

CHAPTER  XXVn. 

The  genesis  of  the  Erie  Canal,  382,  385 ;  Gouverneur  Morris,  382  ;  Jesse  Hawley, 
Simeon  De  Witt,  and  Joshua  Forman,  383  ;  Thomas  Eddy  and  a  public  meeting  in  New 
York,  384  ;  Beginning  of  the  construction  of  the  Erie  Canal,  385  ;  Opposition  to  it,  386  ; 
Second  overthrow  of  the  Federal  Party,  386  ;  War  of  1812-15  ;  The  Chesajyeake  and 
Leopard  affair,  387  ;  Peace  Party  ;  Northern  frontier  of  New  York,  388  ;  Surrender  of 
Detroit ;  Militia  of  New  York,  389  ;  Beginning  of  war  on  the  Northern  frontier,  390- 
392  ;   Battle  of  Queenstown,  393-396. 

CHAPTER  XXVin. 

Doings  of  the  American  Navy,  397,  398  ;  A  bank  charter  in  politics,  399,  400  ;  De 
Witt  Clinton  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States,  400  ;  Hostilities  on 
Lake  Ontario  and  the  regions  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  Niagara  rivers,  400,  401  ;  War 
spirit  in  the  West,  403  ;  Movements  for  the  recovery  of  Michigan,  403,  404  ;  Belligerent 
fleets  on  Lake  Erie,  405  ;  Battle  on  Lake  Erie,  405,   406  ;   The  Creek   War,  406,  407. 

CPLYPTER  XXIX. 

Attack  on  Ogdensburg,  408  ;  The  capture  of  York  (Toronto),  409 ;  The  Niagara 
River  and  frontier  in  possession  of  the  Americans,  410  ;  Attack  on  Sackett's  Harbor, 
411.  412  ;   Affair  at  the  Beaver  Dams,  412  ;   Operations  on  the  Niagara  frontier,  413  ; 


Xii  CONTENTS. 

Operations  on  Lake  Champlain,  414,  415  ;  Expedition  against  Montreal,  415-417  ;  The 
Niagara  frontier  desolated,  417 ;  Nuval  operations  on  the  sea,  417,  418  ;  Amphibious 
warfare,  418  ;   American  naval  force  in  1818,  411). 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

Wellington's  veterans  sent  to  the  United  States,  420  ;  Peace  Faction,  420  ;  Battle  at 
La  Colle  Mill  ;  Struggle  for  the  mastery  of  Tiake  Ontario,  421  ;  Invasion  of  Canada,  422, 
423  ;  Battle  of  Ciiippewa,  424  ;  Battle  of  Lundy's  Lane,  425  ;  Americans  victorious  at 
Fort  Erie,  426  ;  Land  and  naval  contest  at  Plattsburgh,  427^31  ;  Attack  on  Fort 
Mackinaw,  432. 

CHAPTER  XXXL 

Naval  and  military  operations  on  the  coasts  of  the  United  States,  433,  434  ;  Stirring 
scenes  at  New  York,  434  ;  Brit:sh  invasion  of  Maryland,  435  ;  Battle  of  Bladensburg  ; 
Incendiarianism  at  Washington,  436  ;  British  repulsed  at  Baltimore,  437  ;  Naval  opera- 
tions on  the  ocean  in  1814,  438,  439 ;  American  privateers,  440  ;  New  Orleans  and 
Louisiana  threatened,  441  ;  Battle  of  New  Orleans,  442;  News  of  peace  at  New  York, 
442,  443  ;   The  Hartford  Convention,  443,  444. 

CHAPTER  XXXn. 

Governors  Tompkins  and  ("linton,  445  ;  Common  schools  and  school  fund,  446  ; 
(/ivil  affairs  in  the  State,  447-457  ;  Defence  against  invasion,  448  ;  Movements  in  favor 
of  the  construction  of  the  Erie  Canal,  449,  450  ;  Abolition  of  slavery  proposed,  451 ; 
Change  in  the  position  of  political  leaders,  452  ;  "  Bucktails  "  and  "  Clintonions,"  453  ; 
Powers  of  the  Councils  of  Appointment  and  Revision,  454  ;  Revision  of  the  State  Con- 
stitution, 455  ;   Features  of  the  revised  Constitution,  456,  457. 

CHAPTER  XXXHL 

Condition  of  New  York  in  1821  ;  The  Barbary  Powers,  458  ;  Readjustment  of  the 
machinery  of  the  State  government,  459  ;  The  "  People's  Party  ;"  De  Witt  Clinton  and 
the  people,  460 ;  Lafayette's  visit,  461  ;  A  new  era,  462  ;  Opening  of  the  Erie  Canal, 
463 ;  Celebration  of  the  opening  of  the  canal,  463-468  ;  Grand  display  in  New  York 
Harbor,  465 ;  Nuptials  of  the  lakes  and  the  sea,  466  ;  Grand  procession  in  New  York 
City,  467;  Achievements  of  the  Erie  Canal,  468-470;  liuffalo  and  Rochester  in  1813, 
469,  470  ;  A  pagan  rite  at  Rochester,  470 ;  The  common-school  system,  471  ;  The 
Anti-Masonic  episode,  471,  472. 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

Tariff  laws  and  the  "  American  System  ;"  Death  of  Governor  Clinton,  473  ;  Safety- 
fund  system,  474  ;  Anti-Masonic  journal  and  Thurlow  Weed,  476  ;  A  "  Workingmen's 
Party  ;"'New  York  fashions,  476  ;  Name  of  the  Whig  Parly — how  given,  477  ;  Imprison- 
ment for  (l(!bt  abolished,  478  ;  Renewal  of  th(>  United  States  Bank  charter  considered, 
479  ;  Van  Buren  appointed  Minister  to  England  :  Itejected  by  the  Senate,  and  the 
result ;  NuUitication  suppressed,  480  ;  Actions  of  the  United  States  Bank  ;  Equal  Rights 
Party,  481,  482;  Loeo-focos,  481;  Revolution  in  journalism,  483;  Election  riots  in 
1834,  488,  484 ;  Native  American  Party,  484,  485  ;  Al)olition  riots,  485 ;  Collapse  of 
the  credit  system,  485,  486  ;   Croton  A(iueduct,  487. 


co:ntents.  xiii 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 

Fi-ee  school  libraries  established,  487  ;  Normal  School  at  Albany,  488  ;  Lancastrian 
and  Pestalozzian  systems  of  teaching,  488,  489  ;  Revolutionary  movements  in  Canada, 
489,  490  ;  "  Hero  of  the  Thousand  Islands,"  490  ;  A  disturbing  incident  on  the  Niagara 
frontier,  491  ;  Overthrow  of  the  Democratic  Party,  491,  493  ;  Financial  achievements  of  the 
State,  493 ;  Erie  Canal  ;  Mr.  Seward's  first  encounter  with  the  slave  power,  493  ; 
Seward  on  general  education,  494  ;  John  C.  Spencer  on  the  same  subject,  495  ;  The 
Roman  Catholics  and  the  common-school  fund,  496,  497  ;  The  Secretary  of  State  and 
the  Legislature  at  variance,  497  ;  Anti-rentism,  499,  500  ;  The  electric  telegraph  and 
Professor  Morse,  500 ;  Governor  Wright  on  the  school  fund,  500  ;  The  common-school 
system  ;   The  annexation  of  Texas,  501. 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

Third  revision  of  the  State  Constitution,  503-505  ;  The  school  S3-stem,  action  upon 
the,  505-507  ;  John  Yoimg  governor,  506  ;  Hamilton  Fish  governor  ;  Whig  Party  trium- 
phant, 507  ;  Washington  Hunt  governor  ;  Repeal  of  the  Free  School  Law,  508  ;  The 
common-school  fund  ;  Horatio  Seymour  governor,  509;  Reorganization  of  the  edu- 
cational system  of  the  State  ;  Completion  of  the  canals  urged,  510  ;  Governor  Sey- 
mour offends  the  temperance  people  by  vetoing  a  prohibitory  liquor  bill,  510;  Myron 
H.  Clark  governor,  and  a  stanch  prohibitionist,  511  ;  Republican  Party  organized,  511 ; 
Controls  the  National  power,  513  ;  The  Lemon  slave  case,  513,  513  ;  John  A.  King  gov- 
ernor, 513 ;  Edwin  D.  Morgan  governor,  514  ;  Struggle  between  Freedom  and  Slavery 
begun,  515  ;   Conspiracy  against  the  Union,  515,  516. 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

Condition  of  New  York  State  and  City  in  1861  ;  An  approaching  tempest  watched, 
517  ;  A  famous  and  inspiriting  order,  517,  518  ;  Loyal  and  patriotic  action  of  the  Legis- 
lature, 519  ;  Disloyalty  of  the  Mayor  of  New  York,  519  ;  Conservatism  of  business  men  ; 
The  Crittenden  Compromise,  530  ;  A  disloyal  society,  530,  531  ;  Insolence  of  a  Seces- 
sion leader  ;  Formation  of  a  league  to  destroy  the  republic,  581  ;  Events  in  Charleston 
Harbor  ;  The  President's  call  for  troops,  533  ;  Response  of  New  York,  533  ;  War  meet- 
ing at  New  York,  533,  533  ;  The  Union  Defence  Committee,  533  ;  The  Seventh  Regiment 
goes  to  the  field,  534;  Patriotic  women;  The  Friends,  or  Quakers,  534;  Action  of 
civil  and  military  authorities,  535  ;  Financial  aid  given  by  New  York  ;  Women's 
Relief  Associations,  536 ;   United  States  Sanitary  and  Christian  Commissions,  537-539. 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

Change  in  political  aspects  ;  Financial  ability  of  the  State,  530  ;  Soldiers  furnished 
for  the  war  ;  A  new  era ;  Governor  Seymour's  message,  531  ;  The  peace  faction  and 
Vallandigham,  532  ;  Seditious  movements  ;  The  draft,  533  ;  Draft  riot  in  New  York 
City,  534  ;  Union  League  Club  ;  National  currency  established,  535  ;  Conspiracies  of 
the  Confederates,  536  ;  Men  and  money  furnished  for  the  war  ;  Trophies,  537  ;  Close  of  the 
war  ;  Death  of  President  Lincoln,  538  ;  Important  legislative  action,  539  ;  Revision  of  the 
State  Constitution  ;   Cornell  University,  540  ;   Election  in  1868,  541. 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

John  T.  Hoffman  governor  ;  Fifteenth  Amendment  of  the  National  Constitution, 
543  ;  A  reactif)nary  movement ;  Amendments  of  charter,  543  ;  Popular  education  ;  Riot 


XIV  CONTENTS. 

in  New  York  City,  544 ;  Tweed  Ring,  544,  545  ;  Plundering  of  the  Treasury  of  New  York 
City,  545,  546  ;  The  Exposure  ()f  the  plunderers,  547,  and  the  result,  548 ;  Movements 
of  the  colored  population  ;  Liberal  Republican  Party  ;  Horace  Greeley  for  President  of 
the  United  States,  548  ;  A  social  phenomenon  (note),  548 ;  A  Civil  Rights  Bill  ;  John 
A.  Dix  governor,  549 ;  Alterations  in  the  State  Constitution  ;  Compulsory  education, 
550  ;   Laws  for  the  protection  of  minors,  551 ;  Samuel  J.  Tilden  governor,  552. 

CHAPTER  XL. 

Centennial  celebration  and  exhibition  ;  Savings-banks,  553 ;  Investigations ;  Frauds 
discovered,  554  ;  Canals  in  the  State,  554  ;  Their  length  and  cost,  555  ;  Railroads  in  the 
State  and  their  operations,  555  ;  Public  instruction,  556  ;  New  State  House,  556,  557  ; 
The  aggregate  public  debt ;  Movements  of  population,  557  ;  Products  of  industry,  558, 559  ; 
Marine  architecture,  559  ;  State  of  popular  intelligence,  559,  560 ;  Books  and  periodicals  ; 
Money  investments  ;  Benevolent  and  charitable  institutions  ;  Literary  and  scientific 
societies,  560  ;  Churches,  560,  561  ;  The  Hudson  River  and  its  associations,  561  ;  Manors 
and  manor-houses  on  the  Hudson,  563-565  ;  Government  House  ;  Attractions  of  New 
York  City,  566  ;  New  York  City  and  its  harbor,  566,  567  ;  Bartholdi's  Statue  of  Liberty 
Enlightening  the  World  ;   A  metropolitan  city,  567. 

CHAPTER  XLI. 

Religious  and  social  aspect  of  New  York  City  ;  School  of  the  Collegiate  (Dutch 
Reformed)  Church,  568  ;  Religious  denominations  in  colonial  New  York  ;  An  episco- 
pacy opposed,  569  ;  Political  condition  of  colonial  New  York,  569,  570  ;  Courts,  trade, 
and  population  in  the  colony  ;  How  settlements  were  discouraged,  571  ;  Statesmen, 
jurists,  historians,  and  other  literary  men,  572-575  ;  Writers  on  science,  575  ;  The  fine 
arts  and  artists,  575,  576. 

APPENDIX. 

The  organization  of  the  counties  of  the  State  ;  Governors,  colonial  and  State. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


A. 

PAGE 

1.  Albany,  Seal  of  the  City  of 103 

2.  Albany  County  Seal 99 

3.  Albany,  Plan  of  in  1695 138 

4.  Allegany  County  Seal 578 

5.  Allerton,  Isaac,  Signature  of 49 

6.  Amherst,  Jeffrey,  Portrait  of 179 

7.  Armstrong,  John,  Portrait  of. . . .  313 

8.  Andros,  Edmond,  Signature  of. .  91 

9.  Arnold,  Benedict,  Portrait  of 310 

10.  Ato-tar-ho 8 


B. 

11.  Battery,  Bowling  Green,  and  Fort 

George 195 

12.  Baxter,  George,  Signature  of . . . .  58 

13.  Bayard  Arms,  The 106 

14.  Bayard,  Nicliolas,  Signature  of. .  106 

15.  Beeckman  Arms,  The Ill 

16.  Beeckman,  Gerardus,  Portrait  of.  110 

17.  Beeckman,    Gerardus,  Signature 

of 110 

18.  Beeckman,    William,    Signature 

of 73 

19.  Bellomont,  Earl  of.  Portrait  of..  121 

20.  Bellomont,  Earl  of.  Signature  of. .  121 

21.  Bellows,  Henry  W.,  Portrait  of. .  527 

22.  Berkeley,  John,  Signature  of 94 

23.  Billop  House 246 

24.  Binnenhof,  The 16 

25.  Bogardus,    Everardus,  Signature 

of 34 

26.  Bolingbroke,  Lord,  Signature  of.  136 

27.  Bouck,  W.  C,  Portrait  of 498 

28.  Bradstreet,  John,  Signature  of. . .  174 

29.  Brant,  Joseph,  Portrait  of 270 

30.  Broome  County  Seal 578 

31.  Brown,  Jacob 396 

32.  Brown's  Monument 307 


PAGE 

33.  Buffalo  in  1813 469 

34.  Burnet,  William,  Portrait  of 139 

35.  Burns's  Coffee-House 198 

36.  Burr,  Aaron,  Portrait  of 365 

C. 

37.  Carr,  Robert,  Signature  of 75 

38.  Carroll,  Charles,  Portrait  of 239 

39.  Carteret,  George,  Signature  of. . .     94 

40.  Carterets,  Arms  of  the 86 

41.  Cartwright,  George,  Signature  of.     75 
43.  Castle  Garden 461 

43.  Cattaraugus  County  Seal 578 

44.  Cayuga  County  Seal  578 

45.  Champlain,  Samuel,  Portrait  of.  10 

46.  Chase,  Samuel,  Portrait  of 239 

47.  Chautauqua  County  Seal 578 

48.  Chenango  County  Seal 578 

49.  Cincinnati,  Order  of  the 330 

50.  Clark,  Myron  H.,  Portrait  of . . . .  511 

51.  Clarke's  Monument 152 

53.  Clerrmnt,  The 377 

53.  City  Hall,  The  First 63 

54.  City  Hall  in  1700 126 

55.  City  Hall,  Wall  Street 344 

56.  Clinton  Arms,  The 154 

57.  Clinton  County  Seal 578 

58.  Clinton,  DeWitt,  Portrait  of 385 

59.  Clinton,  George,  Portrait  of 399 

60.  Clinton,  James 284 

61.  Clinton's  Despatch 285 

63.  Clipper-built  Schooner,  A 439 

63.  Colden,  Cadwallader,  Seal  of . . . .  140 

64.  Colden,    Cadwallader,    Signature 

of 187 

65.  Colden,  Cadwallader,  Portrait  of.  187 

66.  Collyer,  Vincent,  Portrait  of 529 

67.  Columbia  County  Seal 578 

68.  Constitution  House  at  Kingston.  258 

69.  Cook,  Lemuel 328 


XVI 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAOE 

70.  Cooper,   James    Fenimore,    Por- 

trait of  .574 

71.  Corubury,  Lord,  Signature  of...  131 

72.  Cornbury,  Lord,  Portrait  of 131 

73.  Cortland  County  Seal  578 

74.  Costumes  of  Hollanders,  1630...  20 

75.  Costumes  and  Furniture,  1740..  .  149 

76.  Costumes,  1800 368 

77.  Costumes  about  1832  477 

78.  Cruger,  John,  Portrait  of 369 

D. 

79.  Dearborn,  Henry,  Portrait  of 392 

80.  Delaware  County  Seal 579 

81.  De  Laet,  John,  Signature  of 64 

82.  De  Lancey,  James,  Signature  of.  158 

83.  De  Lancey,  James,  Seal  of 158 

84.  De  Lancey,  Oliver,  Signature  of.  213 

85.  De  Peyster  Arms 130 

86.  Dj   Peyster,   Abraham,    Portrait 

of 129 

87.  De  Peyster,  Johannes,  Seal  and 

Signature  of  86 

88.  De  Sille,  Signature  of 67 

89.  De  Vries,  David  Fietersen,  Por- 

trait of 33 

90.  Dix,  John  A.,  Portrait  of 548 

91.  Dix's  Order,  Fac-simile  of 518 

92.  Dongan,  Governor,  Signature  of.  96 

93.  Duane,  James,  Portrait  of 350 

94.  Duchess  County  Seal 99 

95.  Duke  of  York's  Seal 84 

96.  Dunmore,    Governor,    Signature 

of 303 

97.  Dunmore,  Governor,  Seal  of 203 

98.  Dutch  Church  at  Albany 45 

E. 

99.  Eric  County  Seal 578 

100.  Essex  County  Seal 579 

101.  Evertsen,  Admiral  Cornelis,  Por- 

trait of 88 

102.  Executive  Privy  Seal 504 

F. 

103.  Pac-similc  of  Journal  of  the  Con- 

vention, 1788 340 


I'AOE 

104.  Federal   Arms  of  the  Five  Na- 

tions        7 

105.  Fen  ton,  Reuben  E.,  Portrait  of. .  537 

106.  Fish,  Hamilton,  Portrait  of 507 

107.  Flag  of  Holland 81 

108.  Flag  of  the  Dutch  West  India 

Company  ...   22 

109.  Fletcher,  Governor,  Seal  and  Sig- 

nature of  117 

110.  Fort  Plain  Block-House 306 

111.  Franklin,  Dr.,  Portrait  of 239 

112.  Franklin  County  Seal 579 

113.  Fulton  County  Seal 579 

114.  Fullon,  Robert,  Portrait  of 876 

115.  Fulton  (he  First 378 

G. 

116.  Garden  Street  Church 125 

117.  Gardiner  Arms,  The 42 

118.  Gates  Medal,  The 282 

119.  Genesee  County  Seal 579 

120.  Genet,  E.  C,  Portrait  of 354 

121.  George  III.,  Statue  of 199 

122.  Goshen,  Monument  at  302 

123.  Gouverneur,  Abraham,  Signature 

of T Ill 

124.  Government  House  566 

125.  Greene  County  Seal 579 

126.  Grinnell,  Moses  IL,  Portrait  of. .  .523 

H. 

127.  Half  Moon ,  The 12 

128.  Hamilton,  Alexander,  Portrait  of.  337 

129.  Hamilton,  Andrew,  Portrait  of . .  145 

130.  Hamilton  and  the  People 146 

131.  Hamilton  County  Seal 579 

132.  Heathcote,  Caleb,  Portrait  of 132 

133.  Heathcote,  Caleb,  Signature  of . .  132 

134.  Tlendrick,  King,  Portrait  of. .    . .  166 

135.  Herkimer  Comity  Seal 579 

136.  Hoffman,  John  T.,  Portrait  of..  542 

137.  Hone,  Philip,  Portrait  of 465 

138.  Howe,  Lord  George,  Portrait  of.  175 
189.  Hudson,  Henry,  Portrait  of 11 

140.  Hughes,  ArcJibishop,  Portrait  of.  496 

141.  Hunt,  Washington,  Portrait  of..  508 

142.  Hunter.  Robert,  Signature  of 137 

143.  Hunter,  Robert,  Seal  of 137 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


xvu 


I. 

PAOK 

144.  Indian  Fort,  Attack  upon 17 

145.  Ingoldsby,  Richard,  Signature;  of.  133 

146.  Iroquois  Chieftain 3 

147.  Irving,  Washington 573 

148.  Izard,  George,  Portrait  of 436 

J. 

149.  James  II.,  Portrait  of 101 

150.  James  II.,  Signature  of 101 

151.  Jay,  John,  Portrait  of 257 

152.  Jay,  William,  Portrait  of 451 

153.  Jefferson  County  Seal 579 

154.  Jersey  Prison  Ship 249 

155.  Jogues,  Isaac,  Portrait  of 47 

156.  Johnson,  Guy,  House  of 225 

157.  Johnson,  Sir  John,  Portrait  of. .  231 

158.  Johnson,  Sir  William,  Portrait  of.  224 

159.  Johnson,  Sir  William,  Signature 

of 225 

160.  Johnson  Hall 226 

K. 

161.  Keg  of  Erie  Water 467 

162.  Kent,  James,  Portrait  of 448 

163.  Kicft,  William,  Signature  of 39 

164.  King,  John  A 518 

165.  Kings  County  Seal 99 

166.  Knapp,  Uzal,  Portrait  of 235 

L. 

167.  Lamb,  John,  Portrait  of  205 

168.  Lamb,  John,  Signature  of 205 

169.  Leisler,  Jacob,  Seal  and   Signa- 

ture of 107 

170.  Lewis  County  Seal 579 

171.  Lewis,  Morgan,  Portrait  of 374 

172.  LifeGuard,  Banner  of 236 

173.  Links  of  Chain  at  West  Point. . .  253 

174.  Livingston  Arms,  The 108 

175.  Livingston  County  Seal 579 

176.  Livingston,  John,  Portrait  of 562 

177.  Livingston  Manor  House 563 

178.  Livingston,  Mary,  Portrait  of . . .  562 

179.  Livingston,  Robert,  Portrait  of. .  108 

180.  Livingston,  Philip,  Portrait  of...  221 

181.  Livingston,   Robert  R.,  Portrait 

of 345 


182.  Loockermans,  Govert,  Signature 

of 56 

183.  Lovelace,  Lord,  Signature  of.. . .  133 

M. 

184.  Macdonough,    Thomas,    Portrait 

of 429 

185.  Macomb,  Alexander,  Portrait  of.  430 

186.  Madison  County  Seal 579 

187.  Marcy,  William  L  ,  Portrait  of. .  479 

188.  Megopolensis,  John,  Signature  of.     77 

189.  Melyn,  Cornells,  Signature  of...     51 

190.  Milking-Time  at  Albany 150 

191.  Minuit,  Peter,  Signature  of 27 

192.  Monckton,  Robert,  Signature  of.  192 

193.  Monckton,  Robert,  Seal  of 192 

194.  Monroe  County  Seal 579 

195.  Montgomery  County  Seal 5^2 

196.  Montgomery,    Richard,    Portrait 

of 229 

197.  Mooers,  Benjamin,  Portrait  of. .  427 

198.  Moore,  Governor,  Signature  of. .  193 

199.  Moore,  Governor,  Seal  of 193 

200.  Morgan,  Edwin  D.,  Portrait  of. .  512 

201.  Morris  Arms,  The 143 

202.  Morris,  Gouverneur,  Portrait  of.  382 

203.  Morris,  Lewis,  Signature  of 143 

N. 

204.  New  Amsterdam,  1664 79 

205.  New  Amsterdam,  Cottage  at 80 

206.  New  Amsterdam,  Seal  of 67 

207.  New  Netherlaiid,  TIw 25 

208.  New  Netherland,  Map  of 36,  37 

209.  New  Netherland,  Seal  of 27 

210.  New  State  Capital  {Frontispiece). 

211.  New  York  City,  Seal  of 95 

212.  New  York  County  Seal 97 

213.  New  York  Province,  Seal  of 109 

214.  Niagara  County  Seal 582 

215.  Niagara,  Fort  402 

216.  NicoUs,  Richard,  Signature  of. . .     74 

217.  Nicholson,  Francis,  Signature  of.  105 

218.  Normal  School  Building. 488 

O. 

219.  Oneida  County  Seal 582 

220.  Onondaga  County  Seal 582 


XVlll 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAOB 

221.  Ontario  County  Seal 582 

222.  Orange  County  Seal 99 

223.  Orleans  County  Seal 582 

224.  Oswego  County  Seal 582 

225.  Oswego,  Fort,  in  1750 141 

226.  Otsego  County  Seal 582 

P. 

227.  Perry,  Oliver  H.,  Portrait  of 405 

228.  Philipse  Manor  House 565 

229.  Pike,  Zebulon  M..  Portrait  of .. .  409 

230.  Pleasure  Wagon,  A  Dutch 69 

231.  Power,  Nicholas,  Signature  of..  339 

232.  Public  Instruction,  Seal  of  De- 

partment of 510 

233.  Publishing  the  Constitution 259 

234.  Putnam  County  Seal 582 

Q. 

235.  Queens  County  Seal 99 

236.  Queenstown,  Incident  in  the  Bat- 

tleat 394 

R. 

237.  Randolph,  Peyton,  Portrait  of. . .  210 

238.  Randolph,  Peyton,  Signature  of.  211 

239.  Red  Jacket,  Portrait  of 423 

240.  Reid,  Samuel  C,  Portrait  of 440 

241.  Rensselaer  County  Seal 582 

242.  Richmond  County  Seal 99 

243.  Riedesel,    Baroness    de,   Portrait 

of 265 

244.  Rivington,  James,  Portrait  of. . .  233 

245.  Rivington,  James,  Signature  of. .  234 

246.  Robinson,  Beverly,  Portrait  of..  318 

247.  Robinson  House,  The 313 

248.  Rochambcuu,  Portrait  of 320 

249.  Rochester  in  1813 470 

250.  Rockland  County  Seal 582 

251.  Rogers,  Robert,  Portrait  of 185 

252.  Bnjal  Savage,  The 251 

S. 

253.  St.  Lawrence  County  Seal 582 

254.  Saratoga  County  Seal 583 

255.  Schenectady  County  Seal  583 

256.  Schoharie  County  Seal 583 


257. 
258. 
259. 
260. 
261. 
262. 
263. 
264. 

265. 
266. 
267. 
268. 
269. 
270. 
271. 
272. 
273. 
274. 
275. 
276. 
277. 
278. 
279. 
280. 
281. 
282. 
283. 


284. 
285. 
286. 
287. 
288. 
289. 
290. 
291. 
292. 
293. 
294. 


295. 
296. 
297. 


PAeK 

Schuyler  Arms,  The 135 

Schuyler  County  Seal 583^ 

Schuyler,  Peter,  Portrait  of 134 

Schuyler,  Philip,  Portrait  of 281 

Scott,  Wintield,  Portrait  of 422 

Sears,  Isaac,  Signature  of 208 

Seal,  First  Great,  of  New  York. .  332 
Seal,    Second     Great,    of     New 

York 33a 

Seneca  County  Seal 583 

Seward,  William  H.,  Portrait  of .  492 

Seymour,  Horatio,  Portrait  of. ..  509 

Silver  Bullet 285 

Snake  Device 212 

Statue  of  Liberty,  Barlholdi 567 

Steenwyck,  Cornells,  Portrait  of.  87 

Steuben,  Baron  von,  Portrait  of.  322 

Steuben '.s  Monument 321 

Steuben  County  Seal 583 

Stirling,  Lord,  Portrait  of 24.5- 

Stone  Mill  at  Plattsburg 428 

Stone,  William  L.,  Portrait  of. . .  463 

Stuyvesant,  Peter,  Portrait  of . . .  53 

Stuyvesant,  Peter,  Signature  of. .  78- 

Sluy  vesant's  Seal 54 

Suffolk  County,  Seal  of 99 

Sullivan  County  Seal  583 

Sullivan,  John,  Portrait  of 303 


Tables  at  Federal  Dinner 351 

Throop,  Enos  T.,  Portrait  of 478 

Ticonderoga,    Fort,  Ruins  of 219 

Tilden,  Samuel  J.,  Portrait  of. .     551 

Tioga  County  Seal 583 

Tompkins,  Daniel  D.,  Portrait  of.  380 

Tompkins  County  Seal 583 

Totemic  Signatures 6 

Trinity  Church,  Old 120 

Tryon,  Governor,  Signature  of. .  204 
Try  on,  Governor,  Seal  of 204 


U. 


Ulster  County  Seal 99 

Undcrhill.  John,  Signature  of. ..     50 
United  States  Sanitary  Commis- 
sion Seal 528- 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


XIX 


V. 

PAGE 

298.  Van  Buren,  Martin,  Portrait  of . .  446 

299.  Van  Cortlandt  Manor  House 564 

300.  Van  Cortlandt,  OloflE  S.,  Seal  and 

Signature  of 61 

301.  Van    Curler,    Arendt,    Signature  , 

of 44 

303.  Van  Dam,  Rip,  Portrait  of 142 

303.  Van  Der  Donck,  Signature  of . .  .     61 

304.  Van  Dincklagen,  Lubbertus,  Sig- 

nature of  38 

305.  Van  Rensselaer  Anns,  The 46 

306.  Van   Rensselaer,   Killian,  Signa- 

ture of 32 

307.  Van  Rensselaer,  Jeremias,    Por- 

trait of "4 

308.  Van  Rensselaer  Manor  House 561 

309.  Van    Rensselaer,    Stephen,    Por- 

trait of  395 

310.  Van  Ruyven,  Cornelis,  Signature 

of TO 

311.  Van  Slechtenhorst,  Signature  of.     60 

312.  Van   T wilier,  Walter,    Signature 

of 34 

313.  Varick,  Richard,  Portrait  of 359 

314.  Wampum  Belt 19 


315. 
316. 
317. 
318. 

319. 

320. 
321. 
322. 
323. 
324. 

325. 
326. 
327. 

328. 
329. 
330. 
331. 
332. 
333. 


lAGE 

War  Implements,  Indian 294 

Warren  County  Seal 583 

Washington  County  Seal  583 

Washington,      Colonel     George, 

Portrait  of 176 

Washington's  Headquarters, 

Room  in 326 

Watson,  Elkanah,  Portrait  of...  348 

Wayne,  Anthony,  Portrait  of 299 

Wayne  County  Seal 583 

Wayne's  Despatch 300 

Webb,   James   Watson,    Portrait 

of 483 

West  India  Company's  House. . .     21 

Westchester  County  Seal 99 

Wilkinson,  James,  Portrait  of . . .  414 

Willett,  Marinus,  Portrait  of 272 

Windmill,  A  Dutch  69 

Wool,  John  E.,  Portrait  of 525 

Wooster,  David,  Portrait  of 230 

Wright,  Silas,  Portrait  of 475 

Wyoming  County  Seal 583 


Y. 

334.  Yates,  Joseph  C,  Portrait  of 459 

335.  Yates  County  Seal 583 

336.  Young,  John,  Portrait  of 506 


HISTORY   OF 


THE   STATE   OF  NEW   YORK. 


CHAPTER   I. 

Xkw  York  is  ranked  among  tlio  commonwealths  of  our  Republic  as 
''  The  Empire  State.''  Wherefore  ?  Is  it  imperial  in  its  various  aspects 
of  population,  wealth,  the  products  of  its  industries,  its  forests  and 
mines,  its  natural  scenery,  its  commerce,  and  its  institutions  of  learning 
and  benevolence  (     Let  us  see. 

The  superficial  area  of  Xew  York  is  49,000  square  miles,  including 
its  share  of  Lakes  Erie  and  Ontario  and  the  St,  Lawrence  River.  Its 
surface  is  picturesquely  diversified  with  lofty  ranges  of  the  Appalachian 
chain  of  mountains,  which  crown  the  Atlantic  slope  of  the  continent 
from  the  Gulf  region  to  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  with  fertile  valleys  and 
uplands,  and  numerous  lakes  and  rivers. 

The  loftiest  mountain  peak  in  the  State  is  Mount  Marcy,  the  Ta-lw- 
loas  or  "  sky-piercer"  of  the  Indians.  It  is  one  of  the  grand  Adirondack 
group  in  Northern  New  York,  and  rises  to  the  altitude  of  over  5400  feet 
above  tide-water. 

The  chief  river  of  the  State  is  the  Hudson,  fiowing  from  the  springs 
of  the  Adirondack  Mountains,  receiving  numerous  swift-running  tribu- 
taries, and  is  navigable  for  large  vessels  fully  160  miles  from  the  ocean. 
It  traverses  a  most  picturesque  and  fertile  region  about  300  miles. 
Along  its  whole  course  its  waters  and  its  banks  are  thickly  clustered  with 
exciting  and  romantic  historical  and  legendary  associations. 

New  Y'ork  is  bisected  east  and  west  by  the  longest  and  best-equipped 
canal  in  the  world.  It  was  constructed  by  the  State  (1817-25),  is  363 
miles  in  length,  and  cost  over  $9,000,000.  Its  subsequent  enlarge- 
ment cost  $25,000,000.  There  are  ten  other  canals  owned  by  the  State, 
the  aggregate  length  of  which  is  over  900  miles.  There  are  133  rail- 
roads in  the  State,  having  a  total  length  in  operation  within  the  borders 
of  the  commonwealth  of  nearly  7000  miles. 


3  THE   EMPIRE   STATE. 

Tlio  climate  of  jS'ew  Vork  is  salubrious  and  varied,  having  a  range 
wider  than  in  any  other  member  of  the  Union.  The  State  lies  between 
the  parallels  of  40°  29'  and  45°  north  latitude.  Its  soil  is  productive 
almost  everywhere.  In  the  value  of  its  farm  lands  and  general  farm 
])roduct8  it  leads  all  the  other  States.  In  1880,  according  to  the  tenth 
national  census,  it  had  within  its  borders  nearly  242,000  farms,  embracing 
over  28,000,000  acres,  of  which  nearly  18,000,000  acres  were  improved 
land.  The  total  value  of  the  farms  was  more  than  $1,000,000,000. 
The  State  contained,  in  1880,  nearly  43,000  manufacturing  establishments, 
employing  about  $515,000,000  of  capital,  and  producing  annually  goods 
valued  at  nearly  $1,100,000,000. 

The  population  of  the  State  in  1880  was  5,082,871,  or  799,980  more 
inhabitants  than  any  other  State  of  the  Republic,  and  embracing  about 
one  tenth  of  the  entire  population  of  the  thirty-eight  United  States  and 
the  Territories.  It  also  carries  on  its  bosom  seventeen  cities,  each  having 
a  population  of  20,000  and  upward.  Five  of  these  cities  have  each  a 
])opulation  of  over  100,000.  Its  system  of  public  instruction  is  un- 
rivalled. 

a. 

These  are  a  few  of  the  many  facts  that  might  be  presented  in  justifi- 
cation of  giving  to  New  York  the  title  of  "  The  Empire  State." 

This  mighty  fraction  of  the  Great  Republic  of  the  West — this  popu- 
lous, wealthy,  and  powerful  State — had  its  birth  two  centuries  and  three 
(juarters  ago  on  the  little  island  of  Mannahatta,  or  Manhattan,  lying 
where  the  fresh  waters  of  the  Hudson  River  lovingly  commingle  with 
the  brine  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  Around  the  cradle  in  which  the  infant 
empire  was  rocked  stood  in  wonder  and  awe  representatives  of  an 
ancient  race,  dusky  and  barbarous  in  aspect,  whose  early  history  is 
involved  in  the  hopeless  obscurity  of  myth  and  fable. 

At  the  same  time  there  was  a  barbaric  republic  in  the  wilderness, 
simple,  pure,  and  powerful,  its  capital  seated  a  hundred  leagues  from 
the  sea,  among  the  beautiful  hills  and  shadowy  forests,  glittering  lakes 
and  sunny  savannas,  within  the  present  domain  of  the  State  of  New 
York.  Its  western  boundary  was  the  mighty  Niagara  River,  a  swift- 
tlowing  strait  between  two  great  inland  seas,  broken  midway  by  a  cata- 
ract which  has  no  equal  on  the  earth  in  power,  grandeur,  and  sublimity.* 


*  Perhaps  the  first  European  who  netually  saw  the  Niagara  Falls  was  Father  Henne- 
])in,  a  missionary,  who  in  his  Voyayex  gives  a  description  and  ii  nide  drawing  of  the 
great  wonder.  He  estimated  their  height  much  greater  than  it  reallj'  was.  He  also 
shows  in  the  pictures  a  portion  of  the  stream  spouting  from  below  a  nK'k  on  the  (present) 
Canada  shore,  far  athwart  tin;  great  Horse-shoe  Fall.  There  have  been  many  changes 
within  u  comparatively  few  years  in  the  asjx'ct  of  the  Falls,  owing  to  uiidcnuining  and 


A    BARBARIAN  REPUBLIC. 


3 


The  existence  of  this  republic  was  unknown  to  the  nations  beyond  the 
Atlantic,  and  unsuspected  by  them  until  Cartier  sailed  up  the  St.  Law- 
rence River  ;  until  Charaplain  penetrated  the  wilderness  of  Northern 
New  York,  and  Hudson  voyaged  up  the  beautiful  river  that  bears  his 
name,  and  touched  the  eastern  border  of  this  marvellous  amphictyonic 
league  known  in  history  as  "  The  Iroquois  Confederacy."  The  later 
history  of  this  league  is  interwoven  with  the  earlier  history  of  the  State 
of  New  York,  and  forms  an  essential  part  of  it. 

Tiie  Indian  tribes  to  vrhom  the  French  gave  the  name  of  Iroquois  in- 
habited tlie  State  of  New  York  north  and  west  of  the  Catskill  Moun- 
tains (the  Kaatsbergs)  and  soutli  of  the  Adirondack  group,  a  part  of 
Northern  Pennsylvania,  and  a  por- 
tion of  Ohio  some  distance  along 
the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Erie. 
The  Ilurons  or  Wyandots,  who 
occupied  nearly  the  w^iole  of  Can- 
ada south-west  of  the  Ottawa  River 
between  Lakes  Ontario,  Erie,  and 
Huron,  seemed  by  their  language 
to  have  been  a  part  of  the  Iroquois 
family,  and  these,  with  the  tribes 
south  of  the  lakes,  constituted 
the  Huron -Iroquois  nation.  They 
were  completely  surrounded  by 
the  Algonquins,  the  most  exten- 
sive and  powerful  of  the  aborigi- 
nal nations  discovered  within  the 
present  boundaries  of  the  United 
States  by  the  first  European  ad- 
venturer. 

The  Iroquois  Confederacy  was  originally  composed  of  five  related 
families  or  nations,  called,  respecti  vely,  J/(?/m?<j^.9,  Oneidas,  Onondagas, 
Cayiigas,  and  Senecas.  According  to  their  traditions,  they  had,  in  a 
far-back  period,  been  confined  under  a  mountain  at  the  falls  of  the 
Oswego  River.  They  were  released  by  Ta-renga-wa-go?i,  the  Holder  of 
the  Heavens,  and  were  led  by  him  to  the  Mohawk  Valley.  Wandering 
eastward,  they  came  to  the  Hudson  River,  and  descended  it  to  the  sea. 

iibrasion  by  the  water.  Huge  masses  of  rock  have,  from  time  to  time,  fallen  into  the 
gulf  below.  Table  Rock,  from  the  side  of  which  Hennepin's  third  stream  was  pro- 
jected, fell  only  a  few  y(»ars  ago.  The  writer  was  upon  the  rock  less  than  twenty-four 
liours  before  it  fell. 


AN    IROQUOIS   CHIEFTAIN. 


4  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

Iletuniing  to  tl»o  mouth  of  the  Mohawk  Iliver,  they  travelled  westward, 
separated,  and  seated  themselves  at  various  points  in  the  country  between 
the  ]Iudson  Kiver  and  Lake  Eric,  in  the  order  in  whicii  they  are  above 
named.  At  that  time  there  were  six  families.  One  of  them,  the 
Tnscaroras,  soon  wandered  to  the  South,  and  seated  themselves  on  the 
Neuse  River  in  North  Carolina.  The  five  families  who  remained, 
though  of  the  same  blood,  continually  waged  crnel  wars  against  each 
other. 

The  Holder  of  the  Heavens  liad  never  ceased  his  guardianship  of 
these  five  nations  after  their  release  from  their  subterranean  prison.  On 
account  of  the  excellence  of  his  character,  his  wisdom,  and  his  sagacity, 
Ta-ren(j-a-tixi-gon'W2iS,  called  by  the  people  Ili-a-wat-ha — "  the  very  wise 
man."  They  regarded  him  with  profound  veneration,  and  in  all  things 
followed  his  advice.  At  length  a  fierce  and  powerful  tribe  of  barbarians 
(tame  from  the  country  north  of  the  lakes,  fell  upon  the  Onondagas — the 
dwellers  among  the  hills — laid  waste  their  country,  slaughtered  their 
women  and  children,  and  plunged  the  whole  nation  into  the  depths  of 
despair.  In  their  distress  they  hastened  to  Hi-a-wat-ha  for  counsel, 
lie  advised  them  to  call  together  all  the  tribes  in  a  general  council  to 
devise  means  for  mutual  defence.  They  agreed  to  the  proposal.  Ho 
appointed  a  place  for  the  assembling  of  the  convention  on  the  bank  of 
Onondaga  Lake,  and  promised  to  meet  with  them  there. 

For  three  days  the  council  fire  had  blazed  before  Jli-a-ioat-ha  arrived, 
lie  had  been  devoutly  praying  in  silence  to  the  Great  Spirit  for  guid- 
ance. At  length  he  approached  in  a  white  canoe,  gliding  over  the  waters 
of  the  lake,  accompanied  by  his  darling  daughter,  twelve  years  of  age. 
They  were  received  with  joy,  and  as  they  landed  and  walked  toward  the 
council  fire  a  sound  like  a  rushing  wind  was  heard,  and  a  dark  spot,  ever 
increasing  in  size,  was  seen  descending  from  the  sky.  It  was  an 
immense  bird  swooping  down  toward  the  spot  where  Jll-a-wat-ha  and 
his  child  stood.  He  was  unmoved.  The  bird  fell  upon  his  sweet  daughter, 
crushed  her  into  the  earth,  and  perished  itself.  For  three  days  Ili-a- 
wat-ha  mourned  his  child.  Then  he  took  his  seat  in  the  great  council, 
listened  to  the  debates,  and  said  :  "  Meet  me  to-morrow,  and  I  will 
unfold  to  you  my  plan."  They  did  so,  when  the  venerated  counsellor 
arose  and  said  : 

"  Friends  and  Brothers  :  You  are  members  of  many  tribes  and  nations. 
You  have  come  here,  many  of  you,  a  great  distance  from  your  homes. 
Wc  liave  met  for  one  common  purpose — to  provide  for  our  common  in- 
terest— and  that  is  to  provide  for  our  mutual  safety,  and  how  it  shall 
best  be  done.     To  oppose  these  foes  from  the  north  hy  tribes,  singly 


THE   IROCiUOIS   CX)NFEI)ERACY.  5 

and  alone,  would  prove  onr  certain  destruction.  We  can  make  no  prog- 
ress in  that  way.  We  must  unite  ourselves  into  one  common  band  of 
brothers.  Thus  united  we  may  drive  the  invaders  back.  This  must  1)0 
done,  and  we  shall  be  safe. 

"  You,  the  Mohawks,  sitting  under  the  shadow  of  the  '  Great  Tree,' 
whose  roots  sink  deep  into  the  earth,  and  whose  branches  spread  over  a 
vast  country,  shall  be  the  first  nation,  because  you  are  warlike  aud 
mighty. 

"  And  you,  Oneidas,  a  people  who  recline  your  bodies  against  the 
'  Everlasting  Stone,'  that  cannot  be  moved,  shall  be  the  second  nation, 
because  you  give  wise  counsel. 

"  And  you,  Onondagas,  who  have  your  habitation  at  the  "  Great 
Mcmntain,'  and  are  overshadowed  by  its  crags,  shall  be  the  third  nation, 
because  _you  are  greatly  gifted  in  speech,  and  are  mighty  in  war. 

"  And  you,  Cayugas,  whose  habitation  is  the  '  Dark  Forest,'  and 
whose  home  is  everywhere,  shall  be  the  fourth  nation,  because  of  your 
superior  cunning  in  hunting. 

"  And  you,  Senecas,  a  people  who  live  in  the  '  Open  Country,'  and 
possess  much  wisdom,  shall  be  the  fifth  nation,  because  you  understand 
i)etter  the  art  of  raising  corn  and  beans,  and  making  cabins, 

"  You,  five  great  and  powerful  nations,  must  unite  and  have  but  one 
common  interest,  and  no  foe  shall  be  able  to  disturb  or  subdue  you.  If 
we  unite,  the  Great  Spirit  will  smile  upon  us.  Brothers,  these  are  the 
words  of  Ili-a-wat-ha  •  let  them  sink  deep  into  your  hearts." 

After  i-eflecting  upon  the  subject  for  a  day,  the  five  nations  formed  a 
league.  Before  the  council  was  dispersed  Ill-a-wat-ha  urged  the  people 
to  preserve  the  union  they  had  formed.  "  Preserve  this,''  he  said  ; 
'*  admit  no  foreign  element  of  power  by  the  admission  of  other  nations, 
and  you  will  always  be  free,  numerous,  and  happy.  If  other  tribes  and 
nations  are  admitted  to  your  councils  they  will  sow  the  seeds  of  jealousy 
and  discord,  and  you  will  become  few,  feeble,  and  enslaved.  Remember 
these,  words  ;  they  are  the  last  you  will  hear  from  IH-a-ioat-ha.  The 
Great  Master  of  Breath  calls  me  to  go.  I  have  patiently  waited  his 
summons.      I  am  ready  to  go.     Farewell  !" 

At  that  moment  myriads  of  singing  voices-burst  upon  the  ears  of  the 
multitude,  and  the  whole  air  seemed  filled  with  music.  Hl-a-umt-ha, 
seated  in  his  white  canoe,  rose  majestically  above  the  throng,  and  as  all 
eyes  gozed  in  rapture  upon  the  ascending  wise  man,  he  disappeared  for- 
ever in  the  blue  vault  of  heaven.  The  music  melted  into  low  whispers, 
like  a  soft  summer  breeze.  There  were  pleasant  dreams  that  night  in 
every  cabin  and  wigwam  occupied  by  the  members  of  the  Great  Council. 


(j  THE   EMPIRE   S1VVTE. 

and  all  tlie  Five  Nations  were  made  liappy  by  tlie  announcement  of  the 
glad  tidings  among  them. 

This  confederacy  was  called  JCo-no-shi-oni — tlie  "  cabin-builders" — the 
"  Long  House,"  which  extended  from  the  Hudson  River  to  Lake  Erie. 
The  Mohawks  kept  the  eastern  door  and  the  Senecas  the  western  door. 
The  Great'  Council  Fire,  or  Federal  Capital,  was  with  the  Onondagas. 
This  metropolis  was  a  few  miles  south  of  (present)  Syracuse. 

Such  is  the  traditionary  history  of  the  formation  of  the  great  Iroquois 
Confederacy,  It  is,  of  course,  embellished  by  fancy,  but  it  is  un- 
doubtedly correct  in  every  essential  particular.  At  what  time  this  league 
was  formed  cannot  be  accurately  determined.  It  was  probably  not  earlier 
than  the  year  1540.     Jacques  Cartier,  who  ascended  the  St,  Lawrence  to 


TOTEM  K'    S I  (J  N  AT  V  KES. 


the  site  of  Montreal  in  1535,  showed,  by  a  vocabulary  of  Indian  words 
which  he  made,  that  the  Iroquois  language  was  spoken  there,  probably 
by  the  Ilurons  ;  but  he  makes  no  reference  to  any  Indian  confederacy. 

The  polity  of  the  Iroquois  League  was  as  purely  democratic  as  possible 
in  spirit,  but  it  took  the  representative  or  republican  form  for  .con- 
venience. It  was  a  league  for  mutual  defence,  not  a  political  union. 
There  was  a  wide  distribution  of  power  and  civil  organization,  which  was 
a  safeguard  against  tyranny.  Each  canton  or  nation  was  a  distinct  re- 
public, independent  of  all  others  in  relation  to  its  doinestic  affairs,  but 
each  was  bound  to  the  others  of  the  league  by  ties  of  honor  and  general 
interest.  Each  canton  had  eight  principal  sachems,  or  civil  magistrates, 
and  several  inferior  sachems.  The  whole  number  of  civil  magistrates  in 
the  confederacy  amounted  to  nearly  two  hundred.  There  were  fifty 
hereditary  sachems. 


THE  TOXEMIC    SYSTEM.  7 

Eacli  canton  or  nation  Mas  subdivided  into  clans  or  tribes,  each  clan 
liaving  a  heraldic  insignia  called  totem.  For  this  insignia  one  tribe  would 
have  the  figure  of  a  wolf  ;  another,  of 
a  bear  ;  another,  of  a  deer  ;  another,  of 
a  tortoise,  and  so  on.  By  this  totem- 
ic  system  they  nuiintained  a  perfect 
tribal  union.*  After  the  Europeans 
<3anie  the  sachem  of  a  tribe  affixed  his 
toteniy  in  the  form  of  a  rude  represen- 
tation of  the  animal  that  marked  his 
tribe,  to  documents  lie  was  required  to 
sign,  like  an  ancient  monarch  affixing 
his  seal.f 

Office  was  the  rew^ard  of  merit 
alone  ;  malfeasance  in  office  brought 
dismissal  and  public  scorn.  All  public 
services  w^ere  compensated  only  by 
public  esteem.  The  league  had  a 
president  clothed  with  powers  simi- 
lar to  those  conferred  on  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  the  United  States. 
He  had  authority  to  assemble  a  congress  of  representatives  of  the  league. 
He  had  a  cabinet  of  six  advisers,  and  in  the  Grand  Council  he  was 
moderator.  There  was  no  coercive  power  lodged  anywhere  excepting 
public  opinion. 


FEDKKAI,    AKMS    OF    THE    FIVE   NATIONS. 


*  The  chief  totems  of  the  Five  Natious — tlie  bear,  tlie  ^Polf,  tlie  deer,  the  tortoise,  and 
the  beaver — were,  one  of  them,  tlie  distinguisliiiig  mark  of  the  delegate  of  each  ua,tioii 
at  the  Grand  Council  or  Congress  of  the  Confederation,  and  appeared  on  his  person. 
These  constituted  the  Federal  arms  of  the  Confederacy  when  combined. 

t  There  were  many  toteinic  symbols  besides  those  named,  such  as  different  birds — the 
eagle,  the  heron,  the  turkey,  and  the  plover. 

The  signatures  on  page  6  were  copied  from  the  originals  on  documents.  Fig.  1  is  a 
tortoise  ;  Fig.  2  is  the  signature  of  King  Hendrick,  with  his  totem,  a  deer ;  Fig.  3  is  a 
potato  totem  ;  Fig.  4,  an  eagle  totem  ;  Fig.  5,  a  icolf  totem,  and  Fig.  6,  a  beamr  totem. 
Many  totemic  signatures  are  rudely  drawn,  while  some  are  quite  artistic  and  correct. 

The  tortoise,  the  irolf,  and  the  bear  were  the  totems  of  the  three  families  into  which 
each  nation  was  divided.  In  his  stirring  metrical  romance,  Frontenac,  the  late  Alfred 
B.  Street,  describing  tlu;  aggressions  and  the  supremacy  of  the  Iroquois,  thus  alludes  to 
these  totemic  symbols  of  a  tierce  tribe  : 

"  By  the  far  Missinsippi  the  Illini  shrank 
When  the  trail  of  the  tortoise  was  seen  on  its  bank  ; 
On  the  hills  of  New  England  the  Pequod  turned  pale 
When  the  howl  of  the  wolf  swelled  at  night  on  the  gale  ; 
And  the  Cherokee  shook  in  his  green  smiling  bowers 
When  the  foot  of  the  bear  stamp'd  his  carpet  of  flowers ." 


s 


THE    EMPIHK   STATE. 


Tlie  first  chosen  president  of  the  league  was  tlie  venerahle  Ato-tar-ho, 
u  famous  Onondaga  cliief.  Tlie  Indian  traditions  invest  liiin  vvitli  ex- 
traordinary attributes.  He  is  represented  as  living,  at  the  time  he  was 
chosen,  in  grim  seclusion  in  a  swamp,  where  his  dishes  and  drinking-cups, 
like  those  of  the  old  Scandinavian  warriors,  were  made  of  the  skulls  of 
his  enemies  slain  in  battle.  When  a  delegation  of  Mohawks  went  to  offer 
him  the  symbol  of  supreme  power,  they  found  him  sitting  in  calm  repose, 
smoking  his  pipe,  but  was  unapproachable  because  he  was  clothed  with 
liissing  snakes — the  old  story  of  Medusa's  tresses.  They  iinally  invested 
him  with  a  l)road  belt  of  wampum  as  the  highest  token  of  authority. 

The  military  power  dominated  the  civil  power  in  the  league.  The 
nn'Htary  leaders  were  called  chiefs.      They  derived  their  authorit}''  from 

the  people,  and  they  sometimes,  like  the 
Iloman  soldiers,  deposed  sachems  or  civil 
rulers.  The  army  was  composed  wholly  of 
volunteers.  Conscription  was  impossible. 
Kvery  able-bodied  nuui  Avas  bound  to  do 
military  duty,  and  he  who  shirked  it  in- 
curred everlasting  disgrace.  The  ranks 
were  always  full.  The  war-dances  were 
the  recruiting  stations.  AVhatever  was  done 
in  civil  councils  w.is  subjected  to  review 
by  the  soldiery,  who  had  the  right  to  call 
councils  when  they  pleased,  and  to  approve 
or  disapprove  public  measures.  Every  im- 
portant measure  was  undertaken  only  after 
imanimous  consent  had  been  given. 
The  matrons  formed  a  thii-d  and  most  })Owurful  party  in  the  legislature 
of  the  league.  They  had  a  right  to  sit  in  the  councils,  and  held  and 
exercised  the  veto  power  on  the  subject  of  a  declaration  of  war.  They 
had  authority  to  demand  a  cessation  of  hostilities,  and  they  were  emi- 
nently peace-makers.  Tt  was  no  reflection  upon  the  courage  of  warrioi-s 
if,  at  the  call  of  the  matrons,  they  M'ithdrew  from  the  Avar-path.  These 
women  wielded  great  influence  in  the  councils  of  the  league,  but  they 
modestly  delegated  the  duties  of  speech-making  to  some  masculine 
orator.  With  these  barbarians  woman  was  man's  coworker  in  legislation 
— a  thing  yet  unknown  among  civilized  j)eople.  Such  was  the  polity  of 
the  Iroquois  Confederacy  when  it  was  discovered  by  Europeans.* 


ATO-TAK-IIO. 


■*  "  As  I  am  forced  to  think."  .says  Dr.  Coldcn  {IIMor^^  of  the  Mrie  Indian  N(Uion»). 
"  that  the  present  .state  of  ihaliulunt,  Nation  exactly  sliow.s  the  }f(n<t  Ancient  and  Orif/inaJ 
(hmfition  of  almost  every  Nation  ;  so  I  iM'lieve  here  we  may,  with   more  certainty.  s<'t* 


POWER   OF   THE   FIVE    XATIOXS-CHAMPLAIN. 


^^v\  -_c. 


SAMlEr,    niAMPLATX. 


The  "  inalienable  rights  of  man"  were  held  in  such  reverence  by  the 
Iroquois  that  they  never  made  slaves  of  their  fellow-men,  not  even  of 
captives  taken  in  war.  By  unity  they  Avere  made  powerful  ;  and  to  pre- 
vent degeneracy,  members  of  a 
tribe  were  not  allowed  to  inter- 
marry with  each  other.  Like  the 
Romans,  they  caused  the  expan- 
sion of  their  commonwealth  by 
conquests  and  annexation.  Had 
the  advent  of  Europeans  in  Am- 
erica been  postponed  a  century, 
the  Confederacy  might  have  era- 
braced  the  whole  continent,  for 
the  Five  Nations  had  already  ex- 
tended their  conquests  from  the 
great  lakes  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexi- 
co, and  were  the  terror  of  the 
other  nations  East  and  West, 

For  a  long  time  the  French  in 
Canada,  who  taught  the  Indians 

the  use  of  fire-arms,  maintained  a  doubtful  struggle  against  them.  Cham- 
plain  *  found  the  Iroquois  at  M'ar  against  the  Canada  Indians  from  Lake 

the  Origiiud  Forms  of  all  Governments  than  in  the  most  ruriovs  speculations  of  tlie 
Ijearned ;  and  that  the  Patriarchal  and  other  Schemes  in  Politicks  are  no  better  than 
Ilfipotheses  in  Philosophy,  and  as  prejudicial  to  real  knowledge." 

The  total  population  of  the  Confederacy  at  the  advent  of  the  Europeans  did  not  ex- 
ceed probably  13, (MX).  The  Senecas  seemed  to  be  the  more  numerous.  They  were  found 
to  posses.s  many  of  the  better  features  of  civilization.  They  hatl  framed  cabins  ;  cultivated 
the  soil  ;  manufactured  stone  implements  and  pottery  ;  made  clothing  and  foot-gear  of 
the  skins  of  animals  ;  fashioned  canoes  of  bark  or  of  logs  hollowed  by  fire  and  stone 
axes,  and  showed  some  military  skill  and  acumen  in  the  construction  of  fortifications. 

*  Samuel  C'hamplain  was  an  eminent  French  navigator,  born  at  Brouage,  France,  in 
1567  ;  served  in  the  Spani.^h  navy  ;  was  pensioned  by  his  king,  and  was  induced  by  M.  de 
Chastes,  Governor  of  Dieppe,  to  explore  and  prepare  the  way  for  a  colony  on  the  banks 
of  the  St.  Lawrence  River.  He  Avas  commissioned  Lieiitenant-General  of  Canada.  He 
a.scended  the  St.  Lawrence  in  May,  1603,  and  landed  on  the  site  of  Quebec.  In  a  subse- 
quent voyage  he  planted  the  banner  of  France  at  Quebec — the  capital  of  the  dominion. 
In  order  to  gain  the  friendship  of  the  Indians,  he  was  induced  to  join  them,  with  a  few 
Frenchmen,  in  an  expedition  against  their  enemies  the  Iroquois.  They  went  up  the  Sorel 
River  from  the  St.  Lawrence  in  twenty-four  canoes,  into  the  "Lake  of  the  Iroquois, " 
and  on  its  lower  western  border  (July  29th,  1609)  had  a  sharp  engagement  with  the  foe. 
The  arquebuses  of  the  Europeans  secured  an  easy  victory.  This  was  the  first  European 
invasion  of  the  country  of  the  Iroquois.  The  fight  occurred  between  Crown  Point  and 
Lake  George,  not  far  from  Schroon  (Scarron)  Lake.  Champlaiu  gave  his  name  to  the 
lartrer  lake 


10  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Unroll  to  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.  He  fought  tliem  on  the  borders  of 
Lake  Chaniplaiii  in  1609,  and  from  that  time  until  the  middle  of  the 
<5entury  tlieir  wars  against  the  Canada  Indians  and  tlieir  French  allies 
were  tierce  and  distressing. 

The  Tuscaroras,  in  North  Carolina,  entered  into  a  conspiracy  with 
other  Indians  in  1711  to  exterminate  the  white  people  there.  They 
fell  like  lightning  upon  the  scattered  German  settlements  along  the 
Koanoke  River  and  Pamlico  Sound.  In  one*  night  they  slew  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  persons.  With  knife  and  torch  they  desolated  the  settle- 
ments along  the  shores  of  Albemarle  Sound.  South  Carolinians  sped  to 
the  rescue  of  their  smitten  neighbors  in  1712,  and  in  the  spring  of  1713 
the  Tuscaroras  were  driven  into  their  stronghold,  where  eight  hundred 
<)i  them  were  made  jjrisoners.  The  remainder  fled  to  their  kindred — 
the  Five  Nations — in  June,  and  remaining  there,  formed  the  sixth  nation 
<)i  the  Iroquois  League. 

It  was  after  this  union  that  the  most  important  events  in  the  history 
of  the  league,  as  connected  with  the  European  inhabitants  of  the 
Province  and  State  of  New  York,  occurred.  As  the  wars  of  the  league 
with  other  barbarians,  which  occurred  before  the  advent  of  the  Euro- 
peans, have  no  bearing  upon  the  early  history  of  New  York,  I  will  for- 
bear alluding  to  them. 

Upon  the  walls  of  the  Governor's  Room,  in  the  City  Hall,  New 
York,  hangs  a  dingy  portrait  of  a  man  apparently  thirty-five  or  forty 
years  of  age.  It  was  painted,  probably,  about  three  hundred  years  ago. 
His  hair  is  dark  and  short,  and  so  is  his  full  beard.  His  forehead  is 
broad,  and  his  eyes  are  expressive  of  intelligence  and  good-nature.  His 
neck  is  encircled  by  an  ample  "  ruff,"  such  as  men  wore  late  in  the 
reign  of  C^ueen  Elizabeth.  It  is  claimed  that  this  is  an  original  picture 
from  life  of  Hexhy  Hudson,*  a  famous  English  navigator,  who,  in  the 
service  of  some  London  merchants,  attempted  to  make  a  voyage  from 
(ireat  Britain  to  China  and  Japan  through  the  polar  waters  north  of 
Europe  and  Asia  early  in  the  seventeenth  century.  He  failed,  and  was 
iifterward  employed  for  the  same  purpose  by  the  Dutch  East  India  Coni- 

*  Henry  Hudson  was  u  native  of  England,  born  at  about  the  middle  of  the  sixteenth 
<".ontuiy.  Of  his  early  life  nothing  is  known.  He  appears  to  have  been  an  expert  navi- 
gator, and  employi'd,  as  avc  have  observed  in  the  text,  by  both  English  and  Duteh 
merehants  in  searching  for  a  north-east  jMissagc;  to  the  East  Indies.  Failing  in  this  elTort, 
he  sailed  westward  to  Anu'riea,  entered  a  spacious  land-locked  bay  into  which  poured  the 
-waters  of  a  mighty  river,  and  up  which  he  sailed  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles.  His 
name  was  given  to  it,  as  its  discoverer  and  first  explorer.  After  various  tribulations  he 
made  a  fourth  voyage,  in  1610,  toward  the  Polar  waters,  descended  the  great  bay  that 
bears  his  name,  and  there  jwrisht'd. 


HUDSON'S   VOYAGES   AND   DISCOVERIES. 


11 


pany.  He  sailed  from  the  Texel  in  a  yacht  of  ninety  tons  named  the 
Half  Moon,* vf\t\\  a  select  crew,  in  the  spring  of  1609.  He  steered  for 
the  coast  of  Nova  Zembla.  On  the  meridian  of  Spitzbergen  he  was  con- 
fronted, as  before,  by  impassable  ice 
and  fogs  and  tempest,  and  com- 
pelled to  abandon  the  enterprise. 
Then  he  resolved  to  sail  in  search  of 
a  north-west  passage  "  below  Yirgi- 
nia,"  spoken  of  by  his  friend  Caj)- 
tain  Smith,  He  passed  the  southern 
capes  of  Greenland,  and  in  July 
made  soundings  on  the  banks  of 
Newfoundland.  Sailing  southward, 
he  discovered  Delaware  Bay.  He 
voyaged  as  far  as  the  harbor  of 
Charleston,  when,  disappointed,  he 
turned  his  prow  northward,  and  early 
in  September  sailed  into  the  beauti- 
ful New  York  Bay  "^  and  anchored. 

SipJiding  men  ashore  in  a  boat,  they  saw  many  almost  naked,  copper- 
colored  inhabitants,  some  of  M-hom  followed  them  in  their  canoes  on 
their  return. 

From  his  anchorage  Hudson  saw  a  broad  stream  stretching  northward. 
In  the  purple  distance  appeared  the  forms  of  lofty  liills,  through  and 
beyond  which  the  dusky  inhabitants  who  swarmed  around  his  ship  in 
canoes  told  him  there  was  a  nn'ghty  river  which  felt  the  pulsations  of 
the  tides  of  the  sea.  Believing  this  stream  to  be  a  strait  flowing  between 
oceans,  he  sailed  on  with  joyous  hope,  not  doubting  he  would  be  the 


HENRY   HUDSON. 


*  A  claim  lias  been  made  that  John  Verazzano,  a  Florentine  in  the  maritime  service 
of  King  Francis  I.  of  France,  discovered  New  York  Bay  in  1534.  It  is  asserted  that  he 
traversed  the  American  coast  from  Cape  Fear  to  latitude  50"  N. ,  when  he  returned  to 
France.  The  sole  autliority  upon  which  this  claim  rests  is  a  letter  alleged  to  have  been 
written  by  the  navigator  to  Francis  I.,  in  the  summer  of  1534.  This  letter  was  first  pub- 
lished at  Venice  in  1556.  No  French  original  is  known  to  exist,  nor  has  there  been  found 
in  the  French  archives  of  that  period  even  an  allusion  to  such  a  voyage.  Verazzano 
was  an  adventurer.  He  was  also  a  corsair,  and  was  captured  on  the  coast  of  Spain  and 
hanged  as  a  pirate  at  the  village  of  Pico,  in  November,  1537.  There  is  good  i-eason  for 
believing  that  the  alleged  letter  of  Verazzano  is  a  forgery.  In  it  is  given  a  most  confused 
account  of  the  "  seven  hundred  leagues  of  coast  "  traversed.  It  is  said  in  it  that  a  bay 
was  discovered,  but  no  data  to  determine  whether  it  was  Delaware,  New  York,  or  Narra- 
gansett  Bay.  It  is  safe  to  relegate  to  the  realm  of  pure  fiction  such  a  vague  and  luitrust- 
worthy  statement,  even  if  the  letter  was  genuine,  as  a  foundation  for  a  belief  that  Ver- 
azzano ever  saw  New  York  Bay. 


12 


THK   EMPIHK   STATE. 


discoverer  of  the  long-souglit  iiortli-west  passage  to  tlie  Indies.  Alas  ! 
when  lie  had  jmssed  the  mountains  the  water  freshened  and  the  stream 
narrowed.  Hope  failed  him  :  but  he  voyaged  on  through  a  land  of  won- 
drous beauty  and  fertility — "  as  beautiful  a  land  as  the  foot  of  man  can 
tread  upon,''  he  said — a  land  peopled  by  vigorous  men  and  beautiful 
women,  who  came  to  his  vessel,  and  abounding  with  fnr-bearing  animals. 
He  sailed  on  until  he  reached  the  head  of  tide-water,  and  some  of  hi.s 
crew  in  a  small  boat  passed  by  the  foaming  cataract  of  Cohoes  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Mohawk  ]liver,  and  M'ent  several  miles  farther.  Had 
lIudsoTi  penetrated  the  wilderness  a  few  leagues  farther  northward  he 
might  have  met  (Jliamplain,  who  was  then  exploring  the  lower  borders 
of  the  "  Lake  of  the  Iro(piois,"  which  afterward  bore  his  own  name. 


^-^~^^'-f?.i- 


THE    HALF    MOON. 


Hudson  returned  t(»  his  first  anchorage  in  the  beautiful  harbor  int<« 
which  it  has  been  claimed  Ycrazzano,  the  Florentine  navigator,  had 
sailed  more  than  fourscore  years  before.  Ho  took  formal  ])osse8sion  of 
the  country  in  the  luime  of  the  States-General  of  Holland,  sailed  out 
upon  the  Atlantic,  and  hastened  to  Europe  to  tell  his  glad  tidings  to  his 
employers.  He  first  landed  in  England,  and  there  told  his  wonderful 
story.  As  he  was  an  English  subject,  King  James  claime<l  the  land  he 
had  discovered  as  a  rightful  ])ossession  of  the  JJritish  crown.  It  was 
within  the  bounds  of  the  North  Virginia  charter  which  he  had  granted. 
Added  to  these  considerations  was  jealousy  of  the  commercial  advantages 
the  Hollanders  might  derive  from  Hudson's  discovery.  The  monarch, 
determined  to  secure  to  his  crown  every  political  right  to  the  territory 
and  every  eonnnercial  advantage  possible  for  liis  subjects,  would  not  allow 


INDIAN  NAMES   OF   THE   HUDSON   RIVER.  13 

the  navigator  and  liis  vessel  to  leave  England  for  a  long  time  ;  but 
Hudson  had  sent  his  log-l)Ook,  his  charts,  and  a  full  account  of  his 
discoveries  to  the  authorities  of  the  Dutch  East  India  Company  at  Am- 
sterdam. 

Tliese  accounts  so  powerfully  excited  the  cupidity  of  tlie  Dutch  that 
while  King  James  was  devising  schemes  for  British  political  and  com- 
mercial advantages,  adventurers  from  Holland  had  opened  a  brisk  fur 
trade  with  the  Indians  on  the  island  of  Manhattan,  x\cting  upon  the 
principle  and  the  practice  of  the  saying,  "  Possession  is  nine  points  of  the 
law,"  the  Dntch,  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  discovered  by  Hudson,  kept 
British  authority  and  dominion  at  bay  more  than  fifty  years.* 

*  The  Indians  on  tlie  upper  portion  of  the  great  river  discovered  by  Hudson  called  it 
Cn-ho-ha-ta-tea  ;  those  of  the  middle  i>ortion,  Hhat-te-mnr,  and  the  Delawares  and  the 
dwellers  in  its  lower  portion,  Mn-hi-cnn-ittuck,  the  "  place  of  the  Mohicans. "  The  Dutcli 
named  it  the  Mauritius,  in  honor  of  their  great  prince,  Maurice,  Stadtholder  of  the 
Netherlands  ;  and  the  English  named  it  Hudson's  River  in  compliment  of  its  discoverer. 

-^^ntil  within  a  coini>aratively  few  years,  it  was  frequently  called  North  River.  It  was  so 
designated  at  an  early  period  to  distinguish  it  from  the  Delaware,  which  was  called  the 

^^^mth  River, 


14  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER  II. 

In  less  than  three  years  after  his  great  discovery  Hudson  and  his  gallant 
little  yacht  perished.  Not  permitted  to  leave  England,  Hudson  entered 
tlie  service  of  an  English  company,  and  in  the  spring  of  1610  he  sailed  in 
quest  of  a  north-west  passage  to  India.  Passing  Iceland,  he  saw  Hecla 
flaming.  Rounding  the  southern  capes  of  Greenland,  he  went  through 
Davis's  Strait  to  the  ice-floe  beyond,  and  entered  the  great  bay  that 
bears  his  name.  There  he  endured  a  dreary  winter,  and  at  midsummer, 
1011,  his  mutinous  crew  thrust  him  into  a  frail  and  open  shallop,  with 
his  son  and  seven  others,  and  cast  them  adrift  to  perish  in  the  waste  of 
waters.  Philip  Staife,  tlie  ship's  carpenter,  obtained  leave  to  share  the 
fate  of  his  commander.  The  Half  Moon  sailed  to  the  East  Indies  in 
the  spring  of  1611,  and  in  March,  the  next  year,  she  was  wrecked  and 
lost  on  the  island  of  Mauritius. 

Hudson's  discovery  bore  abundant  fruit  immediately.  Wealthy  mer- 
chants of  Amsterdam  sent  a  ship  from  the  Texel  laden  with  cheap  mer- 
chandise suitable  for  traftic  with  the  Indians  for  the  furs  and  peltries  of 
the  beaver,  the  otter,  and  the  bear.  As  soon  as  the  Half  Moon  returned 
to  New  Amsterdam  she,  too,  was  sent  on  a  like  errand  to  Manhattan, 
which  became  the  entrepot  for  the  collection  and  exportation  of  furs 
gathered  by  the  Indians  from  the  regions  of  the  Delaware  and  the 
Ilousatonic  rivers,  and  even  from  the  far-off  Mohawk  Valley,  where 
dwelt  tlie  eastern  nation  of  tlie  Iroquois  Republic.  This  was  the  begin- 
ning of  peaceful  intercourse  between  the  Europeans  and  the  dusky  Five 
Nations. 

Many  private  adventurers  were  soon  engaged  in  traffic  with  the 
Indians,  and  the  Ilongcrs,  tlie  Pelgraves,  and  the  Van  Tweenhuysens,  of 
Holland,  were  getting  rich  on  the  enormous  profits  derived  from  the 
trade.*  Caj)tains  De  AVitt  and  Christiansen,  Block  and  Mey  were 
l)econiing  famous  navigators  in  connection  with  this  trade  before  the 
free  cities  of  Holland  had  cast  a  political  glance  toward  the  newly-dis- 
covered country.     But  when  its  importance  became  manifest,  and  King 

*  Hans  Hongers,  Paul  Pelgrave,  and  Lambreclit  Tweenhuysen,  merchants  of  Amster- 
dam, were  the  earliest  Dutch  traders  for  furs  with  the  Indians  at  Manhattan.  In  1612 
they  equipped  two  vessels,  \\\(i  Fortune  and  the  Tiger,  for  trade  alonn  the  Hudson  liiver 
These  vessels  were  commanded  respectively  by  Captains  C'hristiansen  and  Block. 


PLANTING  THE   SEED   OF  EMPIRE.  15 

James  of  Great  Britain  began  to  growl  because  the  Uutcli  were 
monopolizing  the  fur  trade  upon  his  claimed  domain,  tlie  States-General 
of  Holland  ""  seriously  considered  the  matter. 

Within  five  years  after  Hudson  departed  from  Manhattan  a  little  seed 
of  empire,  less  promising  than  that  planted  by  Dido,  Cecrops,  or 
Romulus,  but  of  far  higher  destiny,  was  deposited  there.  In  December, 
1613,  Adrien  Block,  a  bold  Dutch  navigator,  was  about  to  sail  from 
Manhattan  for  Amsterdam  with  a  cargo  of  bear-skins  when  fire  reduced 
his  vessel — the  Tiger — to  ashes.  The  small  storehouse  of  the  traffickers 
could  not  afford  shelter  to  Block's  crew,  and  the  wigwams  of  the  Indians, 
freely  offered,  could  not  shield  them  from  the  biting  frosts  ;  so  they 
built  log-cabins,  and  from  the  stately  oaks  which  towered  around  them 
they  constructed  another  vessel,  which  they  called  the  Onrust — the 
"Restless" — forty-four  feet  long  and  eleven  feet  wide,  and  of  sixteen 
tons  burden.  AVith  anotljer  cargo  of  furs  the  Onrxmi  sailed  for  Holland 
in  the  spring  of  1614. f  That  little  collection  of  huts  on  the  site  of  the 
stately  warehouses  of  Beaver  Street,  and  that  little  vessel,  which  was 
launched  at  the  foot  of  Broadway,  composed  the  fertile  little  seed  of 
empire  planted  on  Manhattan — the  tiny  beginning  of  the  great  commer- 
cial metropolis  of  the  Western  Hemisphere. 

Doubtful  as  to  the  real  disposition  of  the  Indians  around  them,  the 
Dutch  seem  to  have  palisaded  their  storehouses  at  the  southern  end  of 
Manhattan  Island  for  a  defence  if  necessary.  In  1614  Captain  C-hris- 
tiansen,  who  had  made  ten  voyages  to  Manhattan  Island,  sailed  up  the 
Mauritius  (now  the  Hudson  River),  and  on  an  island  a  little  below  the 
site  of  Albany  he  erected  a  fortified  trading-house,  and  called  it  Fort 
Nassau.  This  was  on  the  borders  of  the  Iroquois  Republic.  The  islet 
was  afterward  called  Castle  Island. 

Meanwhile  the  several  United  Provinces  of  the  Netherlands  had  peti- 
tioned the  States-General  or  Congress  of  Holland  to  pass  an  ordinance 
securing  a  monopoly  of  the  trade  with  the  Indians  on  the  Mauritius  for 
a  limited  time  to  Dutch  adventurers  who  might  undertake  the  business. 
This  was  done  in  the  spring  of  1614. 

Merchants  of  Amsterdam  and  Hoorn  formed  a  company,  and  at  the 


*  The  name  given  to  the  Parliament  or  Congress  of  the  United  Provinces  of  Holland. 

f  Block,  the  lirst  shipbuilder  on  Manhattan  Island,  sailed  up  the  East  River  into  Lon^ 
Island  Sound  ;  discovered  the  Connecticut  River  ;  explored  the  New  England  coasts 
eastward  ;  entered  and  explored  Narragansett  Bay  ;  sailed  to  Martha's  Vineyard  and 
Cape  Cod,  and  at  the  latter  place  left  the  Onrust,  and  proceeded  to  Holland  in  a  vessel 
commanded  by  Captain  Cliristiansen.  He  was  afterward  sent  in  command  of  some  ves- 
sels employed  in  the  whale-tishery  near  Spitzbergen,  in  1615. 


16 


THK    HMI'IliK    STATK. 


middle  of  August,  1614-,  they  sent  a  deputation  to  the  Dutcli  court  at  the 
Hague  to  obtain  a  charter  of  special  privileges  promised  by  the  ordinance. 
Before  an  oval  table  in  the  Binnenhof,  a  room  in  the  ancient  palace  of 
the  Counts  of  Holland,  the  chief  representative  of  the  merchants,  Cap- 
tain Hendricksen,  stood  and  epread  before  their  High  Mightinesses,  the 
members  of  the  States-CTerjeral,  twelve  in  number,  a  "  figurative  map" 
of  their  discoveries  in  the  Western  Hemisphere.  He  gave  details  of  the 
adventures  of  the  navigators  and  traders,   their  expenses   and    losses. 


THE   BINNKNHOK 

(The  I'iilaci!  of  the  Counts  of  Uollaiid  at  tlie  Hague*). 


The  leading  representative  of  the  State,  before  "whom  llendricksen 
pleaded,  was  the  famous  John  Van  Ohlen  Barneveldt,f  the  Advocate  of 
Holland. 


*  For  four  hundrod  years  the  Counts  of  Holltind  made  their  residence  at  the  Hairue. 
There  yet  stands  a  straugliiij;  pile  of  buildings  surrounding  a  vast  (juadrangle  on  one 
side  of  which  is  the  Binnenhof,  the  palace  of  the  Counts  of  Holland  for  many  genera- 
tions. There,  in  a  spacious  hall,  the  States-CJeneral  constantly  lield  their  ordinar}' 
meetings. 

f  Barneveldt  \v:is  n  most  lilKiiil  and  enlightened  statesman  of  Holland,  and  one  of  the 
most  loyal  of  eili/.ens.  JIc  was  jxTsccuted  by  political  and  religious  fanaticism,  and  the 
spite  of  Prince  Maurice,  IheStadthoUh-r,  and  was  linally  beheaded  in  front  of  the  Binnen- 
hof on  May  19th,  1619,  condemned  on  a  false  diarge  of  treason. 


CHARTER  OF  NEW   NETHERLAND. 


17 


u 


CHAMPLAIN's  attack  on  the  INDIAN   FOKT.* 

(From  a  print  in  a  narrative  of  his  voyages.) 


A  charter  was  granted  to  the  mercliants  on  October  14tli,  1614,  wliicli 
defined  the  region  wlierein  they  were  permitted  to  operate  as  "  between 
the  fortieth  and  forty-fifth  degree"  of  north  latituae — between  the  par- 
allels of  Cape  May  and  Nova  Scotia.  In  that  document  the  name  of  New 
Nethekland  was  given  to  the  domain  lying  "  between  Virginia  and 
New  France."  Notwithstanding  this  domain  was  included  in  the  royal 
grant  to  the  Plymouth  Company  of  England,  no  settlement  had  been 
made  by  the  English  above  Richmond,  in  Virginia,  and  no  formal  terri- 
torial jurisdiction  had  been  claimed  by  them  ;  and  the  Dutch  were  not 
disturbed  in  their  traffic  or  political  jurisdiction  for  a  long  time. 

The  Dutch  on  Manhattan  Island  and  at  Fort  Nassau  were  continually 
exploring  the  neighboring  regions  and  assiduously  cultivating  the  friend- 


*  The  fort  was  really  the  fortified  "  walls"  that  enclosed  an  Iroquois  village.  It  was 
composed  of  quadruple  palLsades  of  large  timber,  thirty  feet  high,  "  interlocked  the  one 
with  the  other,"  wrote  Champlaiu,  "  with  an  interval  of  not  more  than  half  a  foot  between 
them,  with  galleries  in  the  form  of  parapets,  defended  by  double  pieces  of  timber,  proof 
against  our  arquebuses,  and  on  one  side  they  had  a  pond  with  a  never-failing  supply  of 
water,  from  which  proceeded  a  number  of  gutters  which  they  had  laid  along  the  interme- 
diate space,  tlirowing  the  water  without,  and  rendering  it  effectual  inside,  for  the  purpose 
of  extinguishing  fire."  The  galleries  were  well  supplied  with  stones  which  the  garrison 
hurled  ujjon  their  enemies.  An  attempt  was  made  to  set  fire  to  the  fort,  but  failed. 
The  assailants  constructed  movable  towers  of  timber  to  overlook  the  parapets,  in  which 
to  place  four  or  five  arquebusiers.     See  next  page. 


IS  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

sliip  of  the  barbarians  around  them,  wliile  tlie  Frencli  in  Canada  were 
arousing  the  hostility  of  the  Iroquois  by  joining  their  enemies  in  making 
war  upon  tliem.  This  was  done  to  secure  the  friendship  of  tlie  Canadian 
Indians. 

In  the  early  autumn  of  1615  Samuel  Champlain  (already  noticed), 
tlien  at  Montreal,  with  ten  Frenclimen  carrying  fire-arms,  joined  the 
Ilurons  and  Adirondacks  in  an  expedition  against  the  Iroquois.  They 
went  up  the  St.  Lawrence  to  Lake  Ontario,  landed  on  its  south-eastern 
sliore,  and  moving  south-westward,  penetrated  tlie  country  to  Lakes 
Oneida  and  Onondaga.  There  tliey  attacked  a  stronghold  of  the  Iroquois, 
and  after  a  severe  struggle  for  four  hours,  the  invaders  were  repulsed, 
and  finally  retreated.  During  tlie  figlit  Champlain  was  twice  wounded, 
and,  unable  to  walk,  was  carried  on  a  frame  of  wicker-work.  He  was 
compelled  to  pass  the  winter  in  the  Huron  country  north  of  Lake 
Ontario,  and  did  not  return  to  Montreal  until  May,  lOlG,  where  he  was 
received  with  joy  as  one  risen  from  the  dead. 

The  Indians  who  immediately  surrounded  the  Dutch  on  Manhattan 
were  the  Metowacks  on  Long  Island,  the  Monatons  on  Staten  Island, 
the  Karitaiis  and  Ilackensacks  on  the  New  Jersey  shore,  and  the 
Weckquaesgeeks  beyond  the  Harlem  River.  The  Manhattans  occupied 
the  island  that  bears  their  name. 

In  161G  Captain  Ilendricksen  sailed  from  Manhattan  in  the  little 
Hestless  built  by  Block,  on  an  exploring  voyage.  He  entered  Delaware 
Bay,  which  Hudson  had  discovered  seven  years  before,  and  explored  the 
adjoining  coasts  and  the  river  above  as  far  as  the  rapids  at  Trenton.  He 
was  charmed  with  the  beauty  and  evident  fertility  of  the  country  around 
these  waters.  On  the  site  of  Philadelphia  (which  was  founded  sixty-six 
years  afterward)  he  ransomed  three  captive  Dutchmen.  On  his  return 
to  Manhattan  this  first  European  explorer  of  Delaware  Bay  and  River 
proceeded  to  Holland  to  assist  his  employers  in  obtaining  a  separate 
charter  which  would  give  them  the  monopoly  of  trade  with  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  newly-discovered  territory. 

Again  the  energetic  Captain  Ilendricksen  appeared  before  their  High 
Mightinesses  in  the  Binnenhof,  displayed  his  maps  and  arguments,  and 
gave  a  glowing  account  of  his  discoveries.  Doubtful  of  their  right  to 
any  territorial  jurisdiction  below  the  fortieth  degree,  the  States-General, 
after  duo  deliberation,  decided  to  postpone  the  matter  "  indefinitely." 

The  floods  of  the  Mohawk  River  sweeping  in  fury  down  the  Mauritius 
with  their  heavy  burden  of  floating  ice  comp(;lled  the  Dutch  to  abandon 
Fort  Nassau,  on  Castle  Island,  in  the  spring  of  KUT.  The  island  was 
submerged,  and  the  fort  was  almost  demolished.     A  new  one  was  built 


TREATY   WITH   INDIANS.  19 

on  the  main  at  the  iiioutli  of  the  Tawasentha  Creek  (now  Norman's  Kill), 
and  there  soon  afterward  the  first  formal  treaty  of  alliance  between  the 
Dutch  and  the  Iroquois  Confederacy  was  consnnmiated.  It  was  renewed 
in  1645,  and  in  1664  a  new  league  of  friendship  with  the  barbarians  was 
formed  by  tlie  English.  This  remained  inviolate  until  the  kindling  of 
the  old  war  for  American  independence  in  1775. 

At  the  great  council  at  Tawasentha  other  powerful  tribes  were  repre- 
sented, but  the  supremacy  of  the  Five  Kations  was  affirmed  and  acknowl- 
edged by  the  others,  even  with  tokens  of  great  humiliation.  "When  the 
long  belt  of  peace  and  alliance  was  held  by  the  Dutch  at  one  end  and  by 
tlie  Iroquois  at  the  other  end,  the  middle  portion  rested  ujson  the 
shoulders  of  the  Mohi-  ^ 

cans    (Mohegans)    and         ^~>1— _,_  ...ss^fes. 

So   the  Hollanders   wisely   and      ^__^  vbI^^K^~~ 

ship  of  these  "  Romans  of  the  ~  ^^^^,^JO|W|^ 

Success   had   attended  the    Dutch   in  ^^,-   O^       -fiw^^ 

New  Netherland   from    the   begimn'ng, 

-,        .  •       TT    n         1  1  •         •  A.   WAMPUM   BELT.* 

and  wise  men  in  Holland  were  beginmng 
to   prophesy   that    a    flourishing    Belgic 

Empire  Avould  arise  beyond  the  Atlantic.  Speculations  concerning 
the  bright  future  of  Holland  were  everywhere  indulged  in.  The 
sovereignty  of  the  United  Provinces  had  lately  been  recognized,  and  the 
Netherlands  now  ranked  among  the  leading  nations  of  the  earth.  For 
fully  twoscorc  years  political  and  religious  toleration  had  prevailed  in 
the  Low  Countries,  as  Holland  was  called.  There  was  no  official 
restraint  upon  conscience.  Holland  had  become  an  asylum  for  the  per- 
secuted in  all  lands — -of  the  active  thinkers  and  workers  who  had  been 
compelled  to  seek  a  refuge  somewhere  for  conscience'  sake.      The  world 


*  Wampum  was  the  currency  of  the  Indian.s,  especial!}'  of  tliose  wlio  lived  in  the  region 
of  the  sea.  It  was  made  of  portions  of  the  common  clam  shell  in  the  form  of  cylindrical 
beads,  white  and  bluish  black.  Each  color  had  a  distinct  and  fixed  value.  They  were 
strung  in  little  chains,  or  fastened  upon  deer-skin  belts,  often  in  alternate  layers  of  white 
and  black.  As  currency  their  value  was  estimated  at  about  two  cents  of  our  coins  for 
three  black  beads,  or  six  of  white  beads.  A  fathom  in  length  and  three  inches  in 
width  of  white  wampum  was  valued  at  about  $2.50,  and  a  fathom  of  blue  black,  at 
about  $5. 


20 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


of  bigots  outside  sneered.  Amsterdam  was  pointed  at  as  a  "  common  har- 
bor of  all  opinions  and  all  heresies."  Holland  was  stigmatized  as  a  "  cage 
of  unclean  birds,"  where  "all  strange  religions  flock  together,"  and  an 
English  poet  wrote  of  Amsterdam, 

"  The  Universal  Church  is  only  there." 

Occasionally,  however,  the  old  spirit  of  intolerance  would  crop  out 
and  acts  of  violence  would  be  performed  when  political  ambition,  dis- 


COSTUMKS  OP  THE  HOLLANDERS,  1630. 


guised  under  tlie  form  of  religious  controversy,  actuated  the  authorities 
of  State,  as  in  1G19,  when  Grotius,  the  eminent  scholar,  was  condemned 
to  imprisonment  for  life,  and  the  venerable  patriot,  John  Yan  Olden 
Barneveldt,  was  doomed  to  decapitation.  It  was  at  this  juncture  that 
schemes  for  the  establishment  of  a  colony  of  families  in  New  Netherland 
began  to  be  contemplated.  Excellent  materials  for  such  a  colony  were 
then  abundant  in  Holland,  and  the  political  and  social  condition  of  the 


CONDITION   OF   HOLLAND. 


21 


Low  Conntries  favored  sacli  an  enterprise.  The  feudal  system  tliere 
had  begun  to  decay.  Industry  was  made  honorable.  In  the  new  era 
which  had  gradually  dawned  on  tlie  Netherlands  the  owner  of  the  soil 
was  no  longer  the  head  of  a  band  of  armed  depredators  who  were  his 
dependents,  but  the  careful  proprietor  of  broad  acres,  and  devoted  to 
industry  and  thrift.  The  nobles,  who  composed  the  landlord  class,  grad- 
ually came  down  from  the  stilts  of  exclusiveness,  and  in  habits,  and  even 
in  costume,  imitated  the  working  people  in  a  degree.  The  latter 
became  elevated  in  the  social  scale  ;  their  rights  were  respected,  and 
their  relative  value  in  the  State  was  duly  estimated.  Ceaseless  toil  in 
Holland  was  necessary  to  preserve  tire  hollow  land  from  the  invasion  of 


DUTCH    WEST    INDIA   COMPANY  S    HOUSE. 


the  sea,  and  the  common  needs  assimilated  all  classes  in  a  country  where 
all  must  work  or  drown. 

Stimulated  by  the  glowing  accounts  of  the  country  and  climate  in  the 
region  of  America  watered  by  the  Mauritius,  and  satisfied  with  the  scant 
li])erty  accorded  them  by  the  Dutch  Grovernment,  the  English  Puritan 
congregation  of  the  Rev.  John  Ilobinson,  then  at  Leyden,  earnestly 
desired  to  emigrate  to  New  Netherland.  They  proposed  this  enterprise 
to  the  Associated  Merchants  in  1618,  whose  charter  of  privileges  had 
just  expired.     Mr.   Robinson  proposed  to  form  a  colony  at  Manhattan 


23 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


under  "the  Prince  of  Orange  and  their  High  and  Mighty  Lords,  the 
States- General." 

The  Association  of  Merchants  eagerly  listened  to  Rohinson's  proposal. 
They  offered  to  transport  his  whole  congregation  to  Manhattan  free  of 
cost,  and  to  furnish  each  family  with  cattle.  They  petitioned  the  Prince 
of  Orange  to  sanction  the  scheme.  Maurice  referred  the  matter  to  the 
States- General.  That  body  had  a  more  ambitious  scheme  in  contem- 
plation. Nearly  thirty  years  before,  the  wise  Usselincx  had  suggested  the 
formation  of  a  Dutch  West  India  Company.  The  project  was  now 
revived,  and  the  States- General  authorized  the  organization  of  such  a 
company — a  grand  commercial  monopoly.  A  charter  was  granted  on 
June  3d,  1621.  Colonization  was  neither  the  motive  nor  tlie  main 
object  of  the  establishment  of  the  Dutch  West 
India  Company.  The  grand  idea  was  the  promo- 
tion of  trade.  That  was  an  age  of  great  monopo- 
lies, and  the  Dutch  West  India  Company  was  one 
of  the  greatest  monopolies  of  the  time.  It  was 
incorporated  for  twenty-four  years,  with  a  pledge 
of  a  renewal  of  its  charter  ;  and  it  became  the 
sovereign  of  the  central  portion  of  the  original 
United  States  of  America.  It  was  vested  with  the 
exclusive  privilege  to  traffic  and  plant  colonies  on 
the  coast  of  Africa  from  the  Tropic  of  Cancer  to 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  on  the  coasts  of 
America  from  the  Strait  of  Magellan  to  the  remotest 
north.  It  provided  that  none  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  United  Provinces  of  the  Netherlands  should  be 
permitted  to  sail  thence  to  the  coasts  of  Africa 
between  the  points  specified,  nor  to  the  coasts  of 
America  or  the  West  Indies  between  Newfoimdland  and  Cape  Horn, 
upon  pain  of  a  forfeiture  of  ships  and  cargoes. 

This  great  monopoly  was  vested  with  enormous  powers  and  immense 
franchises  that  it  might  act  with  independence.  It  might  conquer  prov- 
inces at  its  own  risk,  hoist  its  fiag  of  red,  white,  and  blue  over  for- 
tresses, and  make  contracts  and  alliances  with  princes  and  other  rulers 
within  the  limits  of  its  charter.  It  might  build  forts  ;  appoint  and  dis- 
charge governors  and  other  officers  and  soldiei*s  ;  administer  justice  and 
regulate  commerce. 

The  States-General  gave  to  the  company  a  million  guilders  ($380,- 
000),  and  became  stockholders  to  the  same  amount.  They  agreed 
to  defend  the   company  against  every  person,  in  free  navigation  and 


dutch  "west  india 
company's  PL\G. 


THE   DUTCH   WEST   INDIA   COMPANY.  23 

traffic,  but  not  any  specified  territory.  They  also  agreed,  in  case  of  war, 
to  assist  tlie  company  by  furnishing  sixteen  war-shipg  of  three  hundred 
tons  burden  and  four  yachts  of  eighty  tons,  all  fully  equipped.  The 
vessels  were  to  be  manned  and  supported  by  the  company.  The  whole 
fleet  was  to  be  under  an  admiral  appointed  by  the  States-General.  In 
war  the  latter  was  to  be  known  only  as  allies  and  patrons. 

The  company  had  five  separate  chambers  of  management,  one  in  each 
of  five  principal  cities  in  the  I^etherlands.  The  general  executive 
powers  were  vested  in  nineteen  delegates,  entitled  The  College  of  Nine- 
teen. In  this  college  the  States-Gleneral  had  one  representative.  The 
special  charge  of  New  Netherland  was  entrusted  to  the  branch  at  Amster- 
dam.'-  Thus  the  Government  gave  to  a  new  mercantile  corporation 
almost  unlimited  powers  to  subdue,  colonize,  and  govern  the  unoccupied 
regions  of  Africa  and  America.  The  company  was  not  finally  organized 
until  June,  1628.  On  the  21st  of  that  month  its  books  of  subscription 
were  closed,  and  the  company  began  to  prosecute  their  jiurposes  with 
energy. 

Although  the  Dutch  West  India  Company  was  primarily  a  commercial 
corporation,  its  first  grand  eifort  was  the  planting  of  a  colony  in  New 
Netherland.  Good  policy  dictated  this  step.  In  the  summer  of  1619 
an  English  vessel  sent  by  the  Plymouth  Company  on  a  voyage  of  dis- 
covery, attempting  to  pass  the  dangerous  eddies  at  Hell  Gate,f  lost  its 
anchor,  and  was  carried  by  the  strong  currents  of  the  East  River  far  into 
the  broad  bay  at  Manhattan.  Her  commander  (Captain  Dermer)  did 
not  stop  to  parley  with  the  Dutch  traffickers,  who  saluted  him,  but  sailed 
on  to  Virginia.  On  his  return  he  stopped  at  Manhattan  and  warned  the 
Dutch  traders  to  leave  "  His  Majesty's  domain"  as  quickly  as  possible. 

"  We  found  no  English  here,  and  hope  we  have  not  offended,"  said 
the  good-natured  Dutchmen,  and  went  on  smoking  their  pipes,  planting 
their  gardens,  catching  beavers  and  otters,  and  buying  furs  and  peltries 
of  the  Indians  as  complacently  as  if  they  had  never  heard  of  his 
English  Majesty. 

Dermer' s  report  of  what  he  saw  at  Manhattan  aroused  the  slumbering 
energies  of  the  English,  and  especially  of  the  Plymouth  Company,  <;har- 

*  The  most  active  members  of  the  Amsterdam  Chamber  were  Jonas  Witsen,  Hendrick 
Hamel,  Samuel  Godyn,  Samuel  Blommaert,  John  de  Laet  (the  historian),  Killian  van 
Rensselaer,  Michael  Pauw,  and  Peter  Evertsen  Hult. 

f  Formerly  a  dangerous  passage  at  the  entrance  to  the  East  River  from  Long  Island 
Sound,  made  so  by  a  whirlpool  caused  by  a  sunken  reef  of  rocks  at  certain  times  of  the 
tide.  The  danger  has  been  removed  by  the  action  of  exploded  nitro-glycerine  applied 
by  a  Government  engineer.  The  early  Dutch  navigators  gave  it  the  name  of  "  Helle 
Gat." 


34  THE   f:MPIRE   STATE. 

tered  by  King  Jau^es  in  160C.  Tliey  liad  made  feeble  attempts  to  plant 
colonies  on  the  shores  of  the  vast  wilderness  now  known  as  New  Eng- 
land. In  1614  the  famous  John  Smith,  the  real  founder  of  Virginia, 
ex])lored  its  coasts  and  principal  rivers,  and  gave  it  the  name  whioli 
it  bears.  lie  attempted  to  plant  a  colony  there  under  the  auspices  of 
the  company,  but  failed.  At  length  (1620)  the  company  obtained  a  new 
charter  (under  the  name  of  Council  of  Plymouth),  which  extended  the 
limits  of  their  domain  to  the  forty-eighth  degree  of  latitude.  The  com- 
pany immediately  put  forth  energetic  efforts  to  establish  a  colony  there. 

Pastor  Robinson's  congregation  in  Holland  were  still  eager  to  emigrate 
to  America.  They  obtained  a  patent  from  the  Virginia  Company  to 
settle  in  the  unoccupied  region  in  the  "  northern  part  of  Virginia," 
which  extended  to  the  fortieth  degree  of  latitude.  They  formed  a 
partnership  with  London  capitalists,  and  late  in  1620  one  hundred  and 
one  men,  women,  and  children  of  the  congregation — pioneers — crossed 
the  stormy  Atlantic  in  the  little  2I(njJlow€i\  intending  to  land  on  the 
coasts  of  Delaware  or  Maryland.  By  accident  or  by  the  providence  of 
God  they  reached  the  continent  on  the  shores  of  Cape  Cod  Bay.  Find- 
ing themselves  far  north  of  the  region  designated  in  their  charter,  the 
principal  emigrants  drew  up  and  signed  a  democratic  constitution,  in  the 
cabin  of  the  Mayflower^  for  their  government,  and  chose  a  governor, 
their  spiritual  head  being  Elder  William  BreAvster.  These  "  Pilgrims,'^ 
as  they  called  themselves,  landed  in  the  deep  snow  on  the  bleak  coast  of 
Massachusetts  late  in  December,  and  at  a  spot  which  they  named  New 
Plymouth  they  built  a  little  village  of  log-huts  and  laid  the  foundations 
of  a  State. 

This  significant  movement  admonished  the  Dutch  that  the  English 
were  j^reparing  to  dispute  the  right  of  the  Hollanders  to  a  foothold 
within  the  domain  embraced  in  the  charter  of  the  Plymouth  Company. 
Indeed,  at  this  juncture  the  Britisli  Privy  Council  had  instructed  Sir 
Dudley  Carleton,  the  British  ambassador  at  the  Hague,  to  peremptorily 
demand  of  the  States-General  an  immediate  prohibition  of  any  further 
prosecution  of  commercial  enterprises  or  settlements  by  the  Dutch  within 
the  region  claimed  by  the  English.  It  was  done.  The  States- General 
having  put  the  whole  matter  under  the  control  of  the  then  jnst  chartered 
Dutch  West  India  Company,  paid  very  little  attention  to  the  demand, 
or  to  the  bluster  of  the  British  monarch  and  his  ambassador.  But  the 
company,  for  obvious  reasons,  took  immediate  measures  for  planting  a 
colony  and  laying  the  foundations  of  a  State  at  Aranhattan, 

Like  the  Plymouth  Company,  the  Dutch  West  India  Company  found 
in  Holland  excellent  and  ample  materials  for  a  colony.     Thousands  of 


EMIGRATION  TO   NEW   NETHERLAND. 


25 


Protestant  refugees  of  French  extraction,  known  as  Walloons,  had  fled 
from  fiery  persecution  in  tlie  southern  Belgic  provinces  bordering  on 
France,  and  had  taken  refuge  in  Holland.  They  were  mostly  skilled 
artisans  and  industrious  agri- 
culturists. Like  the  English 
Puritans  in  Holland,  they 
were  animated  by  a  strong 
desire  to  go  to  America.  Tliey 
asked  the  Plymouth  Com- 
pany for  permission  to  settle 
in  Virginia.  It  was  denied. 
They  asked  the  Dutch  West 
India  Company  for  a  similar 
privilege.  The  Amsterdam 
Chamber  of  the  company 
gladly  complied,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1623  they  equipped 
the  Aew  Netherlands  of  two 
hundred  and  sixty  tons  bur- 
den, commanded  by  Captain 
Adriaen  Joris,  and  sent  her  to 
Manhattan,  bearing  thirty 
Walloon  families  numbering 
one  hundred  and  ten  men, 
women,  and  children.*  She 
arrived  at   Manhattan  at  the 

beginning  of  May.  The  superintendence  of  the  expedition  was  intrusted 
to  Captain  Cornelis  Jacobsen  May,t  of  Hoorn,  who  was  to  remain  in 
Tfew  Netherland  as  the  first  director  of  the  colony.  Captain  Joris  went 
out  as  his  lieutenant  in  the  management  of  the  colony. 


S^^^S^^^^rr;  - 


NEW   NETHERT.AND. 


*  Tlie  Walloons  (Flemish,  Wcwleii)  were  of  a  mixed  Gallic  and  Teutonic  blood, 
and  most  of  them  spoke  the  old  Teutonic  tongue.  They  inhabited  the  southern  Belgic 
provinces  and  adjoining  parts  of  France.  When  the  northern  provinces  of  the  Nether- 
lands formed  their  political  union,  at  Utrecht,  in  1579,  the  southern  provinces,  whose  in- 
habitants were  chiefly  Roman  Catholics,  declined  to  join  the  Confederation.  Many  of 
the  people  were  Protestants,  and  against  these  the  Spanish  Government  at  once  began  the 
most  cruel  persecutions.  Thousands  of  them  fled  to  Holland,  and  were  welcomed  and 
protected.     At  the  time  of  their  dispersion  (1580),  the  Walloons  numbered  over  2,000,000. 

t  May  was  an  active  navigator  and  explorer.  He  went  up  the  James  River  as  far  as 
Jamestown,  and  penetrated  other  streams  on  the  coast  south  of  Manhattan.  The  southern 
coast  of  New  Jersey  was  named  in  his  honor,  and  still  retains  the  title  of  Cape  May. 
He  was  the  first  director  or  governor  of  New  Netherland. 


26  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

A  French  vessel  had  just  entered  Manhattan  liarbor,  and  lier  captain 
insisted  upon  setting  up  the  French  arms  and  taking  possession  of  the 
country  in  the  name  of  his  sovereign  because  it  was  claimed  that  Yeraz- 
zano,  in  the  employment  of  a  French  monarch,  had  entered  the  liarbor  a 
century  before.  Now  was  presented  the  spectacle  of  thr^e  European 
nations  claiming  the  ownership  of  an  nndefined  territory  in  a  wilderness 
more  than  three  thousand  miles  from  their  respective  capitals,  on  the 
plea  of  "first  discovery" — tlie  robber's  right  conferred  by  the  mailed 
hands  of  power.  The  Dutch,  having  possession — the  "nine  points  of 
the  law" — held  on.  The  Frenchman  was  driven  out  to  sea  by  two 
cannons  on  the  little  yacht  Mackerel,  and  the  English  were  defied. 

The  colonists  were  soon  dispersed  and  settled  in  permanent  homes. 
Captain  Joris,  with  eighteen  families,  sailed  up  the  Mauritius  as  far  as 
the  site  of  Albany,  where  a  fort  was  constructed  and  named  Orange  in 
honor  of  their  prince.  He  left  a  few  settlers  at  Esopus,  now  Kingston. 
The  colonists  built  huts,  "  put  in  the  spade,"  and  began  farming  vigor- 
ously near  Fort  Orange.  Representatives  of  Indian  tribes  came  and  made 
"  covenants  of  friendship"  with  Joris.  Four  couples  of  the  emigrants, 
with  eight  seamen,  went  to  the  Delaware  River  and  settled  on  the  left 
bank  four  miles  below  the  site  of  Philadelphia,  where  Fort  Nassau  was 
built.  Two  families  and  six  men  were  sent  to  the  Connecticut  River  to 
build  a  fort  (which  was  named  Good  Hope)  near  tlie  site  of  Hartford, 
and  to  take  formal  2:)ossession  of  the  country  by  virtue  of  Block's  dis- 
covery of  that  stream  in  1614.  The  remainder  of  these  pioneer  colonists 
settled  on  the  site  of  Brooklyn.''^  Other  emigrants  from  Holland  soon 
joined  them,  and  near  the  site  of  the  Navy  Yard  at  Brooklyn,  Sarah 
Rapelye,  the  first  child  of  European  blood  born  in  the  province  of  New 
Netherland,  inhaled  her  first  breath. 

In  1624  a  shadow  of  civil  government  for  the  Dutch  colony  M'as 
provided  by  the  installation  of  Captain  Cornelis  Jacobsen  May  as  first 
director  of  New  Netherland.  He  niled  as  an  autocrat  wisely  for  about 
a  year,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  William  Yerhulst  as  second  director 
of  New  Netherland.     Yerhulst  also  ruled  wisely  one  year. 

Meanwhile  events  in  Europe  were  strengthening  the  jjosition  of  Hol- 
land and  promising  increased  prosperity  to  the  Dutch  West  India  Com- 
pany. The  foreign  relations  of  Great  Britain  had  become  so  critical  that 
King  James  found  it  expedient  to  form  an  alliance  with  the  Netherlands 
in  1624,  and  he  and  his  Privy  Council  wisely  concluded  that  it  would  be 

*  Brooklyn  is  a  corruption  of  its  origiiiiil  Dutch  aiiiK-lhition,  Brcuckdcn — English 
Brooklund  or  "  marshy  land" — a  pretty  village  about  eighteen  miles  from  Amsterdam, 
on  the  road  to  Utrecht. 


PURCHASE   OF  MANHATTAN  ISLAND. 


2\ 


wete^  -yfc^vz^  ^ji^ecJtet^l' 


impolitic  to  offend  the  powerful  commercial  company  bj  acting  as  cham- 
pions of  the  Council  of  Plymouth  when  they  complained  of  aggressions 
upon  their  chartered  rights.  Encouraged  by  these  circumstances,  the 
company  proceeded  to  strengthen  the  political,  social,  and  commercial 
powers  of  -the  new  colony  by  sending  more  families  and  also  needed 
supplies  of  stock  and  implements  of  labor.  They  commissioned  Peter 
Minuit,  of  Weser, 
one  of  their  number, 
director-general,  or 
governor  of  Kew 
Netherland,  and  gave  signature  of  peter  minuit. 

him  as   assistants  in 

his  civil  administration  a  council  of  five  persons,  a  "  koop  man"  or 
commissary-general,  who  was  also  secretary  of  the  province,  and  a 
"  sellout"  or  public  procurator  and  sheriff.* 

Minuit  arrived  in  May,  1626,  in  the  ship  /Sea  Mew,  commanded  by 
Captain  Joris,  and  began  his  administration  with  vigor.  He  and  his 
council  were  invested  with  legislative,  judicial,  and  executive  power, 
subject  to  the  supervision  and  appellate  jurisdiction  of  the  Chamber  at 
Amsterdam.  They  had  power  to  fine  and  imprison  criminals,  but  in 
cases  where  capital  punishment  was  the  penalty  of  a  crime  the  culprit 

was  to  be  sent  to  Amsterdam. 

Hitherto  the  Dutch  had  possession 
of  Manhattan  Island  only  by  the 
dubious  right  of  first  discovery  and 
occupation.  Minuit  proceeded  to 
place  the  right  upon  the  sure  founda- 
tion of  justice.  He  called  together 
the  representatives  of  the  barbarians 
of  the  island,  and  made  a  treaty  for 
the  purchase  of  the  domain  from  them 
which  was  mutually  satisfactory.  It 
was  a  treaty  as  honorable,  as  impor- 
tant, and  as  noteworthy  as  was  the 
famous  alleged  treaty  between  William 
Penn  and  the  Indians  beyond  the  Delaware  under  the  broad  Shackamaxon 
Elm  which  has  been  immortalized  by  history,  painting,  and  poetry.  The 
price  paid  by  the  Hollanders  for  the  territory,  estimated  at  twenty-two 

*  The  members  of  the  first  council  were  Peter  Byveldt,  Jacob  Elvertsen  Wissinck,  Jan 
Janssen  Brouwer,  Simon  Dircksen  Pos,  and  Reynert  Harmenssen.  Isaac  de  Rassieres 
was  the  commissary  and  secretary,  and  Jan  Larapo  was  the  schout  or  sheriff. 


SEAL,  OP   NEW  NETHERLAND. 


28  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

tliousand  acres  in  extent,  was  not  extravagant — al)out  twenty-four 
dollars,  I^early  all  of  the  island  is  now  covered  by  buildings,  parks,  or 
streets. 

The  territory  called  New  Netherland  was  created  a  province  or  county 
of  Holland,  and  the  armorial  distinction  of  an  earl  or  count  was  granted. 
The  seal  of  New  Netherland  bore  an  escutcheon  on  which  was  the  figure 
of  a  beaver,  emblematic  of  the  chief  w^ld  animal  product  of  the  region, 
and  the  crest  was  the  coronet  of  an  earl.  The  organization  of  a  provi- 
sional civil  government,  the  purchase  of  territory,  and  the  erection  of 
New  Netherland  into  a  province  of  Holland,  in  1626,  is  justly  regarded 
as  the  period  of  the  germination  of  the  fruitful  seed  which  has 
expanded  into  the  mighty  Empire  State  of  New  York. 


SETTLERS   OX  MAXHATTAX   ISLAXD.  20 


CHAPTER   HI. 

So  soon  as  tlie  jjurcliase  of  Manhattan  was  effected,  Director  Minuii 
caused  a  redoubt  to  be  built  at  the  southern  extremity  of  the  island 
near  the  site  of  the  modern  Battery  and  the  Bowling  Green.  It  was 
quadrangular  in  form,  was  constructed  of  earth  faced  with  stone,  and 
was  surrounded  with  strong  palisades  of  cedar.  This  redoubt  was  upon 
an  deviation,  and  commanded  the  waters  of  the  bay  in  front  and  of 
the  Hudson  (Mauritius)  and  East  rivers  on  its  flanks.  The  work  was 
completed  in  1627,  and  was  named  Fort  Amsterdam,  The  village  that 
grew  up  near  it  was  called  Manhattan  until  Stuyvesant  came,  in  1647, 
when  it  was  named  Kew  Amsterdam. 

Each  settler  on  Manhattan  owned  the  rude  house  in  which  he  lived. 
It  was  his  inviolable  castle.  He  kept  cows,  tilled  the  soil,  traded  vvith 
the  Indians,  and  deposited  his  furs  in  the  trading-house,  which  was  built 
of  stone  and  thatched  with  reeds.  This  was  the  embryo  of  the  vast 
warehouses  of  the  city  of  Isew  York.  There  were  no  idlers.  All  were 
producers  as  well  as  consumers.  In  the  year  in  which  the  fort  w^as  com- 
pleted furs  of  the  value  of  nearly  $20,000  were  sent  from  Manhattan  to 
Amsterdam.  The  settlers  were  at  peace  with  all  their  dusky  neighbors, 
and  the  future  of  the  colony  seemed  dazzling  to  the  seers. 

But  a  bright  morning  is  not  always  a  sure  harbinger  of  a  pleasant  day. 
"While  the  fort  was  a-building  an  event  occurred  which  became  the  pro- 
genitor of  many  fearful  scenes,  and  of  injuries  to  the  colony.  One  morn- 
ing a  chief  from  beyond  the  Harlem  Biver,  accompanied  by  his  little 
nephew  and  a  young  warrior,  was  sauntering  with  a  bundle  of  beaver 
skins  along  the  shores  of  the  little  lake  whose  waters  once  sparkled  in 
the  hollow  where  the  Halls  of  Justice  (the  Tombs),  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  now  stand.  Three  of  the  director's  farm  servants  robbed  them 
and  murdered  the  chief.  His  nephew  fled  to  the  thick  woods  that 
bordered  the  East  River  and  escaped.  The  lad  left  behind  him  a  curse 
upon  the  white  man,  and  solemnly  vowed  vengeance  when  mature  man- 
hood should  give  him  strength.  We  shall  observe  hereafter  how  that 
vow  was  fulfilled.  The  surrounding  barbarians  were  made  jealous, 
suspicious,  and  vengeful. 

Trouble  now  appeared  beyond  the  mountains  in  the  north.  Daniel 
van  Krieckenbeeck  had  been  made  deputy-connnissary  and  connnander 


30  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

at  Fort  Orange  (now  Albany),  and  managed  prudently  and  successfully 
until  he  was  induced  to  take  a  foolish  step.  The  Mohicans  had  a  stock- 
aded village  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  (now  East  Albany). 
Enmity  had  suddenly  appeared  between  them  and  the  Mohawks.  The 
Mohicans  crossed  the  river  and  asked  the  Dutch  commander  to  join 
them  in  a  foray  upon  the  Mohawks.  He  unwisely  assented,  and  with 
six  of  his  men  marched  with  his  dusky  allies  into  the  pine  woods,  where 
they  were  terribly  smitten  and  dispersed  by  a  band  of  Mohawks.  Krieck- 
enbeeck  and  three  of  his  men  were  slain.  Distrust  of  the  Dutch  by  the 
Indians  in  all  that  region  ensued.  The  Dutch  families  fled  for  safety  to 
Manhattan  from  Fort  Orange.  Only  a  small  garrison,  without  women, 
remained.  At  tlie  same  time  indications  of  an  unfriendly  feeling  toward 
the  Hollanders  among  tlie  Karitans  in  ^sew  Jersey  caused  the  Dutch 
families  seated  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Delaware  River  also  to  flee  to 
Manhattan  for  safety.  These  unfortunate  events  severed  the  links  of 
trustful  friendchip  which  had  bound  the  Dutch  and  Indians,  and  many 
distressing  scenes  followed  the  rupture.  Emigration  to  New  Netherland 
was  checked  for  a  while,  and  the  tide  of  its  prosperity  seemed  to  be 
"  ebbing. 

Meanwhile  the  Dutch  AVest  India  Company  had  been  gaining  great 
accessions  of  wealth  and  power  by  the  success  of  their  war-ships  against 
Spanish  merchantmen.  Spain  was  then  at  war  With  Holland.  The 
fleets  of  the  two  India  companies  which  indirectly  governed  the  State, 
formed  the  strong  right  arm  of  the  Dutch  naval  power  at  that  time.  In 
1027  low-born  Peter  Pietersen  Ileyn  won  the  title  and  official  position 
of  admiral  by  his  achievements  on  the  coast  of  Cuba.  There  he  met 
the  Spanish  "  silver  fleet"  on  its  way  from  Yucatan  with  the  spoils  of 
plundered  princes  of  Mexico  and  Peru.  He  captured  the  whole  flotilla, 
and  put  almost  $5,000,000  in  the  coffers  of  Jiis  employers.  Heyn  per- 
ished soon  after  this  victory,  and  was  buried  M'ith  regal  pomp  by  the 
side  of  the  Prince  of  Orange  (who  died  in  1C25)  in  the  old  church  at 
Delft.  When  the  States-General  sent  a  letter  of  condolence  to  Ueyn's 
peasant  mother,  she  exclaimed  : 

"  Ay,  I  thought  that  would  be  the  end  of  him.  He  \vas  always  a 
vagabond.     He  has  got  no  more  than  he  deserved." 

Holland  gained  the  glory  of  the  conquests  by  the  Dutch  West  India 
Company,  while  the  company  itself  gained  the  solid  })rofits.  In  the 
space  of  two  years  their  ships  captured  more  than  one  hundred  prizes. 
In  1629  the  company  divided  fifty  per  cent  profits.  They  soon  added 
Brazil  to  their  possessions,  and  gave  maritime  supremacy  to  the  Nether- 
lands. 


THE   PATROON  SYSTEM.  31 

"Wealth  and  power  made  the  Dutch  West  India  Company  more  grasp- 
ing and  ambitious.  The  moderate  profits  derived  from  New  Nether- 
land  appeared  insignificant,  and  they  devised  new  schemes  for  increas- 
ing their  gains. 

The  great  w^ant  of  New  Netherland  was  tillers  of  the  soil.  A  manorial 
plan  similar  to  that  already  in  operation  in  Holland  was  devised,  and  this 
featape-^rf^he  old  feudal  system  of  Europe  was  soon  transplanted  into 
America.  It  was  approved  by  the  States-General.  In  1629  tlie  College 
of  Nineteen  issued  a  "  Charter  of  Privileges  and  Exemptions,"  which 
granted  to  every  member  of  the  company  extensive  domains  in  New 
Netherland  outside  of  Manhattan  Island,  with  specified  benefits,  pro- 
vided he  should,  within  the  space  of  four  years,  place  upon  his  lands  so 
granted  at  least  fifty  adults  as  actual  settlers,  who  should  become  his 
tenants.  Such  proprietor  was  constituted  the  feudal  chief  of  his  domain, 
with  the  title  oi  patroon — a  patron  or  defender. 

It  was  provided  that  the  lands  of  each  patroon  should  be  limited  to 
sixteen  miles  in  linear  extent  along  one  shore  of  a  navigable  stream,  or 
to  eight  miles  if  he  occupied  both  shores  ;  but  he  might  extend  it  indefi- 
nitely into  the  interior.  It  was  also  provided  that  if  any  proportionally 
greater  number  of  emigrants  should  be  settled  by  a  proprietor,  the  area 
of  his  domain  should  be  extended  in  the  same  ratio.  lie  was  to  be  abso- 
lutely lord  of  the  manor,  political  and  otherwise.  He  might  hold  in- 
ferior courts  for  the  adjudication  of  petty  civil  cases  ;  and  if  cities  should 
grow  up  on  his  domain  he  was  to  have  power  to  appoint  the  magistrates 
and  other  officers  of  such  municipalities,  and  have  a  deputy  to  confer 
with  the  governor  or  first  director  of  New  Netherland. 

The  settlers  under  the  patroons  were  to  be  exempted  from  all  taxation 
and  tribute  for  the  support  of  the  provincial  government  for  ten  years  ; 
and  for  the  same  period  every  man,  woman,  and  child  was  bound  not  to 
leave  the  service  of  the  patroon  without  his  written  consent.  The  colo- 
nists were  forbidden  to  manufacture  cloth  of  any  kind  on  pain  of  banish- 
ment ;  and  the  company  agreed  to  furnisli  them  with  as  many  African 
slaves  as  they  ''conveniently  could,''  and  also  to  protect  them  against 
foes.  Each  colony  was  bound  to  support  a  minister  and  a  school-master, 
and  so  provide  a  comforter  for  the  sick  and  a  teacher  for  the  illiterate. 
It  was  also  provided  that  every  proprietor,  whether  a  patroon  or  an  inde- 
pendent settle!',  should  make  a  satisfactory  arrangement  with  the  Indians 
for  the  lands  they  should  occupy.  It  recognized  the  right  of  the  abo- 
rigines to  the  soil  ;  invited  independent  farmers,  to  whom  a  homestead 
should  be  secured  ;  promised  protection  to  all  in  case  of  war,  and  encour- 
aged religion  and  learning. 


32 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


There  was  neither  a  settled  clergyman  nor  a  school-master  in  the  prov- 
ince during  Minuit^s  administration  of  six  years,  but  provision  was 
made  for  two  "  consolers  of  the  sick,"  whose  duty  required  them  to 
read  the  Scriptures  and  creeds  to  the  people  gathered  in  a  horse-mill  on 
Sundays.  A  bell-tower  was  erected  on  the  mill,  and  in  it  were  hung 
some  Spanish  bells  which  the  company's  fleet  had  captured  at  Porto 
Hico. 

There  was  some  sharp  practice  performed  by  some  of  the  members 
of  the  Amsterdam  Chamber  in  securing  valuable  manors.  Sanmel 
Godyn  and  Samuel  Blommaert,  leading  members,  bought  of  the  bar- 
barians a  tract  of  land  stretching  along  Delaware  Bay  from  Cape  Hin- 
lopen  north  over  thirty  miles  and  two  miles  in  the  interior,  while  the 
charter  was  under  consideration.  Soon  afterward  Killian  van  Rens- 
selaer, another  shrewd  director,  a  wealthy  pearl  merchant  of  Amsterdam, 


'U/yo 


8IGNATUUE   OK   KILIJAN    VAN   KEN8SELAER. 


informed  by  his  friend  Krol,  the  dejDuty  secretary  and  commissary  at 
Fort  Orange,  of  the  excellence  and  good  situation  of  the  country  in  that 
vicinity,  instructed  that  friend  to  purchase  a  large  tract  of  land  of  the 
Indians.  It  was  done,  and  lands  were  secured  on  both  sides  of  the  river. 
Michael  Pauw,  another  wide-awake  director,  secured  by  purchase  of  the 
barbarians,  in  a  similar  manner,  a  large  tract  of  land  in  N^ew  Jersey, 
opposite  Manhattan  ;  also  the  whole  of  Staten  Island. 

This  adroit  forestalling  in  the  purchase  of  some  of  the  best  lands  in 
the  province  as  to  eligibility  of  situation — this  "  helping  themselves  by 
the  cunning  trick  of  mercluuits" — created  much  ill  feeling  among  the 
members  for  a  while  ;  but  it  was  allayed  by  admitting  other  directors 
into  partnership.  This  concession  was  necessary  in  order  to  secure  the 
confirmation  of  the  charter  of  privileges  by  the  College  of  Nineteen. 
This  done,  steps  were  immediately  taken  to  colonize  the  manors.  That 
of  Van  Rensselaer  was  the  most  extensive.  It  included  a  territory  on 
both   sides  of  the  Mauritius  or  Hudson  River,  comprehending  a  large 


COLONY  OF  DE  VRIES  ON  THE  DELAWARE. 


33 


part  of  (present)  Albany,   Rensselaer,  and  Columbia  counties.     It  was 
called  the  "  Colonic  of  Kensselaerwyck. " 

These  patroons — grasping,  energetic  men — soon  gave  the  company 
great  uneasiness.  Their  large  estates  once  secured,  they  entered  into 
competition  with  the  company  in  the  trade  with  the  Indians.  They 
were  encouraged  by  Governor  Minuit,  who  had  assisted  them  in  securing 
their  estates,  and  found  it  profitable  to  be  their  friend.  The  company, 
perceiving  this,  recalled  Minuit  in  1631,  and  the  colony  remained  with- 
out a  governor  more  than  two  years. 

One  of  the  best,  the  clearest-headed  and  most  liberal-minded  of  the 
directors  who  became  a  patroon  was  David  Pietersen  de  Yries,  an  eminent 
navigator  in  the  service  of  the 
Dutch  East  India  Company,  who 
came  to  Manhattan  at  about  the 
time  when  Minuit  was  recalled, 
and  for  ten  years  occupied  a 
conspicuous  position  in  the  pub- 
lic and  private  affairs  of  New 
!Netherland.  He  was  a  friend 
of  Patroon  Godyn,  and  was 
very  active  in  founding  a  col- 
ony near  the  site  of  Lewis- 
ton,  on  Delaware  Bay,  which 
was  named  Swaanendael.  The 
Dutch  took  possession  of  the 
country  in  the  name  of  the 
States-General.  There  thirty 
emigrants,  with  cattle  and  im- 
plements, were  seated,  but  they 

were  murdered  by  the  Indians  the  next  year,  and  their  dwellings  were 
laid  in  ruins. 

In  the  spring  of  1633  Walter  van  Twiller,  a  narrow-minded  clerk  in 
the  company's  warehouse  at  Amsterdam,  who  had  married  a  niece  of 
Yan  Rensselaer  and  had  served  that  director  well  in  shipping  cattle  to 
his  manor  on  the  Hudson  River,  succeeded  Minuit  as  governor.  Accord- 
ing to  all  accounts,  he  was  a  most  absurd  man  in  person,  character,  and 
conduct.  Washington  Irving,  in  a  pleasant  pen  caricature  of  him, 
described  his  pqrson  as  "  exactly  five  feet  six  inches  in  height  and  six 
feet  five  inches  in  circumference  ;"  his  head  "  a  perfect  sphere  ;"  "  his 
face  a  vast  expanse,  unfurrowed  by  any  of  those  lines  and  angles  which 
disfigure  the  human  countenance  with  what  is  termed  expression,"  and 


DAVID   PIETERSEN   DE   VKIES. 


34 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


^A^^'^'^    A^<>tM^ 


SIGNATURE    OF    WAI/l'KIl    A'AN    TWILLEU. 


his  cheeks  "  were  curiously  mottled  and  streaked  with  dusky  red,  like  a 
Spitzenberg  apple. "  He  "daily  took  four  stated  meals,  appropriating 
exactly  one  hour  to  each  ;  smoked  and  doubted  eight  hours,  and  slept 
the  remaining  twelve  of  the  f our-and-twenty. " 

Van  Twiller  was  totally  unfitted  by  nature  and  education  for  the  posi- 
tion he  was  placed  in.  He  was  self-indulgent  to  the  last  degree,  and 
was  profoundly  ignorant  of  public  affairs  ;  yet  during  his  administration 

the  colony  flourished  in 
spite  of  him.  He  came 
attended  by  about  one 
hundred  and  forty  sol- 
diers, the  first  that  ap- 
peared in  the  colony. 

With  Governor  Van 
Twiller  came  the  Rev. 
Everardus  Bogardus, 
tlie  first  clergyman  seen 
in  New  Netherland  ; 
also  Adam  Roelandsen,  the  first  school-master  in  the  colony.  Bogardus 
was  a  man  of  energy.  He  was  bold  and  faithful,  and  did  not  hesitate 
to  reprove  the  governor  for  his  shortcomings  in  duty,  official,  moral,  and 
religious.  On  one  occasion  he  called  him  a  "  child  of  the  devil  "  to  his 
face  and  before  high  officials,  and  told  him  that  if  he  did  not  behave  him- 
self he  would  "  give  him  such  a  shake  from  the  pulpit"  the  next  Sun- 
day as  would  make  him  tremble  like  a  bowl  of  jelly. 

Trouble  with 
the  English  began 
with  the  advent 
of  Van  Twiller. 
A  former  commis- 
sary at  Fort  Or- 
ange (now  Albany) 
named  Eelkens, 
who  had  been  dis- 
missed from  the  company's  service,  M'ent  to  England  and,  in  the 
employ  of  London  merchants,  sailed  for  the  Hudson  River  in  the  ship 
Willimn,  determined  to  trade  with  the  Indians  in  its  upper  waters, 
with  whom  he  was  acquainted.  Van  Twiller  forbade  his  ascending  the 
river.  Eelkens,  knowing  the  weakness  of  the  governor,  treated  him 
with  scorn.  Van  Twiller,  mildly  offended,  caused  the  Orange  flag  to  be 
unfurled  over  Fort  Amsterdam  and  a  salute  of  three  guns  to  be  fired  in 


SIGNATURE  OF  EVERARDUS  BOGARDUS. 


TROUBLE  WITH  NEW  ENGLANDERS.  35 

honor  q$  the  Prince  of  Orange  to  fill  the  intruder  with  terror.  Eelkens, 
not  at  all  dismayed,  ran  up  the  British  flag,  fired  three  guns  in  lionor  of 
Charles  of  England,  and  sailed  up  the  river. 

For  once  Yan  Twiller  seemed  to  be  really  angry.  lie  gathered  the 
garrison  at  the  door  of  the  fort,  tapped  a  cask  of  wine,  filled  capacious 
glasses,  swore  terribly  in  Low  Dutch,  and  called  upon  the  people,  who 
stood  laughing  in  his  face,  to  assist  him  in  wiping  out  this  stain  upon 
the  honor  of  himself  and  Holland.  De  Yries,  who  dined  with  the  gov- 
ernor that  day,  told  him  he  had  acted  like  a  fool.  Van  Twiller  did  not 
deny  that  he  was  a  fool,  and  meekly  assented  to  the  demand  of  the  fiery 
captain  that  an  expedition  should  be  sent  to  bring  Eelkens  back,  and 
thus  vindicate  the  lionor  and  courage  of  the  State.  Yan  Twiller  hesi- 
tated long,  but  finally  sent  a  small  flotilla  fairly  armed,  and  at  the  end 
of  a  month  from  the  day  when  the  offence  was  committed  the  William 
was  brought  back  and  driven  out  to  sea.  Eelkens  was  foiled.  This  was 
the  first  hostile  encounter  between  the  Dutch  and  English  in  New 
I^etherland.  The  William  was  the  first  English  ship  whose  keel 
ploughed  the  waters  of  the  Hudson  River. 

Already  a  little  cloud  had  brooded  in  the  east.  When  the  Puritans 
of  Massachusetts  were  assured  of  the  beauty  and  fertility  of  the  soil  of 
the  valley  of  the  Connecticut  Pi ver,  they  yearned  for  its  possession.  The 
Dutch  had  already  assumed  that  right,  in  accordance  with  the  British 
doctrine  of  first  discovery  ;  for,  as  we  have  seen,  Adriaen  Block  dis- 
covered the  Connecticut  River  nearly  six  years  before  the  Puritans  came 
1o  Cape  Cod  Bay.  The  Dutch  had  obtained  a  more  righteous  title  by  a 
purchase  of  the  whole  Connecticut  Yalley  from  the  barbarians.  They 
had  set  up  the  arms  of  Holland  on  a  tree  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and 
had  nearly  completed  the  fort  a  little  below  the  site  of  Hartford,  and 
named  it  "  Good  Hope." 

Unmindful  of  the  claims  of  the  Dutch,  the  Plymouth  Company 
granted  a  charter  to  certain  parties  to  settle  in  the  lovely  Connecticut 
Yalley.  During  the  bland  Indian  summer  in  1633  a  small  company  of 
Puritans  under  Captain  Holmes  sailed  up  the  Connecticut  in  a  sloop, 
with  the  frame  of  a  house  all  prepared  for  erection,  to  plant  a  settlement 
on  the  shore  of  that  stream.  The  energetic  commissary,  Jacob  van 
Curler  (or  Corlear),  was  then  at  the  fort,  on  which  were  mounted  two 
cannons.  He  demanded  a  sight  of  Holmes's  commission,  and  on  his 
refusal  to  show  it  Yan  Curler  forbade  his  going  further  up  the  river, 
and  threatened  him  with  destruction  if  he  should  attempt  to  j^ass  the 
fort.  The  Yankee  filibuster  was  as  careless  as  a  Turk  of  the  shotted 
cannon.      He   sailed   quietly   by,    while  the  Dutch   "  let  the  shooting 


36 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


MAP   OF  NEW   NETHERLAND. 


37 


38  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

stand."  Holmes  and  his  little  party  soon  landed,  and  on  the  site  of 
"Windsor,  just  above  Hartford,  they  erected  their  house  and  planted  the 
seed  of  an  English  colony.  The  Dutch  and  English  quarrelled  concern- 
ing the  ownership  of  the  Connecticut  Valley  for  about  twenty  years, 
when  the  question  was  amicably  settled.  The  Dutch  withdrew,  and  the 
present  line  between  ^ow  York  and  Connecticut  was  established  as  the 
eastern  boundary  of  New  Netherland. 

The  new  State  yet  lacked  a  prime  element  of  perpetuity.  There  were 
no  independent  farmers  in  New  Netherland  cultivating  their  own  lands, 
for  the  soil  belonged  to  the  Dutch  West  India  Company,  excepting  that 
of  the  patroon  estates.  These  wealthy  monopolists  carried  on  all  agricul- 
tural operations  off  the  public  domain.  The  tiller  might  own  his  house, 
but  he  held  no  fee-title  to  the  soil.  Thousands  of  fertile  acres  in  the 
province  remained  uncultivated,  for  commercial  advantages  alone  occu- 
pied the  attention  of  the  company.  The  feudal  system,  internal  discord 
between  the  patroons  and  the  officers  of  the  company,  and  external 
dangers  began  to  repress  the  energies  of  the  people  before  the  end  of 
Yan  Twiller's  administration.     Many  were  sighing  for  "fatherland." 

The  machinery  of 
the  local  govern- 
ment      generally 

^a^(zy/^//^z.^^wy^  ^"^""^  sluggishly 

and  often  viciously. 
The  governor  lost 
all  personal  influ- 
ence, and  became  a 
target  for  coarse 
jests.  We  have  seen  how  Dominie  Bogardus  treated  him.  His  own 
subordinates  treated  him  with  equal  contempt.  The  schout-fiscal,  Lub- 
bertus  van  Dincklagen,  one  of  the  most  learned  and  honest  men 
among  them,  reproved  him  openly. 

Yan  Twiller  ventured  to  strike  back  in  this  case,  but  the  blow  he  gave 
Yan  Dincklagen  proved  to  be  like  that  of  a  boomerang.  It  wounded 
the  governor  himself  most  seriously.  His  blow  consisted  in  refusing  to 
pay  the  schout-fiscal  his  salary,  which  was  in  arrears  three  years,  and 
sending  him  to  Holland  in  disgrace.  It  was  a  sad»  day  for  the  governor 
when  Yan  Dincklagen  departed,  for  the  schout-fiscal  was  a  man  of  pluck, 
and  held  a  ready  pen.  He  sent  such  damaging  memorials  to  the  States- 
General,  the  truths  of  which  were  verified  by  the  testimony  of  De  Yries 
before  the  Amsterdam  Chamber,  that  Yan  Twiller  was  recalled  at  the 
moment  when  he  had  purchased  Nutten  and  other  islands  around  Man- 


SIGNATURE   OF   LUBBERTUS  VAN   DINCKLAGEN. 


VAN  TWILLER  AND   KIEFT. 


39 


hattan,"^  in  expectation  of  vegetating  and  djing  in  official  dignity  in  New 
Netherland. 

We  have  no  memorial  of  Yan  T wilier  left  in  the  name  of  any  State, 
village,  institution,  water-craft,  or  domain  excepting  the  isle  of  Nuts, 
which  lies  in  the  bay  of  New  York,  within  earshot  of  the  place  of  his 
final  departure  for  the  Zuyder  Zee.  It  is  called  "  The  Governor's 
Island  "  to  this  day.  At  his  departure  he  was  one  of  the  most  extensive 
land-owners  in  the  province,  and  the  herds  of  cattle  which  stocked  his 
farms  gave  occasion  for  the  suspicion  that  the  governor  had  enriched 
himself  at  the  expense  of  the  company's  interests.* 

Yan  Twiller  was  succeeded  by  William  Kieft,  a  man  of  great  energy, 
but  lacking  in  moral  qualities.  Little  is  known  of  him  before  his 
.appearance  at  New  Amsterdam.  He  had  lived  in  Rochelle,  in  France, 
where,  for  some  misdemeanor,  the  people  hung  him  in  effigy.  De  Yries, 
who  knew  him  well,  ranked  him  among  the  "  great  rascals  of  the  age." 
He  was  energetic,  spite- 
ful, and  rapacious  ;  fond 
of  quarrels,  and  never 
happy  except  when  in 
trouble — the  reverse  of 
Yan  Twiller,  who  loved 
ease  and  quiet.  His  first 
council  was  composed  of 
men  of  similar  humor. 

Kieft  began  his  ad- 
ministration by  concen- 
trating all  executive  pow- 
er in  his  own  hands.  He  and  his  council  assumed  so  much  dignity  that  it 
became  a  "  high  crime  to  appeal  from  the  judgments"  of  the  governor 
and  his  subordinate  officials.  Yet  he  was  really  a  better  man  for  the 
company  and  the  people  than  his  predecessor.  He  was  as  busy  as  a 
brooding  hen,  and  attempted  reforms  in  government,  society,  and  relig- 
ion on  a  scale  altogether  beyond  the  capacities  of  himself  and  his  "  sub- 
jects," as  he  sometimes  styled  tlie  people.     He  had  an  exalted  opinion 


SIGNATUKE   OF    WILLIAM   KIEFT. 


*  Van  Twiller  was  a  native  of  Nieuwkerk.  He  married  a  niece  of  Patroon  Van  Rens- 
selaer, through  whose  influence  the  incompetent  clerk  was  appointed  governor.  Recalled 
in  1637,  he  publicly  abused  the  Dutch  West  India  Company  after  his  return  to  Holland  with 
considerable  wealth.  He  vilified  the  administration  of  Stuyvesant.  The  company  were 
indignant,  and  spoke  of  Van  Twiller  as  an  ungrateful  man,  who  had  "  sucked  his  wealth 
from  the  breast  of  the  company  which  he  now  abuses."  Van  Rensselaer  seems  to  have 
had  confidence  in  him,  for  he  made  Van  Twiller  executor  of  his  last  Will  and  Testament. 


40  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

of  Miniiit  as  a  governor,  and  lie  resolved  to  imitate  his  example  ;  but 
Minnit  became  the  bane  of  his  peace  almost  from  the  beginning. 

Kieft  found  public  affairs  in  New  Netherland  in  a  wretched  condition, 
and  he  j^ut  forth  strength  to  bring  order  out  of  confusion.  Abuses 
abounded,  but  measures  of  reform  which  he  adopted  almost  stripped  the 
citizens  of  their  privileges.  Fort  Amsterdam  was  repaired,  and  new 
warehouses  for  the  company  were  erected.  lie  caused  orchards  to  be 
planted  and  gardens  cultivated  on  Manhattan,  He  had  police  ordinances 
framed  and  enforced.  He  caused  religion  and  morality  to  be  fostered, 
regular  religious  services  to  be  publicly  conducted,  and  a  spacious  stone 
church  to  be  built  within  the  fort,  in  the  wooden  tower  of  which  were 
hung  the  Spanish  bells  already  mentioned  as  giving  out  their  chimes 
from  the  bell-tower  of  the  horse-mill.  It  was  a  gala  day  in  New  Am- 
sterdam (1642)  when  the  Connecticut  architects,  John  and  Richard 
Ogden,  hung  those  bells,  and  the  governor  gave  a  supper  to  the  builders 
and  the  magnates  of  the  village  at  his  harhenj  for  strangei-s,  a  stone 
building  at  the  head  of  Coenties  Slip,  which  was  called  the  "  City  Tav- 
ern" in  Stuyvesant's  time.* 

A  more  liberal  policy  in  respect  to  private  ownership  of  land  (to  be 
mentioned  presently)  caused  immigration  to  increase.  The  freedom  of 
conscience  which  prevailed  in  the  Fatherland  prevailed  also  in  New 
Netherland.  All  that  Kieft  required  of  new  settlers  was  an  oath  of 
allegiance  to  the  States- General  of  Holland.  When  they  could  answer 
the  question  affirmatively,  "  Do  you  want  to  buy  land  and  become  a 
citizen  ?"  it  was  the  extent  of  the  catechism. 

Kieft  had  eaten  but  few  dinners  at  New  Amsterdam  when  he  was 
informed  of  the  impertinence  of  the  Swedes  in  buying  enough  land 
between  two  trees  to  build  a  house  upon,  and  then  claiming  the  whole 
territory  w^est  of  the  Delaware  from  Cape  Ilinlopen  to  the  falls  at 
Trenton  ;  lands  the  most  of  which  were  already  in  possession  of  patroons. 
Upon  what  foundatioTi  was  this  claim  laid  ?     Let  us  see. 

Usselincx,  the  original  projector  of  the  Dutch  "West  India  Company, 
had  left  Amsterdam  in  a  passion,  and  laid  before  Gustavus  Adolplms, 


*  The  shrewd  governor  took  advantngc  of  llie  occasion  of  a  wedding  feast  to  secure 
ample  subscriptions  for  the  buihling  of  the  cliurch.  It  was  the  wedding  of  a  da\ighter 
of  Dominie  Bogardus.  At  the  wedding  feast,  at  wliidi  the  principal  peoi)le  of  Manhattan 
were  gathered,  after  "  the  fourth  or  fifth  round  of  drinking,"  Kieft  proix)sed  a  subscrip- 
tion for  the  clun-ch,  and  gave  liberally  himself.  All  the  company,  with  light  heads 
made  dizzy  with  drink,  vied  with  each  other  in  "  subscribing  richly."  Some  of  them, 
when  they  became  sober,  "  well  repented  of  their  reckless  extravagance,"  but  "  nothing 
availed  to  excuse  it. ' ' 


THE   SWEDES   ON  THE   DELAWARE.  41 

King  of  Sweden,  the  great  cliampion  of  Protestantism,  a  well-arranged 
plan  for  establishing  a  Scandinavian  colony  on  the  South  or  Delaware 
^X  ~" River.  Gustavus  was  delighted,  for  it  promised  an  asylum  in  America 
for  all  persecuted  Protestants.  But  while  the  scheme  was  ripening  the 
Swedish  monarch  was  called  to  the  field,  where  he  fell  in  battle,  near 
Lutzen.  He  did  not  forget  the  great  prospective  enterprise.  Only  a 
few  days  before  his  death  he  recommended  it  as  "  the  jewel  of  his 
kingdom."  The  Count  of  Oxenstierna,  who  ruled  Sweden  in  behalf  of 
Christina,  the  daughter  of  Gustavus — "  the  sweet  little  jessamine  bad  of 
the  royal  conservatory"  (alas  !  for  its  full  development) — ardently  sup- 
ported the  enterprise.  Four  years  before  the  wasp  of  Rochelle  succeeded 
Yan  Twiller,  Oxenstierna  gave  a  charter  to  the  Swedish  West  India 
Company,  and  Peter  Minuit,  the  dismissed  Governor  of  New  Nether- 
land,  was  appointed  the  first  governor  of  the  Swedish  colony  to  be 
founded  on  the  Delaware  River.  Toward  the  close  of  1637,  Minuit 
sailed  for  the  Delaware  in  the  good  ship  Key  of  Calmar  with  a  company 
of  emigrants.  It  was  this  apparition  that  startled  Kieft  soon  after  his 
arrival  at  Manhattan. 

At  first  Kieft  was  astonished,  then  affronted,  and  at  last  he  rubbed  his 
hands  with  delight,  for  he  saw  a  clear  opportunity  for  a  quarrel  and  a 
display  of  his  diplomatic  powers.  The  whole  breadth  of  the  present 
State  of  New  Jersey  lay  between  him  and  the  intruders,  and  that  was  a 
comfort.  He  fearlessly  issued  a  proclamation  with  an  imperial  flourish, 
protesting  against  the  intrusion  and  declaring  that  he  would  not  be 
'*  answerable  for  any  mishap,  bloodshed,  trouble,  or  disaster"  which  the 
Swedes  might  suffer  from  his  anger  and  valor. 

Minuit  laughed  at  Kieft  and  went  on  to  build  a  stronghold  on  the 
site  of  Wilmington,  which  he  named  Fort  Christina,  in  honor  of  his 
young  queen,  and  pushed  a  profitable  trade  with  the  Indians.  The 
fiery  Kieft  hurled  protest  after  protest  against  the  Swedes,  but  they 
were  as  little  heeded  as  were  the  paper  bulls  sent  by  Clement  to  bellow 
excommunication  through  the  realm  of  Henry  the  Eighth  of  England. 
Swedish  vessels  filled  with  Swedish  men,  women,  and  children,  intent 
on  empire  and  happiness  in  America,  came  thicker  than  Belgic  proc- 
lamations ;  and  in  spite  of  Kieft's  majesty,  the  Scandinavian  colonists 
laid  the  foundations  of  the  capital  of  "  New  Sweden"  on  an  island  not 
far  from  the  site  of  Philadelphia.     More  than  forty  years  before  Penn, 

' '  the  Quaker,  came, 
To  leave  his  hat,  his  drab,  and  his  name. 
That  will  sweetly  sound  from  the  trump  of  fame 
Till  its  final  blast  shall  die, ' ' 


42 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


they  spread  the  tents  of  empire  on  the  soil  where  now  flourish  in  regal 
pride  the  commonwealths  of  Pennsylvania  and  Delaware. 

Tlie  English  on  the  east  became  as  troublesome  as  the  Swedes  on  the 
soutli.  Like  busy  ants  they  were  spreading  over  the  fertile  lands  west 
of  the  Housatonic  River,  and  under  the  provisions  of  a  charter  given  to 
Lord  Stirling  by  the  Council  of  Plymouth,  they  actually  claimed  the 
whole  of  Long  Island.  They  disregarded  Dutch  proclamations  and 
Indian  title-deeds.  Filibusters  from  Massachusetts  cast  down  the  amis 
of  Holland  which  had  been  set  up  at  Cow  Bay  on  the  island,  and  mocked 
the  officials  at  Manhattan. 

Kieft  with  great  energy  soon  put  an  end  to  these  encroachments.  He 
bought  for  the  company  from  the  Indians  all  the  territory  comprised 
within  present  Kings  and  Queens  counties,  and  immediately  planted 
settlements  within  that  domain.  Colonies  were  established  on  Staten 
Island  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  Hudson  River  ;  while  settlements 

were  made  by  the  English  on  the  eastern 
portions  of  Long  Island  without  interference 
by  the  Dutch. 

Lyon  Gardiner,  the  English  military  com- 
mander at  the  mouth  of  the  Connecticut  River, 
bought  of  the  barbarians  the  island  that  bears 
his  name.  He  removed  from  Saybrook  to 
his  island,  where  his  wife  gave  birth  to  a 
daughter,  and  so  the  first  permanent  English 
settlement  was  made  within  the  present  limits 
of  the  State  of  Xew  York.  Peace  might  long 
have  reigned  in  Kew  Netherland  had  not 
acquisitiveness  arisen  in  rebellion  against  justice,  and  engendered  a  ter- 
rible storm  of  vengeance  among  the  dwellers  of  the  forest. 

The  partiality  of  the  Dutch  for  the  Mohawks  made  the  River  Indians 
(as  the  dwellers  along  the  Hudson  south  of  Fort  Orange  were  called) 
jealous,  and  their  friendship  for  the  white  people  was  greatly  weakened 
by  the  dishonesty  of  traders,  who  stupefied  them  with  rum  and  then 
cheated  them  in  traffic.  Kieft  not  only  winked  at  these  things,  but, 
under  tlie  false  plea  of  "  express  orders"  from  his  principals,  he  de- 
manded tribute  of  furs,  corn,  and  wampum  from  the  tribes  around  Man- 
hattan. They  sullenly  complied,  but  with  an  inward  protest  against 
this  rank  injustice.  When  they  cast  the  costly  tribute  at  the  feet  of  the 
Hollanders  they  turned  away  with  a  curse  bitter  and  uncompromising. 

AVhcn  the  governor  clearly  perceived  this  black  cloud  on  the  brows  of 
the  barbarians,  surcharged  with  the  lightnings  of  vengeance,  his  fears 


THE   GARDINER   ARMS. 


WAR  WITH  INDIANS  IMPENDING,  43 

and  iiis  cruelty  were  awakened.  With  the  usual  instinct  of  a  bad  nature, 
he  sought  an  opportunity  to  injure  those  he  had  deeply  wronged.  The 
opportunity  w^as  not  long  delayed.  Some  swine  had  been  stolen  from 
a  plantation  on  Statcn  Island.  Kieft  charged  the  innocent  Raritans 
with  the  theft,  and  sent  armed  men  to  chastise  them.  Several  Indians 
were  killed.  This  outrage  kindled  the  anger  of  all  the  surrounding 
tribes,  even  beyond  the  Hudson  Highlands. 

At  this  juncture  the  little  nephew  of  the  "Westchester  chief  who  had 
been  murdered  by  Minuit's  men  fifteen  years  before  had  grown  to  lusty 
manhood,  and  proceeded  to  execute  his  vow  of  revenge  made  when  he 
saw  his  uncle  slain  near  the  spot  wdiere  the  Halls  of  Justice  now  stand. 
He  came  to  Manhattan,  crept  stealthily  to  the  solitary  cabin  of  Claas 
Schmidt,  a  harmless  wagon-maker  at  Turtle  Bay,  on  the  East  River, 
slew  him  with  an  axe,  and  plundered  his  dwelling.  Kieft  demanded 
the  murderer  from  his  tribe.  His  chief  refused  to  give  him  up.  Here 
was  a  cause  for  war.  Kieft  chuckled  with  delight  ;  but  cooler  heads 
and  better  hearts  averted  a  dire  calamity.  The  people  absolutely  refused 
to  shoulder  their  fire-arms  at  the  governor's  bidding,  and  said  to  him 
plainly  : 

"  You  wish  to  have  war  that  you  may  make  a  wrong  reckoning  with 
the  company. " 

Kieft  had  stormed  and  threatened,  but  this  unexpected  revelation  of 
the  people's  insight  into  his  real  character  suddenly  transformed  the 
bullying  autocrat  into  a  seeming  republican.  He  called  together  all  the 
masters  and  heads  of  families  ostensibly  to  consult  upon  public  affairs. 
It  was  only  to  make  them  unconscious  cat's-paws  in  the  prosecution  of 
his  designs,  and  have  them  bear  a  part  of  the  responsibility. 


44 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER  lY. 


In  1640  a  new  charter  for  patroons  was  granted  which  greatly  modified 
the  obnoxious  features  of  that  of  1629.  It  allowed  "  all  good  inhabitants 
of  the  Netherlands  to  select  lands  and  form  colonies  in  NewNetherland." 
The  proposed  land  grants  were  comparatively  small  in  extent,  compre- 
hending only  two  miles  along  the  shores  of  any  bay  or  river,  and  extend- 
ing four  miles  into  the  country.  These  inferior  patroons  were  endowed 
with  many  of  the  privileges  of  the  superior  patroons. 

Provision  was  also  made  for  another  class  of  proprietors.  "Whoever 
should  convey  to  New  Netherland  five  grown  persons  besides  himself 
was  to  be  recognized  as  a  "  master  or  colonist,"  and  could  occupy  two 

hundred  acres  of  land,  with 
the  privilege  of  hunting  and 
fishing.  Commercial  privi- 
leges, which  the  first  char- 
ter had  restricted  to  the 
j)atroons,  were  now  extend- 
ed to  all  "  free  colonists." 
These  wiser  provisions,  not- 
withstanding onerous  im- 
posts for  the  benefit  of  the 
company  were  exacted  from 
the  colonists,  stimulated  emigration  and  promised  perpetuity  and  pros- 
perity to  the  province. 

Meanwhile  the  Colonic  of  Rensselaerwyck  had  greatly  prospered 
under  the  energetic  management  of  the  patroon's  commissary,  Arendt 
van  Curler.*     Around  Fort  Orange  within  that  domain  had  grown  a 


SIGNATURE   OF   AUENUT   VAN   CUKI.EK. 


*  Arendt  van  Curler  is  represented  as  a  man  "  of  large  benevolence  and  unsullied 
honor, "  bold  and  energetic,  to  whom  the  patroon  delegated  his  entire  power  at  Rens- 
selaerwyck. His  jurisdiction  included  all  the  territory  on  both  sides  of  the  Hudson  River, 
between  Beaver  Island  and  the  mouth  of  the  Mohawk  River,  excepting  the  precinct  of 
Fort  Orange.  This  post,  which  was  the  property  of  the  Dutch  West  India  Company 
when  the  first  purchases  in  the  neighborhood  were  made  by  Van  Rens.selaer,  was  always 
occupied  by  a  small  garrison  commanded  by  officers  under  the  immediate  direction  of 
the  provincial  authorities  at  Manhattan. 

Van  Curler  or  Corlear  was  one  of  the  best  and  most  sagacious  of  the  earlier  founders 
of  New  York  State.     He  was  a  first  cousin  of  the  first  Patroon  Van  Rensselaer,  and 


VAN  CURLER  AND  VAN  RENSSELAER  COLONIE. 


45 


little  village  called  Beverswyck.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  city  of 
Albany,  now  the  political  capital  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

Patroon  Yan  Rensselaer  through  Commissary  Yan  Curler  was  begin- 
ning to  exercise  power 
almost  co-ordinate  with 
that  of  the  director-gen- 
eral or  governor  at  Man- 
hattan. He  had  his 
koop-man,  his  scliout- 
fiscal,  and  his  council 
under  his  commissary, 
and  he  Avas  invested  with 
power  to  administer  jus- 
tice, pronounce  and  exe- 
cute sentences  for  all 
degrees  of  crime,  even 
the  penalty  of  death  ; 
and  he  was  tlie  executor 
within  his  domain  of  all 
the  laws  and  ordinances 
of    the   civil   code   that 

governed  New  Netherland.  In  addition  to  this,  the  colonists  upon  his 
great  manor  were  subjected  to  such  laws  and  regulations  as  the  patroon 
or  his  deputy  might  establish.  They  had  the  legal  right  to  appeal  to 
the  governor  and  Council  at  Manhattan  ;  but  this  right  was  virtually 
annulled  by  the  obligation  under  which  the  colonists  upon  the  manor  were 
compelled  to  come — namely,  not  to  appeal  from  the  manorial  tribunals. 


DUTCH  REFORMED  CHURCH  AT  ALBANY.* 


came  to  America  in  1630.  His  wise  and  humane  treatment  of  the  Indians  caused  him  to 
be  beloved  by  them  all,  and  his  policy  toward  them  did  more  to  secure  a  peaceful  settle- 
ment of  the  Mohawk  Valley  by  the  white  people  than  the  efforts  of  any  other  man.  The 
first  act  of  the  English  governor  after  the  conquest  of  the  domain  from  the  Dutch  in 
1664  was  to  send  for  Curler,  to  profit  by  his  advice  concerning  an  Indian  policy.  He 
was  an  efficient  promoter  of  sobriety,  morality,  and  religion.  Returning  from  a  visit  to 
Canada  on  the  invitation  of  the  governor,  in  1667,  his  boat  was  capsized  in  a  squall  on 
Lake  Champlain,  and  he  was  drowned.  For  a  long  period  the  lake  was  known  to  the 
English  as  Curler's  or  Corlear's  Lake. 

*  The  first  church  edifice  built  at  Albany  was  a  Avooden  structure  thirty-four  feet  long 
by  nineteen  wide.  It  stood  among  other  buildings  clustered  around  Fort  Orange.  It  had 
pews  for  the  magistrates  and  deacons,  and  nine  benches  for  the  congregation.  The  ex- 
pense of  all  was  thirty-two  dollars.  In  1656  a  larger  church  was  built  of  stone  at  the 
junction  of  (present)  State  Street  and  Broadway.  Its  pulpit  and  bell  were  sent  over  by 
the  Dutch  West  India  Company.  It  served  the  congregation  a  century  and  a  half,  or 
until  1806.     One  of  its  windows  bore  the  arms  of  the  Van  Rensselaer  family. 


AG 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


Ill  government,  as  in  otlier  matters,  the  Van  Rensselaer  Manor  or 
Colonic  of  Rensselaerwyck  exhibited  some  of  the  most  conspicuous 
features  of  feudalism.  It  was  almost  an  autocracy  within  a  State,  and 
as  such  it  sometimes  gave  much  trouble  to  the  superior  authorities  at 
Manhattan.  Only  Fort  Orange  and  its  immediate  surroundings  were 
exempt  from  the  patroon's  control. 

Impressed  with  the  necessity  of  sound  religious  instruction  in  his 
colony,  Patroon  Van  Rensselaer,  in  1642,  sent  to  Rensselaerwyck  John 
Megopolensis,  D.D.,  a  learned  clergyman  belonging  to  the  classis  of 
Alckmaer.  A  substantial  church  edifice  was  constructed,  and  very  soon 
a  flourishing  church  was  established  upon  the  theological  foundation 
formulated  by  the  Synod  of  Dordrecht.  The  influence  of  Dr.  Mego- 
polensis on  the  Hollanders  and  the  Indians  was  most  salutary. 

Soon  after  the  arrival  of  this  minister  an 
occasion  tested  the  humanity,  the  toleration, 
and  the  broad  Christianity  of  the  Dutch.  A 
Jesuit  missionary  (Father  Jogues)  and  two 
other  Frenchmen  were  taken  prisoners  by  the 
Iroquois  and  conducted  to  the  Mohawk 
country,  where  they  frequently  suffered  tor- 
tures. Informed  of  this.  Van  Curler  attempted 
to  rescue  them.  With  two  others  lie  rode  on 
horseback  into  the  Mohawk  country,  where 
they  were  joyfully  received,  for  the  commis- 
sary was  beloved  by  the  Mohawks.  He 
offered  munificent  ransoms  for  the  Frenchmen, 
but  the  Indians  refused  to  give  them  up. 
The  Ijarbarians  saved  the  life  of  Father 
Jogues,  but  murdered  his  companions.  He 
finally  escaped  to  Fort  Orange,  went  to 
Europe,  returned  to  Canada  in  1G46,  ventured  among  the  Mohawks  as 
a  missionary,  and  was  slain  by  them  at  Caughnawaga  soon  after- 
Avard. 

The  "  free  colonists,"  as  we  have  observed,  were  the  "  masters"  who, 
with  the  "  heads  of  families,"  were  called  in  consultation  with  the  gov- 
ernor concerning  an  attack  upon  neighboring  Indians.  By  this  act  the 
ambitious  Kieft,  who  strove  to  exercise  the  powers  of  an  autocrat  in  the 
government  of  New  Netherland,  unwittingly  planted  the  first  seeds  of 
democracy — the  first  germ  of  representative  government  among  Euro- 
peans within  the  domain  of  the  State  of  New  York.  The  "  masters  and 
heads  of  families"  who  came  together  at  the  bidding  of  the  governor  in 


ARMS  OF  THE  VAN  RENS- 
SELAER  FAMILY. 


FIRST  POLITICAL  REPRESENTATIVE  BODY, 


47 


tlie  summer  of  1641.  cliose  twelve  discreet  men  as  a  committee  to  act 
for  them. 

The~'names  of  the  members  of  this  first  representative  assembly  ever 
convened  for  poh'tical  purjDoses  in  New  Netherland  should  never  be  for- 
gotten. The V  were  :  Jacques  Bentyn, 
Maryn  Adriaensen,  Jan  Jansen  Dam, 
Hendrick  Jansen,  David  Pietersen  de 
Yries,  Jacob  Stoffelsen,  Abraham 
Molenaar,  Frederick  Lubbertsen,  Jo- 
chem  Pietersen  Kuyter,  Gerrit  Dirck- 
sen,  George  Rapelye,  and  Abram 
Planck.  They  were  all  emigrants 
from  Holland,  and  had  enjoyed  the 
blessings  of  popular  freedom  in  that 
garden  of  AVestern  Europe.  They 
were  the  first  representatives  and  as- 
serters  within  the  boundaries  of  New 
York  of  the  germinal  doctrines  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence  pro- 
mulgated at  Philadelphia, more  than 
sixscore  years  afterward. 

The  Committee  of  Twelve  chose 
the  energetic  De  Yries  for  their  president.  lie  had  suffered  deeply 
from  the  barbarians  in  the  destruction  of  Swaanendael,  on  the  Delaware, 
and  had  lost  much  property  by  their  depredations  on  Staten  Island,  yet 
both  humanity  and  expediency  counselled  him  to  preserve  peace  with 
the  Indians.  This  condition  he  strenuously  advocated.  His  colleagues 
agreed  with  him,  and  the  sanguinary  governor  was  astonished  and 
puzzled.     The  senators  were  firm,  and  hostilities  were  deferred. 

Meanwhile  the  Committee  of  Twelve  were  busy  in  maturing  a  plan 
for  establishing  at  Manhattan  the  popular  form  of  government  that  pre- 
vailed in  Holland.  Kieft  was  alarmed,  for  he  perceived  that  a  scheme 
was  on  foot  to  abridge  the  absolute  power  with  which  he  was  clothed. 
He  suggested  a  compromise,  and  the  confiding  representatives  of  the 
people,  who  met  early  in  1642,  put  their  trust  in  his  promises.  He 
offered  concessions  of  popular  freedom  on  the  condition  of  being  allowed 
to  chastise  the  Westchester  Indians  for  the  murder  of  Schmidt.  A 
reluctant  consent  was  finally  given.  When  the  perfidious  governor  had 
procured  this  consent  he  dissolved  the  Committee  of  Twelve,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1642,  by  an  arbitrary  order,  telling  them  that  the  business  for 
which  they  had  been  convened  was  completed.     This  done,  he  forbade 


48  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

any  popular  assemblages  thereafter.     Thus  ended  the  first  attempt  to 
establish  popular  sovereignty  in  l^ew  Netherland. 

Kieft  now  sent  an  armed  force  into  Westchester  to  chastise  the  Weck- 
quaesgeeks,  the  tribe  of  the  murderer.  Tlie  expedition  was  fruitless, 
and  was  followed  by  concessions  and  a  treaty  which  prevented  bloodshed. 
The  governor  was  disappointed,  but  his  bloodthirstiness  was  partially 
slaked  not  long  afterward.  The  River  Indians  were  tributary  to  the 
Mohawks,  and  at  midwinter  in  1643  a  large  war-party  of  the  latter  came 
down  from  near  Fort  Orange  to  collect  tribute  of  the  Weckquaesgeeks 
in  lower  Westchester  and  the  Tappans  on  the  west  side  of  the  Hudson 
River. 

The  terrified  Algonquins — men,  women,  and  children,  fully  five  hun- 
dred strong — fled  before  the  dreaded  Iroquois,  and  sought  refuge  with 
the  Dutch.  Tlie  latter  now  had  a  rare  opportunity  to  win  the  sincere 
and  lasting  friendship  of  tlieir  barbaria-n  brethren  around  them  by  exer- 
cising the  virtues  of  hospitality,  common  humanity,  and  a  Christian 
spirit.  Such  a  course  De  Tries  and  Bogardus  strongly  advised  ;  but 
there  were  other  leading  spirits  bent  on  war  and  revenge  who  advised 
the  very  willing  governor  to  improve  the  occasion  for  avenging  the 
murder  of  Schmidt.  Three  of  the  ex-senators,  speaking  falsely  in  the 
name  of  the  Twelve,  urged  the  governor  to  "fall  upon  them."  The 
governor  was  delighted,  and  at  once  ordered  Sergeant  Rudolf  to  lead 
eighty  well-armed  men  across  the  river  and  attack  the  fugitive  Tappans, 
w^ho  had  taken  refuge  with  the  Hackensacks  at  Pavonia  or  Hoboken, 
near  the  Dutch  settlement  of  Vriesdael. 

De  Vries,  representing  the  majority  of  the  citizens,  vainly  tried  to 
dissuade  the  governor  from  his  bloodthirsty  purpose.  He  warned  him 
that  he  would  bring  dire  calamity  upon  the  province.  The  fiery  magis- 
trate spurned  the  captain's  advice  and  admonitions,  saying  :  "  The  order 
has  gone  forth  ;  it  cannot  be  recalled."  In  that  order  he  impiously 
said  the  work  had  been  undertaken  "in  the  full  confidence  that  God 
will  crown  our  resolutions  with  success." 

At  the  middle  of  a  cold  night  late  in  February,  1643,  Sergeant  Rudolf 
and  his  men  fell  upon  the  defenceless  Tappans  at  Hoboken,  who  were 
sleeping  in  fancied  security.  At  the  same  time  Sergeant  Adriaensen 
smote  the  Weckquaesgeeks,  who  had  taken  refuge  with  the  Dutch  on 
Manhattan  at  Corlear's  Hook,  now  the  foot  of  Grand  Street  He  killed 
forty  of  them.  Rudolf  made  the  deep  snows  at  Hoboken  red  with  the 
blood  of  about  a  hundred  unoffending  pagans,  sparing  neither  age  nor 
sex  in  the  execution  of  his  cowardly  master's, will.  "Warrior  and 
squaw,  sachem  and    child,   mother  and  babe,"  says  Brodhead,   "  were 


RESULTS   OF  A   CRUEL  POLICY.  49 

4 

alike  massacred."  The  next  morning,  when  the  armed  Hollanders 
returned  to  Fort  Amsterdam — a  ghastly  train — with  thirty  prisoners  and 
the  heads  of  several  Indians  on  pikes,  Kieft  shook  their  bloody  hands 
with  delight,  and  gave  them  presents. 

This  massacre  and  other  outrages  committed  by  order  of  Ivieft  aroused 
the  fiery  hatred  of  all  the  surrounding  tribes.  A  fierce  war  was  kindled. 
Villages  and  farms  were  desolated.  The  white  people  were  butchered 
wherever  found  by  the  enraged  barbarians.*  The  Long  Island  Indians, 
hitherto  friendly,  joined  their  dusky  kindred,  and  the  very  existence  of 
the  colony  was  imperilled. 

The  fierce  blaze  kindled  by  the  folly  and  wickedness  of  Kieft  appalled 
him.     He  again  called  upon  the  "  Commonalty"  to  appoint  a  committee 
to     consider      propositions 
which  he  would  lay  before  ^ — ^,_^ 

them.     They  choose  eight  ^^tUJiC'   i^/>^77 

men,    one   of    whom    was  /l^           y         CA-^ijfl              ^^^ 

Isaac  Allerton,  a  passenger  /    /    ^"i^y^ 

in  the  Mayflower^  who  was  \y 

then  a  prosperous  merchant  '               signature  ov  isaac  ai.i.ekton. 

at  Manhattan.     The  Coun- 
cil  of   Eight   counselled   peace   with  the  Long  Island  tribes   and    war 
upon  the  Westchester  Indians,  who  had  desolated  settlements  and  planta- 
tions there.     It  was  done. 


*  Among  the  victims  was  Mrs.  Anne  Hutchinson,  wlio  was  an  advocate  of  the  right  of 
private  judgment  in  religious  matters,  and  had  been  banished  from  Boston  because  it  was 
said  .she  was  "  wealiening  tlie  hands  and  hearts  of  the  people  toward  the  ministers," 
and  was  "like  Roger  Williams,  or  worse."  She  went  to  Rhode  Island,  but  found  her 
abode  there  undesirable,  so  she  sought  the  protection  of  the  more  tolerant  Dutch  for  the 
exercise  of  soul  libe^tJ^  In  the  .summer  of  1642  .she  removed,  with  all  her  family,  to  Pel- 
ham  Neck,  in  Westchester  County,  within  the  Dutch  domain.  It  was  near  New  Rochelle, 
and  the  spot  was  called  "  Annie's  Hoeck."  The  Dutch  named  Westchester  "  The  Land 
of  Peace."  In  the  fierce  war  of  1643  the  widowed  Anne  Hutchinson  and  all  her  family, 
excepting  a  little  granddaughter,  eight  years  old,  were  murdered  by  the  Indians.  The 
child  was  made  a  captive,  and  was  ransomed  by  the  authorities  at  Manhattan. 

Lady  Deborah  Moody,  an  Englishwoman,  wiio,  like  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  had  fled  from 
persecution  at  Salem,  established  herself  at  Gravesend,  on  the  w^estern  end  of  Long 
Island.  She  had  scarcely  become  settled  before  the  Indians  attacked  lier  plantation. 
Forty  resolute  colonists  bravely  defended  it,  and  drove  the  assailants  away.  Gravesend 
escaped-  the  fate  that  befell  all  the  neighboring  settlements  on  Long  Island.  Two  years 
afterward  Kieft  granted  Lady  Moody,  her  son.  Sir  J.  Henry  Moody,  and  others  a  patent 
for  land  adjoining  Coney  Island,  now  known  as  Gravesend.  She  and  other  inhabitants 
were  allowed  to  nominate  their  magistrates.  Her  home  was  again  attacked  by  the  bar- 
barians during  the  excitement  while  Stuyvesant  was  on  his  expedition  against  the  Swedes, 
in  1655. 


50  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

War  raged  fearfullj  again,  and  the  colony,  after  a  dreadful  struggle, 
was  on  the  verge  of  ruin.  At  length  a  company  of  Englishmen  under 
Captain  John  Underhill,  a  brave  and  re^less  soldier  of  New  England 
then  living  at  Stamford,  Conn.,  was  called  to  the  assistance  of  the 
Dutch.  Tlie  Indians  were  subdued,  and  peace  M-as  partially  restored. 
Yet  the  dreadful  war-cloud  hung  ominously  over  the  Hollanders,  charged 
with  the  lightnings  of  suppressed  wrath.  Kieft  trembled  at  the  aspect, 
and  again  convoked  the  Council  of  Eight.  The  people  had  lost  all  con- 
fidence in  the  governor— nay,  they  despised  and  hated  him.  Their  hopes 
in  this  hour  of  tlieir  distress  rested  solely  upon  their  representatives,  the 
Council  of  Eight.  But  tliat  council  possessed  no  legal  executive  power, 
and  the  stubborn  governor  seldom  followed  their  advice.  Retrievement 
seemed  almost  hopeless.  Distant  settlements  remained  desolated.  Dis- 
order everywhere  prevailed.  The  Swedes  were  building  up  a  strong 
empire  on  the  southern  borders  of  New  Netherland,  and  the  Puritans 


Oll-VL 


\<YtJ^'hC^^^ 


SIGNATUKK    OK    JOIIX    UNDKUniM,. 


were  not  only  claiming  absolute  title  to  undoubteil  Dutch  territory,  but 
many  of  them  were  becoming  citizens  under  the  liberal  charter  of  the 
company,  and  were  wielding  much  influence  in  social  life  at  Manhattan. 
At  this  juncture,  and  in  order  to  invoke  wholesome  interference  with 
Kieft's  destructive  policy,  the  Council  of  Eight  addressed  a  memorial  to 
the  States-General,  giving  a  full  account  of  jsublic  affairs  in  the  province, 
and  asking  the  recall  of  the  obnoxious  governor.  At  this  juncture  also 
De  Yries,  one  of  the  best  and  most  useful  citizens,  who  had  been  ruined 
financially  by  the  war,  left  the  province  forever  and  returned  to  Hol- 
land.*    On  taking  leave  of  Kieft  his  last  words  addressed  to  the  governor 

*  De  Vrics  liad  accepted  an  invitation  from  a  Rotterdam  skipix>r  to  pilot  his  vessel, 
laden  with  Madeira  wine,  from  Mauliattan  to  Virginia.  They  stopped  on  the  way  at 
the  capital  of  New  Sweden,  where  De  Vries  was  hospitably  entertained  by  the  governor 
(Printz)  for  five  days,  while  the  skipper  traded  wine  and  confectionery  for  l)caver-skins. 
De  Vries  spent  the  winter  in  Virginia,  and  reached  Amsterdam  in  Juno.  1644.  He 
seems  never  to  have  revisited  America.  His  story  of  his  Voyngex  was  publishetl  at 
Alckmaer,  in  1655,  with  a  portrait  of  liim.  It  was  tran.slated  into  English  by  the  lat« 
Henry  C.  Murphy,  of  Brooklyn,  and  has  been  of  essential  service  in  the  pi'oparation  of 
this  volume. 


MEMORIAL  OF  THE   COUNCIL   OF  EIGHT.  51 

Tittered  the  awful  prophecy  :   "  The  murders  in  which  you  have  shed  so 
mucli  innocent  blood  will  yet  be  avenged  upon  your  own  head." 

The  people  endured  the  rule  of  Kieft  until  it  could  not  be  longer 
borne  with  safety  to  the  colony,  and  the  Council  of  Eight,  representing 
the  coinmonalty,  addressed  a  second  memorial  to  the  States- General  and 
the  College  of  Nineteen,  in  which  they  set  forth  in  detail  the  causes 
which  threatened  the  absolute  ruin  of  New  Netherland,^'  They  said  in 
conclusion  : 

"  This  is  what  w^e  have,  in  the  sorrow  of  our  hearts,  to  complain  of  : 
That  one  man,  who  has  been  sent  out,  sworn  and  instructed  by  his  lords 
and  masters,  to  whom  he  is  responsible,  should  dispose  here  of  our  lives 
and  property  according  to  his  will  and  pleasure,  in  a  manner  so  arbitrary 
that  a  king  would  not  be  suffered  legally  to  do."  They  asked  for  a 
better  governor  for  the  colonists  or  permission  to  return  with  their 
"  wives  and  children  to  their  dear  Fatherland." 

The  Dutch  West  India  Company  was  then  nearly  bankrupt.  Immediate 
action  was  necessary  to  avert  the  absolute  ruin  of  New  Netherland  and 
to  prevent  the  colonists 

"returning  with  their        ^. \  i 

wives  and  children   to        U i/H^v^j.X^jJ^  ^WUS-A     , 

their  dear  Fatherland."  L^t-<^C>      ^  ^^V '^ 

The  company  resolved  ^  ^ 

n        T7«     i",^  J  SIGNATURE    OK    COKNELIS   MEI.YN. 

to    recall     Kieit,    and 

"Van  Dincklagen,  Van 

Twilier's  disgraced  schout-fiscal,  was  made  provisional  governor.     The 

people  at  Manhattan  were  greatly   delighted  when  they  heard  of  the 

intended  change.     Some   pugnacious  burghers   threatened    Kieft   with 

personal  chastisement  when  he  should   "  take  oif  the  coat  with  which  he 

was  bedecked  by  the  lords  his  masters." 

During  Kieft's  administration  the  Swedes  had  obtained  a  firm  foot- 
hold on  the  Delaware.  They  claimed  territorial  jurisdiction  on  the  right 
side  of  tlie  Delaware  Bay  and  Kiver  from  Cape  Ilinlopen  to  the  falls  at 
Trenton. 


*  It  was  written  by  Cornelis  Melyn,  one  of  the  Eight  Men,  who  en  me  to  Manhattan  in 
1640  to  see  the  country,  and  was  so  much  pleased  with  it  that  he  hastened  to  Antwerp  to 
bring  his  family  to  America.  He  afterward  rose  to  prominence  in  New  Netherland.  He 
was  President  of  the  Council  of  Eight.  He  had  become  a  patroon  of  Staten  Island,  and 
began  a  colony  there.  He  suffered  much  in  body  and  estate  under  Kieft,  and  brought 
his  grievances  before  the  States -General.  He  was  a  stubborn  subject  under  Stuyvesant, 
and  resisted  the  director's  arbitrary  power.  He  finally  (1G81)  surrendered  his  manor 
into  the  hands  of  the  Dutch  West  India  Company  for  a  consideration,  and  returned  to 
Amsterdam. 


53  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Governor  Miniiit  died  at  Fort  Christina  in  1642.  Ilis  lieutenant, 
Peter  Ilollandare,  at  the  end  of  a  year  and  a  half  afterward  returned  to 
Sweden,  when  the  queen  commissioned  John  Printz,  a  lieutenant  of 
cavalry,  governor  of  New  Sweden,  and  furnished  him  with  officers  and 
soldiers  to  support  his  authority. 

Printz  arrived  at  Fort  Christina  early  in  1642.  He  was  instructed  to 
maintain  and  cultivate  friendship  with  the  Dutch  at  Fort  Nassau  and 
Manhattan  and  the  English  in  Virginia,  and  not  to  disturb  the  Dutch 
settlers  within  his  domain  in  their  forms  of  divine  worship.  He  made 
Tinicum  Island,  near  Chester,  about  twelve  miles  below  Philadelphia, 
the  capital  of  New  Sweden,  built  a  fort  upon  it  of  hemlock  logs,  which 
he  named  "  New  Gottenburg,"  and  erected  a  dwelling,  which  was  called 
"  Printz  Hall."  He  was  instructed  not  to  allow  any  trade  in  peltries 
excepting  by  the  agents  of  the  Swedish  Company,  and  to  secure  all  the 
Indian  trade  against  the  competition  of  the  Dutch. 

The  attitude  of  the  Swedes  very  much  disturbed  the  authorities  at 
Manhattan.  They  were  then  powerless  in  regard  to  the  intruders.  Added 
to  this  cause  of  irritation  was  the  absurd  claim  of  a  British  baronet  (Sir 
Edmund  Plowden)  to  nearly  all  the  territory  of  New  Jersey  by  virtue 
of  a  charter  granted  to  him  by  the  Viceroy  of  Ireland  !  The  New  Eng- 
landers,  too,  annoyed  the  Dutch  by  persistent  eflforts  to  participate  in 
the  profitable  fur  trade  which  the  Hollanders  were  determined  to 
monopolize. 

Impelled  by  the  force  of  jjublic  opinion  and  a  stern  voice  of  warning 
from  the  Amsterdam  Chamber,  Kieft  had  consented  to  treat  for  peace 
with  the  Indians.  Representatives  of  the  surrounding  tribes  of  bar- 
barians had  come  to  Manhattan,  and  in  front  of  the  fort  on  the  spot  now 
known  as  the  "  Bowling  Green"  they  had  sat  and  smoked  the  calumet, 
or  pipe  of  peace,  and  agreed  to  a  treaty  of  amity  between  the  Dutch 
and  themselves.  That  treaty  vvas  signed  on  the  last  day  of  summer, 
1645.  Then  a  proclamation  went  forth  from  Manhattan  for  the  observ- 
ance of  September  6tli  as  a  day  of  thanksgiving  throughout  New 
Netlierland.     This  great  Indian  treaty  was  ratified  at  Amsterdam. 

Kieft  exercised  his  M'aning  jjower  and  indulged  his  petty  spite  and 
tyranny  a  little  longer.  When  it  was  known  that  he  was  to  be  recalled, 
the  people  became  more  outspoken  in  their  utterances  of  contempt  for 
him.  Dominie  Bogardus  was  foremost  in  boldness  and  plainness  of 
speech.  "  What  are  the  great  men  of  the  country,"  he  exclaimed  from 
the  pulpit  one  Sunday,  "  but  vessels  of  wrath  and  fountains  of  woe  and 
trouble  !  They  think  of  nothing  but  to  plunder  the  property  of  others, 
to  dismiss,  to  banish,  to  transport  to  Holland."     The  enraged  governor, 


STUYVESANT   SUCCEEDS   KIEFT. 


53 


who  was  present,  never  entered  the  church  again.  He  retaliated  by 
encouraging  the  pfficers  and  soldiers  to  practise  all  sorts  of  noisy  games 
about  the  church,  and  even  to  beat  drums  and  lire  cannons  during 
preaching. 

After  a  little  more  strife  with  the  Swedes  and  New  Englanders,  and 
falsely  accusing  the  people  of 
Manhattan  of  instigating  the  late 
disastrous  war  with  the  Indians, 
Kieft  ended  his  inglorious  sojourn 
in  America  forever  by  leaving  the 
shores  of  New  Netherland  in 
August,  1643,  in  the  ship  Prin- 
cess bound  for  Holland,  and  carry- 
ing with  him  more  than  $100,000 
of  ill-gotten  wealth.  Dominie 
Bogardus  sailed  in  the  same  ship, 
and  with  about  fourscore  others 
perished  with  Kieft  when  the 
vessel  was  wrecked.  The  prophecy 
of  De  Yries  was  fulfilled. 

The  College  of   Nineteen  had 
changed  the  mode  of  government 


PETER   STUYVESANT. 


in  New   Netherland   to  conform 
more  nearly  to  that  of   Holland. 

All  power  for  the  management  of  the  concerns  of  the  colony  was  vested 
in  a  Supreme  Council  composed  of  a  director-general  or  governor,  a  vice- 
director,  and  fiscal  or  treasurer.  At  that  time  Peter  Stuyvesant,*  a 
Frieslander,  a  scholar,  and  a  brave  soldier  in  the  service  of  the  Dutch 
West  India  Company,  and  who  had  lost  a  leg  in  an  attack  upon  the 
Portuguese  island  of  St.  Martin,  was  at  Amsterdam  receiving  surgical 
treatment.  He  had  been  governor  of  the  company's  colony  of  Cura^oa, 
in  which  capacity  he  had  shown  great  vigor  and  wisdom.  He  was  then 
forty-four  years  of  age  ;  strong  in  physical  constitution  ;  fond  of  official 


*  Peter  Stuyvesant  was  born  in  Triestan,  in  1602.  He  became  a  brave  soldier  in  the 
Dutch  military  service,  in  the  West  Indies,  and  was  appointed  Governor  of  Cura<;oa. 
He  was  a  strong-headed  and  sometimes  a  wrong-headed  official,  but  ruled  with  equity 
and  fidelity  to  his  country.  Made  governor  of  New  Netherland  in  1645,  as  "  redressor 
general  "  of  all  abuses,  he  became  conspicuous  for  his  energy  and  patriotism.  Compelled 
to  surrender  the  province  to  the  English  in  1664,  he  retired  to  private  life.  The  next 
year  he  went  to  Holland  to  report  to  his  superiors.  Returning,  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  days  at  his  seat  on  Manhattan  Island,  near  the  East  River,  where  he  died  in  August, 
1682.     His  remains  rest  in  St.  Mark's  Churchyard,  New  York  City. 


54 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


show  ;  admiring  the  arbitrary  nature  of  military  rule,  under  whicli  he 
had  been  educated  ;  aristocratic  in  all  his  notions  ;  haughty  in  his 
deportment  toward  subordinates  ;  a  thorough  disciplinarian  ;  a  stern, 
inflexible  patriot,  and  a  just  and  honest  man.  He  was  appointed  governor 
of  New  Netherland.  lie  was  not  fitted  to  govern  a  simple  people  with 
republican  tendencies,  yet  his  administration  of  the  affairs  of  New 
Netherland  for  about  seventeen  years  contrasted  most  favorably  with 
those  of  his  predecessors  in  office,  and  he  became  the  most  renowned  of 
the  ofiicials  of  the  Dutch  West  India  Company. 

Owing  to  a  disagreement  concerning  some  of  the  details  of  policy  in 
the  management  of  New  Netherland,  Stuyvesant  did  not  arrive  at  Man- 
hattan until  late  in  May,  1647.  He  bore  the  commission  of  director- 
general  over  New  Netlierland  and  "adjoining  places"  (New  Sweden 
and  the  Connecticut  Valle}'),  and  also  of  the  islands  of  Cura9oa, 
Buenaire,  Aruba,  and   their   dependencies.     He  was   accompanied   by 

Lubbertus  van  Dincklagen,  Van  Twiller's 
dismissed  schout-fiscal  (who  had  been  instru- 
mental in  causing  the  recall  of  that  governor 
and  also  of  Kieft),  as  vice  -  director  or 
lieutenant-governor.  With  him  also  came 
the  fiscal,  Ilendrick  van  Dyck,  and  Com- 
missary Adriaensen.  They  came  with  a  little 
squadron  of  four  ships,  bearing  "  free  colo- 
nists" and  private  traders. 

The  new  director-general  was  received  at 
Manhattan  with  great  joy.  The  arrival  was 
on  a  clear  and  warm  May  morning.  The  whole 
community  turned  out  under  arms,  and  almost  exhausted  the  breath  and 
gunpowder  of  the  town  in  shouting  and  firing.  Stuyvesant  marched  to 
the  fort  in  great  pomp,  displaying  a  silver-mounted  wooden  leg  of  fine 
workmanship.  After  keeping  several  of  the  principal  inhabitants  who 
went  to  welcome  him  waiting  some  hours  bareheaded  in  the  sun,  while 
he  remained  covered,  "  as  if  he  were  the  Czar  of  Muscovy,"  he  ad- 
dressed the  people.  He  told  them  that  he  should  govern  them  "as a 
father  his  children,  for  the  advantage  of  the  chartered  Dutch  West  India 
Company  and  these  burghers  and  their  land,"  and  he  declared  that 
every  one  should  have  justice  done  him.  The  people  went  to  their 
homes  with  hopeful  anticipations.     Yet  a  few  of  the  more  thoughtful 


STUYVESANT  S   SEAT-.- 


*  Stuyvesant 's  official  seal  was  made  of  silver.  The  engraving  is  of  the  exact  size  of 
the  originiil.  As  it  was  his  private  proixTty,  having  liad  it  struck  at  his  own  expense,  he 
carried  it  witli  liini  to  New  Netherland. 


STUYVESANT'S  ENERGETIC  RULE.  55 

ones  shook  their  heads  in  doubt,  for  they  somewhat  feared  that  his 
haughty  carriage  denoted  a  despot's  will  rather  than  a  father's  tender 
and  affectionate  indulgence. 

Stuyvesant  was  too  frank  and  honest  to  conceal  his  opinions  and  inten- 
tionfe.  At  the  very  outset  he  asserted  the  prerogatives  of  the  director- 
ship, and  frowned  upon  every  expression  of  republican  sentiment.  He 
regarded  the  people  as  his  subjects,  to  be  obedient  to  his  will.  In  this 
he  was  not  a  whit  behind  his  predecessors.  On  one  occasion  he  declared 
it  to  be  "  treason  to  petition  against  one's  magistrates,  whether  there  be 
cause  or  not."  He  defended  Kieft's  conduct  in  rejecting  the  interfer- 
ence of  "  The  Twelve"  in  public  affairs,  and  plainly  told  the  people  : 
"  If  any  one  during  my  administration  shall  appeal  I  will  make  him  a 
foot  shorter  and  send  the  pieces  to  Holland,  and  let  him  appeal  in  that 
way."     "With  such  despotic  sentiments  he  began  his  iron  rule. 

Stuyvesant  was  despotic,  and  yet  honesty  and  wisdom  marked  all  his 
acts.  He  truly  described  New  Netherland  as  in  "  a  low  condition"  on 
his  arrival.  Excepting  the  Long  Island  settlements,  scarcely  fifty 
bouweries  or  cultivated  farms  could  be  counted  ;  and  the  whole  province 
could  not  furnish  more  than  three  hundred  men  capable  of  bearing  arms. 
He  set  about  reforms  with  promptness  and  vigor.  The  morals  of  the 
people,  the  sale  of  liquor  to  the  Indians,  the  support  of  religion,  and  the 
regulation  of  trade  commanded  his  immediate  attention  and  became  sub- 
jects for  numerous  proclamations  and  ordinances.  It  was  not  long 
before  he  infused  his  own  energy  into  the  community,  and  very  soon 
the  life-blood  of  enterprise  began  to  circulate  freely  through  every  vein 
and  artery  of  society. 

With  the  same  energy  Stuyvesant  applied  himself  to  the  adjustment 
of  his  "  foreign  relations."  He  despatched  a  courier  to  Governor  Printz, 
of  New  Sweden,  with  a  decided  protest  against  his  occupation  of  a  por- 
tion of  the  domain  of  Ncm'  Netherland  without  the  consent  of  the  Dutch 
West  India  Comj^any,  and  he  made  arrangements  to  meet  commissioners 
of  New  England  in  council  to  determine  the  mutual  rights  of  the  Dutch 
and  English.  He  treated  the  surrounding  Indians  with  the  utmost 
kindness.  Because  the  new  director  won  the  warm  friendship  of  those 
who  were  lately  brooding  in  sullen  hate  over  the  murder  of  sixteen 
hundred  of  their  people,  the  foolish  story  got  abroad  in  the  east  that 
Stuyvesant  was  forming  a  coalition  with  the  Indians  to  exterminate 
the  English  ! 

Financial  embarrassments  in  New  Netherland  at  this  time  were  favor- 
able to  the  implantation  and  growth  of  representative  government  in  the 
colony.     Since  1477  Holland  had  maintained  the  just  principle   that 


56  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

"Taxation  and  representation  are  inseparable."  The  denial  of  this 
principle  as  applied  to  the  English-American  colonies  at  near  the  middle 
of  the  last  century  led  to  a  war  which  dismembered  the  British  Empire 
and  gave  political  independence  to  the  United  States.  They  formulated 
the  Holland  principle  in  the  grand  political  postulate  :  "  Taxation  with- 
out representation  is  tyranny,"  and  fought  successfully  in  its  defence. 

Stuyvesant  dared  not  tax  the  colonists  without  their  consent  for  fear  of 
incurring  the  censure  of  the  States- General.  It  could  be  done  in  only 
one  way,  and  that  way  he  adopted.  He  called  a  convention  of  the 
people  and  directed  them  to  choose  eighteen  proper  men,  nine  of  whom 
he  might  appoint  as  the  representatives  of  the  "  commonalty"  to  form 
a  co-ordinate  branch  of  the  local  government.  Although  their  preroga- 
tives were  hedged  round  by  provisos  and  limitations,  and  the  first  Nine 
chosen  by  the  governor  were  to  nominate  their  successors  without  the 
voice  of  the  commonalty  thereafter,  this  was  an  important  advance 
toward  the  popular  government  of  later  times. 

TuE  Nine  formed  a  salutary  check  upon  the  director,  and  kept  his 

power  -within  due 
bounds.  They  were 
heard  with  respect  in 
the  Fatherland,  and 
they  were  ever  the 
habitual  guardians  of 

SraNATURE   OP   GOVEKT  LOOCKEKMAN9.  ^^^  ^.j^j^^^  ^f     ^^^  ^^^_ 

pie.  They  had  far 
more  power  than  The  Twelve  or  the  Eight  under  Kieft.  They 
nourished  the  prolific  germs  of  democracy  which  burst  into  vigorous 
life  in  the  time  of  Leisler,  nearly  fifty  years  later.  These  senators 
were  Augustine  Ileermans,  Arnoldus  van  Hardenburg,  and  Govert 
Loockermans  from  among  the  merchants  ;  Jan  Jansen  Dam,  Jacob 
Wolfertsen  van  Couwenhoven,  and  Hendrick  Hendricksen  Kip  from 
the  citizens,  and  Michael  Jansen,  Jans  Evertsen  Bout,  and  Thomas 
Hall  from  the  farmers. 

Soon  after  his  inauguration  Stuyvesant  sent  letters  to  the  governors  of 
neighboring  colonies  expressing  his  desire  to  cultivate  friendly  relations 
with  them,  at  the  same  time  stating  the  nature  of  the  territorial  claims 
of  the  Dutch,  the  prolific  cause  of  irritation  since  the  administration  of 
Governor  Minuit,  when  the  Dutch  "West  India  Company  claimed  juris- 
diction over  the  whole  valley  of  the  Connecticut,  and  Dutch  trappers  and 
traders  were  seen  on  the  waters  of  Narraganset  and  Cape  Cod  bays. 

When  Minuit  made  overtures  to  the  "  Pilgrims"  at  Plymouth  for  the 


^z5  cl^^^H-t^L^^^ 


DUTCH  EMBASSY  AT  NEW  PLYMOUTH.  57 

establishment  of  friendly  intercourse,  Governor  Bradford  expressed  his 
willingness  to  do  so,  but  warned  the  Dutch  not  to  occupy  or  carry  on 
trade  in  the  country  north  of  the  fortieth  degree  of  latitude,  as  it 
belonged  to  the  Council  of  Plymouth.  This  excluded  the  whole  of  New 
England  and  more.  Minuit,  in  reply,  claimed  the  right  of  the  Dutch  to 
trade  with  the  Narraganset  Indians  as  they  had  done  for  years.  Brad- 
ford made  no  response.  Finally  Minuit  sent  a  deputation  (1627)  to  New 
Plymouth  to  confer  with  the  authorities  there.  At  their  head  was 
Rassieres,  the  Secretary  of  New  Netherland,  an  accomplished  gentleman 
of  French  blood.  They  entered  New  Plymouth  with  the  sound  of  a 
trumpet  which  heralded  their  approach  from  the  little  vessel  which  had 
brought  them  to  that  shore.  They  were  kindly  received  and  entertained 
for  several  days.  The  special  object  of  the  mission  was  not  attained, 
but  the  deputies  made  a  profitable  study  of  the  political  and  social  policy 
of  the  Puritans.  They  carried  back  to  Manhattan  ideas  which,  diffused 
among  the  people  there,  led  in  time  to  an  enlargement  of  their  liberties. 
The  embassy  were  accompanied  to  their  vessel  by  an  escort  of  Puritans. 
At  that  conference  soft  words  were  used  by  both  parties,  kindly  feel- 
ings were  engendered,  and  w^hile  both  the  Dutch  and  the  English  were 
equally  resolved  to  maintain  their  respective  rights,  there  were  no  words 
of  defiant  anger  uttered.  Their  farewell  and  parting  were  most  friendly. 
Diplomacy  and  contention  between  the  Dutch  and  their  neighbors  con- 
tinued fully  twenty  years,  when  the  whole  matter  was  settled,  as  far  as 
possible,  in  1650. 


68  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER   V. 

Governor  Stuyvesant,  peacefully  inclined,  determined  to  attempt  a 
settlement  of  the  disputes  between  New  Netherland  and  Jsew  England 
by  diplomacy.  lie  made  arrangements  for  a  conference  at  Hartford 
between  himself  and  commissioners  appointed  by  the  united  New  Eng- 
land colonies,*  Late  in  September,  1650,  accompanied  by  George 
Baxter,  his  English  secretary,  and  a  large  suite,  he  sailed  from  Manhat- 
tan, touching  at  several  settlements  on  the 
shores  of  Long  Island  Sound.  He  arrived  at 
)*  ^^Cijc4^y^^      Hartford  on  the  fourth  day  of  the  voyage. 

Negotiations    began    on     September    23d. 
SIGNATURE  OF  GEORGE         ^ffer  a  discussion  for  five  days  it  was  agreed 
that    "  all  differences  should  be   referred   to 
two  delegates  on  each  side."     The  commis- 
sioners appointed  Simon  Bradstreet  and  Thomas  Prence,  and  Stuyvesant 
chose  Captain  Thomas  Willett  and  Ensign  George  Baxter,  both  English- 
men.    The  referees  recommended  that  a  line  drawn  from  the  westerly 
side  of  Oyster  Bay  directly  across  Long  Island  to  the  sea' should  be  made 
the  boundary  between  the  Dutch  on  the  west  side  of  the  line  and  the 
English  on  the  east  side  of  the  line.     Also  that  a  line  from  the  west  side 
of   Greenwich    Bay,  in    Long   Island   Sound,  extending   north   twenty 
miles,  and  after  that  not  less  than  ten 
miles  from  the   Hudson   River  should  y^ 

be    the    boundary    line   between   New        ^^'""if/       I Jt^'i-r/^.C/'-^ 
Netherland  and  New  England  on   the       W^  ^^     l/l/U/UC^^f^r 
mainland.     Judgment  as   to  what  had       ^ 

1  Ti  Jii  il~rvi.l  SIGNATURE   OP   THOMAS  WILUETT. 

already  happened  between   tlie  Dutch 

and  New  Haven  Colony,  in  Kieft's  time, 

was  postponed   until  advice  should  be   received  from  Holland.      The 

former,    regardless   of   the   warnings  of   Governor  Kieft,    had   bought 

*  In  1643  delegates  from  Connecticut,  New  Haven,  Plymouth,  and  the  General  Court 
of  Massachusetts  assembled  at  Boston  to  consider  measures  against  common  danger  from 
the  Dutch  on  Manhattan  and  the  Indians.  Rhode  Island,  considered  .schismatic,  was  not 
invited  to  the  ("onference.  A  Confederacy  was  formed  of  the  colonics  named,  under  the 
title  of  "United  Colonies  of  New  England. "  It  continued  for  more  than  forty  years, 
1643-86. 


CONDITION  OF  NEW  AMSTERDAM.  59 

lands  of  the  Indians  on  both  sides  of  the  Delaware  within  the  Dutch 
domain,  and  proceeded  to  make  settlements  there.  These  settlements 
were  speedily  broken  up  by  military  force. 

-XTlie  recommendations  of  the  referees  were  adopted.  The  two  chosen 
hj  Stuyvesant,  being  Englishmen,  his  countrymen  felt  slighted,  nay, 
insulted,  and  accused  the  governor  of  partiality  for  the  interests  of  the 
English  and  neglect  of  theirs.  They  opposed  the  treaty,  and  made  new 
demands  for  more  popular  liberty. 

Having  so  far  settled  all  diflPerences  with  the  New  Englanders,  Stuy- 
vesant turned  his  attention  to  the  Swedes  on  the  Delaware,  whom  he 
regarded  as  intruders  upon  Dutch  territory.  The  accession  of  a  new 
monarch  to  the  throne  of  Sweden  made  an  adjustment  of  the  long- 
pending  dispute  desirable. 

Stuyvesant  had  been  directed  to  act  firmly,  but  discreetly,  in  the 
matter.  Accompanied  by  his  suite  of  officers,  he  went  to  Fort  Nassau, 
and  thence  sent  to  Governor  Printz  an  abstract  of  the  title  of  the  Dutch 
to  the  domain,  and  called  a  council  of  the  Delaware  Indians.  Sachems 
and  chiefs  in  the  council  declared  the  Swedes  to  be  usurpers,  and  by  a 
solemn  treaty  gave  all  the  land  to  the  Dutch.  Then  Stuyvesant  crossed 
the  river,  and  near  the  site  of  New  Castle,  Del.,  built  a  fort,  and  named 
it  Casimer.  Returning  he  demolished  Fort  Nassau.  Printz  protested 
in  vain.  He  and  Stuyvesant  held  friendly  conferences,  and  agreed  to 
"  keep  neighborly  friendship  and  correspondence  together."  That  was 
in  the  year  1051. 

Meanwhile  the  director-general  had  done  much  to  improve  his  capital, 
which  now  had  a  population  of  nearly  seven  hundred  persons.  He 
found  it  an  irregularly  built  and  straggling,  village,  without  sanitary 
appliances  and  very  little  government.  Each  burgher  was  a  law  unto 
himself.  Various  ordinances  were  now  pronmlgated  by  the  governor 
and  enforced  by  him  for  the  regulation  of  the  construction  of  buildings 
in  reference  to  street  lines  ;  for  the  maintenance  of  order,  cleanliness, 
and  sobriety  ;  for  the  prevention  of  conflagrations,  the  support  of 
religion,  the  promotion  of  morality,  and  the  regulation  of  emigration  and 
trade.  Scores  of  other  matters  for  the  general  good  of  society  were 
attended  to  by  the  director-general,  until  Manhattan  was  made  a  very 
pleasant  dwelling-place.  Though  Stuyvesant  was  a  strict  member  of  the 
Dutch  Reformed  Church,  beliefs  and  divine  worship  in  any  form  were 
tolerated.  With  a  patriotic  feeling  the  director-general  dropped  the 
pretty  Indian  name  of  the  village  of  Manhattan,  and  called  it  New 
Amsterdam. 

Stuyvesant  had  some  unpleasant  experience  in  the  spring  and  summer 


60  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

of  1648  with  Brandt  van  Sleclitenliorst,*  the  patroon's  commissary  at 
Rensselaer wyck,  who  assumed  an  independent  position  for  "  the 
Colonie."  The  director-general  issued  a  proclamation  for  the  observ- 
ance of  a  fast  day  throughout  Now  !Netherland.  The  patroon's  com- 
missary protested  against  it  as  an  invasion  of  "  the  rights  of  the  lord 
patroon."  This  controversy  and  the  fact  that  illicit  trade  was  carried 
on  with  the  Colonie  induced  Stuyvesant  to  visit  Fort  Orange  at  mid- 
summer. He  was  loyally  received  at  the  fort.  lie  summoned  Van 
Slechtenhorst  to  answer  for  Jiis  contempt  of  the  company's  authority. 
The  commis&ary  answered  by  complaining  of  Stuyvesant's  infringement 
of  the  privileges  of  the  patroon.  The  director- general,  incensed  by  the 
commissary's  words  and  manner,  had  no  further  oral  communication 
with  him,  but  by  writing  he  forbade  him  to  put  up  any  building  within 
the  range  of  the  guns  of  Fort  Orange  ;  to  make  any  new  ordinances 
affecting  trade  with  the  Colonie  without  the  assent  of  tlie  officers  of  the 
comjjany,  and  declared  tlie  pledge  which  the  patroons  exacted  from  the 
colonists  not  to  appeal  from  the  decisions  of  the  manorial  courts  a 
"  crime."  He  also  demanded  from  the  commissary  an  annnal  return  to 
him  of  all  the  affairs  of  the  Colonie,     Then  he  returned  to  Manhattan. 

"  You  act  as  if  you  were  the 
lord   of   the   patroon's   Colonie," 
was  the   answer  which   the  stub- 
born   commissary   sent   after    the 
SIGNATURE  OF  VAN  SLECHTENHORST.  irate  director-gcneral,  and  persist- 

ed in  defying  that  officer's  orders. 
He  forbade  the  commissary  of  the  company  to  quarry  stone  or  cut  timber 
within  tlie  Colonie,  and  erected  houses  close  by  Fort  Orange.  Stuyve- 
sant sent  troops  to  restrain  Van  Slechtenhorst  and  to  bring  him  to 
Manhattan  if  he  would  not  desist.  They  failed  to  do  so.  Then  the 
commissary  was  ordered  by  a  peremptory  summons  to  appear  at  Fort 
Amsterdam  the  next  spring. 

In  the  mean  time  popular  discontents  were  everywhere  manifest.  The 
Nine  were  compelled  to  act  in  behalf  of  the  commonalty,  but    were 

*  Van  Slechtenhorst  was  a  native  of  Guelderland,  bold,  fiery  in  disposition,  self-willed, 
and  honest.  He  had  been  appointed  commissary  for  the  young  patroon,  whose  father, 
Killian  van  Rensselaer,  had  lately  died.  His  persistent  practical  a.ssertion  of  the  inde- 
pendence of  Rensselaerwyck  made  him  a  rankling  thorn  in  the  side  of  Stuyvesant. 
Among  other  offences,  he  acquired  a  ce.ssion  of  lands  at  Kaat.skill,  which  had  already  been 
granted,  and  refused  to  recede.  He  also  purchased  lands  at  Clavorack,  opposite,  for  the 
patroon.  He  soon  got  into  trouble,  and  wius  arrested  and  confined  at  New  Amster- 
dam. He  escaped,  and  sent  his  son  to  explore  the  Ka^itsbergs  in  .search  of  silver.  He 
bought  the  land  on  which  the  city  of  Troy  now  stands,  and  finally  returned  to  Holland. 


Cf^.r-s^.-fif^;^ 


OPPOSITION  TO   STUYVESANT'S  ADMINISTRATION.  61 

tliwarted  at  every  step  by  the  sturdy  director.  At  the  next  election 
(1649)  tlie  energetic  Adriaen  van  der  Donck,  who  had  been  the  schont- 
fiscal  of  Rensselaerwyck,  and  Olofi"  Stevenson  van  Cortlandt  became 
memoers  of  the  Council  of  Nine.  Stuy  vesant  stoutly  persisted  in  main- 
taining his  dictatorial  power.  At  the  same  time  he  carried  on  controver- 
sial correspondence  with  the  New  Englanders,  which  was  terminated  by 
the  conference  at  Hartford  already  mentioned. 

The  contest  between   The  Nine  and  the  director  continued.     The 


^^^^^^N^.  ccJLCZ^^^^JU-C^ 


v^crY^^ 


SIGNATURE   OF  VAN   DER   DONCK. 


latter  proceeded  with  a  high  hand.  He  seized  the  papers  of  The  Nine 
and  imprisoned  Yan  der  Donck  for  "  calumniating  the  provincial 
officers,''  But  the  popular  desire  for  reform  and  freedom  could  not  be 
repressed.  Finally  The  Nine,  in  the  name  of  the  commonalty,  pre- 
pared a  "Memorial"  and  a  "Remonstrance"  to  the  States-General 
boldly  setting  forth  the  grievances  of  the  people  and  asking  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  burgher  government  in  the  colony  such  as  their  "  High 


SIGNATURE  AND   SEAL,   OF   VAN   CORTLANDT 


Mightinesses  should  consider  adapted  to  the  province  and  resembling 
somewhat  the  laudable  government  of  our  Fatherland."  These  papers 
were  drawn  up  by  Yan  der  Donck,  and  he  and  two  others  of  The  Nine 
took  them  to  Holland  to  present  them  in  person. 


62  ^  THE   EMPIRE   STATE. 

Again,  when  Stuyvesant  liad  concluded  liis  treaty  at  Hartford  and 
threatened  to  abolish  The  Nine  and  rule  as  an  autocrat,  the  popular 
representatives  presented  a  statement  of  affairs  in  New  Netherland  to  the 
States- General,  and  Yan  der  Donck  in  Holland  strongly  pleaded  the 
cause  of  the  commonalty,  who  yearned  for  the  freer  system  of  govern- 
ment which  prevailed  in  Kew  England.  In  this  memorial  and  plea  Van 
Dinclilagen,  the  vice-director,  and  Van  Dyke,  the  fiscal,  joined,  and 
Melyn,  who  had  been  cruelly  persecuted  by  Kieft  and  Stuyvesant, 
added  his  powerful  support. 

At  length,  after  Stuyvesant  had  administered  the  government  of 
New  Netherland  more  than  four  years,  continually  making  arbitrary 
efforts  to  repress  the  spirit  of  popular  freedom,  the  voice  of  the  com- 
monalty of  New  Amsterdam  and  its  vicinity  was  heeded  by  the  College 
of  Nineteen,  and  they  informed  the  headstrong  director-general,  in  the 
spring  of  1652,  that  they  had  given  their  assent  to  the  establishment  of  a 
"burgher  government"  on  Manhattan — a  government  like  that  of  the 


SIGNATURE   OK   VAN   TIKNHOVEN. 

free  cities  of  Holland,  the  officers,  however,  to  be  appointed  by  the 
governor.  The  soul  of  Stuyvesant  was  troubled  by  this  '*  imprudent 
intrusting  of  power  with  the  people,"  as  he  said. 

In  February,  1653,  New  Amsterdam  was  formally  organized  as  a  city 
by  the  installation  of  Cornelis  van  Tienhoven,*  sellout  ;  Arendt  van 
Hattem  and  Martin  Kregier,  burgomasters^  and  Paul  L.  Yan  der  Grist, 
Maximilian  van  Gheel,  Allard  Anthony,  William  Beeekman,  and  Peter 

*  Van  Tienhoven  was  a  conspicuous  character  in  the  early  history  of  New  Netherland. 
He  came  witli  Van  Twiller,  became  the  company's  book-keeper,  and  afterward  provincial 
secretary  and  schout-fiscal.  He  purcliased  lands  in  Westchester,  led  an  exjx'dition  against 
tlie  Raritans,  made  a  treaty  at  Bronx  River,  and  urged  Kieft  to  attack  the  Indians. 
Retained  as  provincial  secretary  by  Stuyvesant,  the  latter  sent  him  to  Holland  as  his  rep- 
resentative. He  was  sent  to  negotiate  with  Virginia,  also  to  New  Haven  for  the  same 
purpose.  He  superintended  the  South  River  Expedition  against  the  Swedes  in  1655.  In 
1656  he,  a  schout-flscal,  was  charged  with  malfeasance  in  office  ;  so  also  was  his  brother, 
and  both  were  dismissed  from  the  public  service,  when  Cornelis  returned  to  Amster- 
dam. 


IMMIGRATION   OF  NEW  ENGLANDERS. 


68 


Wolfertsen  van  Couwenhoven,  schepens.^  Jacob  Kip  was  appointed 
secretary  to  the  municipal  government.  A  building  known  as  the  City- 
Tavern,  standing  at  the  head  of  Coenties  Slip,  which  had  been  taken  for 
the  public  use,  was  now  named  the  State  House  or  City  Hall.f  The 
citj^  then  contained  about  seven  hundred  and  fifty  inliabitants,  and 
embraced  the  whole  island  of  Manhattan. 

Stuyvesant  had  scarcely  recovered  from  his  chagrin  at  this  turn  in 
public  affairs  when,  through  the  influence  of  tlie  democratic  Van  der 
Donck,  he  was  summoned  to  appear  before  the  States-General  to  answer 
concerning  his  government  in  New  Ketherland.  This  summons  amazed 
the  Amsterdam  Chamber  of  the  company.  They  wrote  to  Stuyvesant 
to  delay  his  departure  from  America.  Political  considerations  soon 
afterward  caused  the  revocation  of  the  order,  and  Stuyvesant  never  left 
Manhattan  until  after  the  sceptre  had  departed  from  the  Dutch. 


THE  FIKST  CITY  HAIiL. 


Another  trouble  vexed  the  soul  of  Peter  Stuyvesant.  A  new  element 
of  social  progress  had  begun  to  work  vigorously  in  New  Netherland,  and 
in  harmony  with  the  free  spirit  of  Dutch  policy  in  social  and  political 
life.      "Numbers,  nay,  whole  towns,"  wrote  De  Laet,  the  historian,:}: 


*  The  sellout  was  a  prosecuting  attorney,  a  judge,  and  a  sheriff  ;  a  burgomaster  was 
a  governing  magistrate  and  a  scJiepen  was  an  alderman. 

f  This  was  a  large  stone  building  erected  by  Governor  Kieft  for  the  entertainment  of 
strangers.  He  called  it  his  liarberg,  or  house  of  entertainment.  It  was  known  as  the 
City  Tavern  after  Stuyvesant  came,  and  until  he  appropriated  it  to  the  public  use. 

X  John  de  Laet  was  one  of  the  most  influential  directors  of  the  Dutch  West  India 
Company.  In  1625  he  published  at  Leyden,  in  a  folio,  black-letter  volume,  a  History  of 
the  New  World  ;  or  Description  of  the  W£»t  Indies,  which  he  dedicated  to  the  States-Gen- 


cUiA' 


64  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

"  to  escape  from  the  persecutions  of  the  Kew  England  Puritans,  who 
made  their  narrow  human  creed  the  higher  law,"  had  come  to  New 
Netherland  to  enjoy  the  theoretic  liberty  of  conscience  in  Church  and 
State  under  Belgic  rule.  They  had  lands  assigned  them  all  around 
Manhattan.  New  Englanders  intermarried  with  the  Dutch.  Being 
free  to  act  as  citizens,  they  exercised  much  influence  in  public  affairs. 

More  than  ten  years  before  New  Amsterdam  became  a  city  an  English 
secretary  (George  Baxter,  already  mentioned)  had  been  employed  by  the 
director-general.  The  "  strangers"  readily  adopted  the  republican  ideas 
of  the  Dutch  commonalty,  and  bore  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  democratic 
movements  which  gave  Stuyvesant  so  much  trouble  during  the  latter 
years  of  his  administration.  The  Dutch  sighed  for  the  freedom  enjoyed 
in  Fatherland,  and  the  English  settlers  were  determined  to  exercise  the 
liberty  w^hich  British  subjects  then  enjoyed  under  the  rule  of  Cromwell. 
Stuyvesant  saw  the  tidal  wave  of  popular  feeling  rising,  but,  firm  in  his 

integrity  and  con- 
victions of  the 
righteousness  of  his 
course,  he  main- 
tained his  position 
until  he  was  com- 
pelled to  yield  or 
perish. 

Republicanism, 
like  any  other  truth, 
has  remarkable  vi- 
tality. It  is  nourished  by  persecution.  The  more  Stuyvesant  attempted 
to  stifle  it,  the  more  widely  it  spread  and  blossomed.  The  popular  will, 
fully  bent  on  reforms,  became  bold  enough,  in  the  autumn  of  1653,  to 
call  a  convention  of  nineteen  delegates,  who  represented  eight  villages  or 
communities,  to  assemble  in  the  City  Hall  at  New  Amsterdam,  ostensibly 
to  take  measures  to  secure  themselves  against  the  depredations  of  baiTbari- 
ans  and  pirates.  They  met  on  November  26th.  Stuyvesant  tried  to  con- 
trol their  action,  but  they  jDaid  very  little  attention  to  his  wishes  and  none 
to  his  commands  ;  yet  they  treated  him  with  great  courtesy.  When  they 
adjourned  they  gave  a  parting  collation,  to  which  the  director-genernl 
was  invited.  Of  course  he  would  not  sanction  their  proceedings  by  his 
presence.     The  delegates  told  him  plainly  that  there  would  be  another 

cral.  He  quoted  largely  from  Hudson's  private  journal.  In  1680  he  became  a  share- 
holder in  the  estate  of  Rensselaerwyck,  which  the  proprietor  had  divided  into  five  shares. 
He  also  became  interested  in  Swaixnendael,  on  the  shore  of  Delaware  Bay. 


SIGNATUKK   OK    JOHN   DK   LAET. 


FIRST   REPRESENTATIVE  ASSEMBLY  OF  THE  PROVINCE.  65 

conv^ention  soon,  and  that  lie  might  act  as  he  pleased,  and  prevent  it  if 
he  could. 

This  revolutionary  movement  in  his  capital  aroused  the  ire  of  tlie 
director-general.  He  stormed  and  threatened,  but  prudently  yielded  to 
the  demands  of  the  people  that  he  should  issue  a  call  for  another  conven- 
tion, and  so  give  legal  sanction  for  the  election  of  delegates  thereto. 
They  were  chosen,  and  assembled  at  the  City  Hall  on  December  10th.* 
The  object  of  the  convention  M^as  to  prepare  and  adopt  a  true  statement 
of  public  affairs  in  New  Netherland,  and  a  remonstrance  against  the 
tyrannous  rule  of  the  director-general. 

This  j^aper  was  drawn  up  by  Baxter,  Stuyvesant's  former  secretary, f 
and  signed  by  every  delegate.  After  expressions  of  loyalty  to  the  States- 
General,  it  proceeded  with  a  narrative,  arranged  under  six  heads,  of  the 
grievances  which  the  colonists  had  endured.  That  narrative  was  a  severe 
indictment  of  Stuyvesant  for  maladministration  or  mismanagement  of 
public  affairs.  The  paper  was  sent  to  the  governor  with  a  demand  for  a 
"  categorical  answer"  to  each  of  its  heads. 

Stuyvesant  met  this  document  with  his  usual  pluck.  He  denied  the 
right  of  some  of  the  delegates  to  seats  in  the  convention.  He  denounced 
the  whole  thing  as  the  wicked  work  of  the  English,  and  expressed  a 
doubt  whether  "  George  Baxter,  the  author,  knew  what  he  "was  about." 
He  wanted  to  know  if  there  was  no  one  among  the  Dutch  in  New 
Netherland  "  sagacious  and  expert  enough  to  draw  up  a  remonstrance  to 
the  director  and  council  ;"  and  he  severely  reprimanded  the  city  govern- 
ment of  New  Amsterdam  for  "  seizing  this  dangerous  opportunity  for 
conspiring  with  the  English  [with  whom  Holland  was  then  at  war],  who 

*  As  this  was  the  first  real  representative  assembly  in  the  great  State  of  New  York, 
I  give  here  the  names  in  full  of  the  delegates  and  the  districts  which  they  represented. 
The  metropolis  (New  Amsterdam)  was  represented  by  Arendt  van  Ilattem,  Martin 
Kregier,  and  P.  L.Van  der  Grist  ;  Breuckelen  (Brooklyn),  by  Frederick  Lubbertsen,  Paul 
Van  der  Beech,  and  William  Beeckeman  ;  Flushing,  by  John  Hicks  and  Tobias  Flake  ; 
Newtown,  bj^  Robert  Coe  and  Thomas  Hazard  ;  Heemstede  (Hempstead),  by  William  Wash- 
burn and  John  Somers  ;  Amersfoort  (Flatlands),  by  P.  Wolfertsen  van  Couwenhoven, 
Jan  Strycker,  and  Thomas  Swartwout  ;  Midwout  (Flatbush),  by  Elbert  Elbertsen  and 
Thomas  Spicer  ;  Gravesend,  by  George  Baxter  and  J.  Hubbard. 

f  George  Baxter  was  an  exile  from  New  England,  and  was  appointed  English  secretary 
and  interpreter  by  Kieft  in  1642.  Stuyvesant  retained  him  as  such,  and  he  gave  the 
director  efficient  service  for  several  years.  He  became  a  leader  in  seditious  proceedings 
at  Gravesend,  where  he  hoisted  an  English  flag.  He  was  arrested  and  imprisoned  at 
New  Amsterdam,  but  escaped,  went  to  New  England,  and  thence  to  London  in  1663, 
where  he  stimulated  the  animosity  of  the  English  against  the  Dutch.  With  Saumel 
Maverick  (who  had  lived  in  Massachusetts  from  his  boyhood)  and  Scott  he  advised  the 
Council  of  Foreign  Plantations  as  to  the  best  means  for  subduing  New  Netherland. 


66  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

were  ever  "  hatcliing  mischief,  but  never  performing  their  promises, 
and  who  miglit  to-morrow  ally  themselves  with  the  North,"  meaning- 
Sweden  and  Denmark. 

This  bluster  did  not  turn  the  convention  from  its  purpose.  Beeckman, 
of  Breuckelen,  was  sent  to  tell  the  governor  that  if  he  refused  to  consider 
the  several  points  of  the  remonstrance  they  would  appeal  to  the  States- 
General.  This  threat  enraged  Stuyvesant,  and  seizing  his  heavy  cane, 
he  ordered  Beeckman  to  leave  his  presence.  The  plucky  ambassador  of 
the  convention  folded  his  arms  and  silently  defied  the  governor.  When 
Stuyvesant's  wrath  had  subsided  he  politely  begged  his  visitor  to  excuse 
his  sudden  ebullition  of  passion,  assuring  him  that  he  had  great  personal 
regard  for  him.  But  he  was  less  courteous  toward  the  convention  as  a 
body.  lie  ordered  the  members  to  disperse  on  pain  of  incurring  his 
"  high  displeasure."  "  "We  derive  our  authority,"  he  said,  "  from  God 
and  the  company,  not  from  a  few  ignorant  subjects  ;  and  we  alone  can 
call  the  inhabitants  together."  The  convention  executed  its  threat,  and 
appealed  to  the  States-General. 

While  thus  perplexed  by  domestic  annoyances,  the  tranquillity  of  the 
director-general's  "foreign  relations"  was  seriously  disturbed.  The 
pacific  and  "  neighborly"  Governor  Printz  had  left  New  Sweden,  and  was 
succeeded  in  office  by  John  Risingh,  a  more  warlike  magistrate,  who 
came  to  the  Delaware  bringing  with  him  some  soldiers  commanded  by 
the  bold  Swen  Shute.  These  speedily  appeared  before  Fort  Casimer, 
which  Stuyvesant  had  built,  on  Trinity  Sunday,  1654.  "  What  can  1 
do  ?  I  have  no  powder, ' '  said  the  commander  of  the  little  stronghold 
to  the  Dutch  settlers  who  flocked  to  it  for  protection.  lie  could  da 
nothing  ;  so  he  walked  out  of  the  fort,  leaving  the  gate  wide  open,  and 
shaking  hands  with  Shute  and  his  men,  welcomed  them  as  friends.  The 
Swedes  fired  two  shots  over  the  fort  in  token  of  its  capture,  and  then 
blotting  out  its  Dutch  garrison  and  its  name,  occupied  it  and  called  it 
Fort  Trinity. 

When  news  of  this  event  reached  Stuyvesant  he  was  made  very  angry 
and  perplexed,  for  he  was  hourly  expecting  an  attack  from  a  British 
force,  and  he  was  at  his  wit's  end.  But  the  cloud  soon  passed.  The 
English  did  not  come,  for  the  war  was  suddenly  closed  by  treaty.  Then 
Stuyvesant  made  a  voyage  to  the  West  Indies  for  the  purpose  of  estab- 
lishing a  trade  between  New  Netherland  and  those  islands.  Before  be 
left  he  delivered  to  the  authorities  of  the  city  of  New  Amsterdam  the 
painted  coat-of-arms  of  the  municipality,  the  seal,  and  the  silver  signet 
which  the  College  of  Nineteen  had  just  sent  over.  They  soon  afterward 
sent  an  order  to  the  director-general  to  retake  Fort  Casimer  and  to  wipe 


THE   SWEDES   SUBDUED   AND   ABSORBED. 


67 


SEAL   OF   NEW   AMSTERDAM. 


out  the  stain  which  the  "  infamous  surrender"  of  that  post  had  imparted 
~4o  Belgic  heroism.     He  was  also  ordered  to  annihilate  Swedish  dominion 
on  both  sides  of  the  Delaware. 

This  important  task  the  director- general  undertook  in  the  summer  of 
1655,  and  accomplished  it  speedily  and 
without  bloodshed.  After  a  day  of 
fasting  and  prayer  (August  25t]i),  and 
"  after  sermon"  on  Sunday,  Septem- 
ber 5th,  a  squadron  of  seven  vessels, 
bearing  more  than  six  hundred  sol- 
diers (mostly  A'-olunteers),  sailed  from 
Kew  Amsterdam  for  the  Delaware. 
The  flag-ship  was  the  Balance^  com- 
manded by  the  valiant  Frederick  de 
Konick.  In  her  cabin  might  have 
been  seen  the  director-general,  Vice- 
director  Nicasius  de  Sille,  and  Domi- 
nie    Megopolensis.        The     squadron 

ascended  the  Delaware.  The  troops  landed  not  far  from  Fort  Christina, 
and  an  ensign  and  a  drummer  were  sent  to  demand  the  surrender  of 
Fort  Casimer.  This  demand  was  speedily  complied  with.  Then  the 
commander  drank  the  health  of  Stuyvesant  in  a  glass  of  Rhenish 
wine  ;  and  so  ended  the  expedition,  without  firing  a  gun  or  shedding 
a  drop  of  blood.  So  also  ended  Swedish  dominion  on  the  Delaware, 
and  "  !N"ew  Sweden"  perished  in  a  day.  Like  Alfred  of  England, 
the  director-general  wisely  made  citizens  of  many  of  the  conquered 
Swedes,  who  generally  became  the  most  loyal  friends  of  the  Dutch. 
They  prospered  exceedingly,  and  when,  nearly  thirty  years  afterward, 
they  welcomed  William  Penn  as  their  governor,  they  declared  that  it  was 

the   happiest   day  of   their 

(    ^k.  /i\rr/^/  J/-     /-//     ^-///      /?/  Dm-ing;    the   absence    of 

\J^C^U^S.    Q^^im^;^      t,,e  expedition  Ne,v  Am- 

^  _,.^— — ^        '/jjLm'^L  sterdam  was  menaced  with 

^-""^        -  destruction.       Van    Dyck, 

siGXATUKE  OF  DE  SILLE.  ^  fomier  clvll   officcr,    de- 

tected an  Indian  woman 
stealing  peaches  and  slew  her.  The  fury  of  her  tribe  was  kindled. 
The  long  peace  with  the  barbarians  was  suddenly  broken.  Before 
daybreak  one  morning  almost  two  thousand  River  Indians  in  sixty 
canoes  appeared  before  New  Amsterdam.     They  landed,  and  with  the  pre- 


68  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

tencc  of  looking  for  hostile  Indians  tliey  distributed  themselves  through 
the  town  and  broke  into  several  houses  in  search  of  the  murderer.  The 
alarmed  citizens  held  a  council  at  the  fort  and  summoned  the  Indian 
leaders  before  them.  The  latter  agreed  to  leave  the  city  and  pass  over 
to  Nutten  (Governor's)  Island  before  sunset.  Tliey  broke  their  promises, 
shot  Van  Dyck,  menaced  others,  and  filled  the  inhabitants  with  alarm. 
The  citizens  flew  to  arms  and  drove  the  Indians  to  their  canoes,  when 
they  crossed  over  the  Hudson  River  and  ravaged  a  large  region  in  New 
Jersey  and  on  Staten  Island.  Within  three  days  one  hundred  white 
people  were  slain,  one  hundred  and  fifty  were  made  captive,  and  more 
than  three  hundred  estates  were  utterly  ruined. 

Stuyvesant  returned  from  the  Delaware  when  the  excitement  in  New 
Amsterdam  was  at  its  height.  He  soon  brought  order  out  of  confusion. 
Yet  distant  settlements  were  broken  up,  the  inhabitants  flying  in  fear  to 
Manhattan  for  protection.  To  prevent  a  like  calamity  in  the  future, 
Stuyvesant  issued  a  proclamation  ordering  all  who  lived  in  secluded 
places  in  the  country  to  gather  themselves  into  villages  "  after  the 
fashion  of  our  New  England  neighbors."  The  Dutcli  liad  very  little 
trouble  with  the  Indians  afterward  while  the  former  remained  masters  of 
New  Netherland. 

Excepting  troubles  occasioned  by  the  arbitrary  rule  of  the  director- 
general,  the  religious  intolerance  practised  and  fostered  by  him,  and 
occasional  outside  pressure  from  the  Puritans  and  others.  New  Nether- 
land enjoyed  peace  and  prosperity  for  almost  ten  years  after  the  conquest 
of  New  Sweden  and  the  suppression  of  Indian  hostilities. 

There  was  some  serious  trouble  at  one  time  in  1G59  with  the  barbarians 
at  Esopus,  in  (present)  Ulster  County,  among  whom  the  Dutch  had  made 
a  settlement.  The  latter  brought  a  dreadful  calamity  that  befell  them 
upon  themselves.  Some  Indians,  sleeping  off  the  effects  of  a  drunken 
carouse,  were  wantonly  fired  upon  by  the  soldiers  of  a  Dutch  garrison  on 
the  site  of  Ilondout,  and  several  were  killed.  The  Indians  flew  to  arms. 
Farms  were  desolated,  buildings  Avere  burned,  cattle  and  horses  were 
killed,  and  many  human  beings  perished.  Stuyvesant,  when  he  heard 
of  the  trouble,  liastened  to  Esopus  and  soon  quelled  the  great  disturbance. 

The  Dutch  were  also  much  disturbed  in  1659  by  claims  made  for  the 
proprietor  of  Maryland  to  the  whole  region  embraced  in  New  Sweden. 
An  embassy  composed  of  two  sturdy  Inirghers — Heermans  and 
Waldron — was  sent  to  Maryland  to  confer  with  the  authorities  there. 
Dining  with  Secretary  Calvert,  they  were  surprised  by  his  claiming  that 
Maryland  extended  to  the  limits  of  New  England. 

"  Where,  then,  would  remain  New  Netherland  ?"  asked  the  envoys. 


SOCIAL  ASPECTS   OF  NEW  AMSTERDAM. 


69 


"  1  do  not  know,"  replied  the  secretary,  with  provoking  calmness. 

The  envoys  were  provoked.  They  utterly  "denied,  disowned,  and 
re]4cted  "  the  claim  for  Lord  Baltimore,  and  with  great  spirit  maintained 
that  of  the  Dutch.     The  con- 


ference was  ended  without 
any  immediate  results,  and 
the  envoys  returned  to 


Xew 
Amsterdam. 

The  New  Englanders  were 
again  pressing  territorial 
claims,  and  within  and  with- 
out New  Xetlierland  the 
Anglo-Saxon  jDrogressive  ele- 
ment was  menacing  the  integ- 
rity of  the  Dutch  realm  in 
America.  New  Amsterdam 
increased  in  wealth  and  popu- 
lation. A  wooden  palisade 
or  "wall,"  extending  from 
river  to  river  along  the  line  of 
(present)  "Wall  Street,  from 
which  it  derives  its  name,  was 

constructed.  A  village  was  founded  on  a  fertile  plain  in  the  upper  part 
of  Manhattan  Island,  and  it  was  called  "Harlem."  It  was  planted 
there  "  for  the  promotion   of   agricultural   gardening — and  the  amuse- 


A  DUTCH   WINDMILL. 


A  DUTCH  PLEASURE  WAGON. 


raent  for  the  people  of  New  Amsterdam."  They  erected  a  wind-mill 
there  like  those  in  Holland.  Between  the  city  and  the  village  might 
frequently  be  seen  farm  wagons  on  the  only  road,  laden  with  garden 


70  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

products,  and  occasionally  a  Dutch  pleasure  wa^n  so  familiar  to  travel- 
lers in  Holland,  at  that  time,  conveying  a  ])art  of  the  family  to  a 
social  gathering.  The  little  city  contained  many  happy  homes,  where 
people  of  cheerful  but  often  uncultivated  minds  and  affectionate  hearts 
domiciled,  and  life  was  enjoyed  in  a  dreamy,  quiet  bhssfulness  which  is 
quite  unknown  in  these  days  of  bustle  and  noise.  Yery  little  attention 
was  given  to  political  matters  by  the  commonalty  or  the  mass  of  the 
people,  but  there  were  many  thoughtful  men  and  women  who  were 
restive  under  the  rule  of  the  director-general.  Some  of  them  declared 
they  would  be 'willing  to  endure  English  rule  for  the  sake  of  Jlnglish 
liberty.     They  were  soon  given  an  opportunity  to  try  the  experiment. 


AN  ASYLUM  FOR   THE   OPPRESSED   OFFERED.  71 


CHAPTER   YI. 

A  CRISIS  in  the  affairs  of  New  Netherland  now  approached.  Mon- 
archy was  restored  in  England  in  1660,  and  a  son  of  the  decapitated 
Charles  I.  was  set  npon  the  throne  of  his  father  as  Charles  II.  This  had 
not  been  done  by  the  voice  of  even  a  majority  of  the  people,  and  the 
new  monarch,  wishing  to  conciliate  all  parties,  proclaimed  "  liberty  to 
tender  consciences"  in  all  his  dominions.  But  this  was  only  a  State 
trick,  as  the  sad  experience  of  the  Dissenters  soon  taught  them. 

The  Dutch  West  India  Company  determined  to  follow  the  example  of 
King  Charles  by  expressing  "  tenderness"  for  consciences,  for  their  own 
benefit.  They  clainied  the  domains  of  New  Jersey  as  a  part  of  the  realm 
of  New  Netherland.  It  was  almost  wholly  unoccupied  by  settlers.  De- 
siring to  allure  the  disappointed  and  persecuted  Dissenters  in  England 
to  their  domain,  they  prepared  a  charter,  which  was  approved  by  the 
States-General,  to  meet  the  aspirations  of  tender  consciences.  The 
States-General  passed  an  act  in  February,  1661,  granting  to  "  all  Chris- 
tian people  of  tender  consciences,  in  England  or  elsewhere  oppressed, 
full  liberty  to  erect  a  colony  in  the  West  Indies,  between  New  England 
and  Virginia,  in  America,  now  within  the  jurisdiction  of  Peter  Stuyve- 
sant,  the  States-General's  governor  for  the  Dutch  West  India  Company." 
All  concerned  were  forbidden  to  hinder  Dutch  colonists,  and  were 
enjoined  to  afford  them  "  all  favorable  help  and  assistance  where  it  shall 
be  needful." 

This  widening  of  the  tents  of  toleration  and  the  freedom  of  the  citizens 
again  troubled  the  soul  of  the  aristocratic  Stuyvesant,  who  was  bigotedly 
loyal  to  the  doctrines  and  discipline  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church, 
and  he  now  began  those  petty  persecutions  already  alluded  to  which 
made  the  Manhattan  people  more  than  ever  displeased  with  his  adminis- 
tration. He  seemed  to  have  a  special  dislike  of  the  Quakers,  and  dis- 
ciplined them  with  imprisonments  and  banishments.  To  a  fiery  temper 
like  that  of  Stuyvesant  their  imperturbability  was  an  offence  and  annoy- 
ance. Their  serenity  of  deportment  made  him  angry.  But  his  persecu- 
tions had  very  little  effect  in  suppressing  the  aspirations  of  the  people. 

Emigrants  from  Old  and  New  England  settled  here  and  there  between 
the  Hudson  and  Delaware  rivers,  and  in  1662  a  colony  of  Mennonites  from 
Holland — followers  of  Simon  Menno,  who  were  Anabaptists — settled  on 


7^  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

the  Hore   Kill,  in  the  region  of  ruined  Swaanendael  (see  p.  ),  and 

there  formed  an  association  and  adopted  seventeen  articles  of  agreement 
for  their  government.  The  Association  was  composed  of  married  men, 
at  least  twenty-four  years  of  age,  and  out  of  debt.  No  clergyman  was 
admitted  to  the  Association.  Their  religious  rites  were  few  and  simple. 
Desirous  of  maintaining  harmony,  they  excluded  "  all  intractable  people 
— such  as  those  in  communion  with  the  Roman  See  ;  usurious  Jews  ; 
English  stiff-necked  Quakers  ;  Puritans  ;  foolhardy  believers  in  the 
Millennium,  and  obstinate  modern  pretenders  to  revelation."  With 
Peter  Plockhoy  as  their  leader,  they  flourished  until  the  colony  was 
plundered  and  ruined  by  the  English,  in  1664,  "  not  sparing  even  a 
raile, " 

Another  Dutch  colony  was  founded  on  the  Delaware  in  1656  by  the 
city  of  Amsterdam  and  named  New  Amstel.  The  land  was  bought  by 
the  city  from  the  Dutch  West  India  Company.  It  suffered  many  mis- 
fortunes, and  finally  perished  with  New  Netherland.     This  colony  was 


SIGNATURE   OF   WILLIAM   BEECKMAN. 

planted  under  Stuyvesant's  jurisdiction,  who,  in  order  to  have  more 
direct  and  sure  control  of  its  affairs,  appointed  William  Beeckman  Vice- 
Director  and  Commissary  of  New  Amstel.* 

In  tlie  summer  of  1663  the  peace  which  had  reigned  at  Esopus  for 
three  years  was  suddenly  broken.  A  new  village  called  Wiltwyck  (now 
Kingston)  had  been  built  up,  and- in  comfortable  log  cottages  the  inhab- 
itants had  been  living  in  fancied  security  for  some  time.     The  village 

*  William  Beeckman  was  born  in  Overyssel  in  1623,  and  came  to  New  Netherland  in  the 
same  ship  with  Stuyvesant.  His  wife  was  Catharine  de  Bergh,  by  whom  he  had  six 
children,  one  of  whom  married  a  son  of  the  governor,  Nicholas  William  Stuyvesant. 
Beeckman  was  a  schepen  or  alderman  of  New  Amsterdam,  .secretary  and  vice-director  of 
New  Amstel,  where  he  managed  judiciously  in  diplomacy  with  the  English  representatives 
of  Maryland.  He  was  at  one  time  commi.s.sary  at  Esopus.  He  was  alderman  in  1679  under 
English  rule,  liaving  been  Ijurgomjuster  when  the  Dutch  bust  pos.scs.sed  the  city.  He  re- 
tired from  pubHc  life  in  1696,  and  died  in  1707,  in  the  eighty-fifth  year  of  his  age. 
"  William"  and  "  Beekman"  streets,  in  New  York,  derived  their  names  from  him.  and 
still  retain  them. 


WAR   WITH   THE   INDIANS-REVOLT   ON  LONG  ISLAND.  73 

was  palisaded,  and  at  the  mouth  of  Rondont  Creek  the  Dutch  built  a 
rmiduit — a  redoubt — which  made  the  Indians  suspicious  of  their  inten- 
tions. One  day  in  early  June,  while  the  men  were  working  in  the  fields 
and  the  village  gates  were  wide  open,  bands  of  barbarians  entered,  and 
with  friendly  pretence  offered  beans  and  corn  for  sale  at  the  doors  of  the 
cottages:  Suddenly  they  began  to  plunder,  burn,  and  murder.  As  the 
men  rushed  from  the  fields  toward  their  blazing  dwellings  they  were  shot 
down.  The  living  men  were  finally  rallied  by  the  schout,  Swartwout, 
and  drove  the  Indians  away.  Twenty-one  lives  had  been  sacrificed, 
nine  persons  were  wounded,  and  forty-five,  mostly  women  and  children, 
were  carried  away  captives. 

Great  alarm  was  spread  throughout  the  province,  and  expeditions  were 
sent  against  the  Esopus  Indians  from  Fort  Amsterdam  and  Fort  Orange. 
These  chased  the  offenders  far  into  the  wilderness.  Thirty  miles  from 
Wiltwyck  they  destroyed  an  Indian  fort  and  rescued  many  of  the 
captives. 

The  power  of  the  barbarians  was  now  broken,  and  it  was  soon  crushed. 
Meanwhile  the  hostilities  of  the  Indians  among  themselves  on  the  borders 
of  the  white  settlements  made  the  Europeans  constantly  fearful  and 
vigilant.  At  the  same  time  the  Connecticut  people  were  continually 
encroaching.  There  \vas  a  revolt  on  Long  Island,  and  the  very  existence 
of  New  Netherland  Avas  threatened.  There  were  ever  premonitions  of 
such  an  event,  which  actually  occurred  the  next  year. 

Informed  late  in  16G3  that  King  Charles  had  granted  to  his  brother 
James,  Duke  of  York,  the  whole  of  Long  Island,  several  of  the  principal 
English  settlements  combined  in  forming  a  sort  of  provisional  govern- 
ment in  that  region.  There  was  then  among  them  Captain  John  Scott, 
who  had  been  a  disturber  of  the  peace  for  several  years.  He  had  lately 
come  back  from  England  with  pretended  powers.  lie  had  claimed  that 
the  Indians  had  sold  to  him  a  large  portion  of  Long  Island,  and  he  issued 
fraudulent  deeds.  This  man  the  combined  English  settlements  made 
their  provisional  president  until  "  Plis  Majesty's  mind  should  be  known." 
With  an  armed  party  he  sought  to  force  Dutch  settlements  to  join  the 
league,  but  failed.  At  the  beginning  of  lOO-t  Scott  departed  for  Eng- 
land after  a  conference  at  Hempstead  with  representatives  of  Stuyvesant, 
when  he  informed  them  that  the  Duke  of  York  was  resolved  to  possess 
himself  not  only  of  Long  Island,  but  of  the  whole  of  New  Netherland. 
Stuyvesant  was  startled  and  perplexed  by  this  announcement  of  the 
"  usurper,"  as  he  called  Scott,  and  he  asked  the  advice  of  his  Council 
and  the  municipal  authorities  of  New  Amsterdam.  They  recommended 
the  complete  fortifying  of  the  city.     The  director-general  then  ordered 


74 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


an  election  of  delegates  for  a  General  Provincial  Assembly,  to  meet  in 
New  Amsterdam  in  April.  Tliej  assembled  in  the  City  Hall.  There 
were  delegates  from  Fort  Orange,  Ilensselaerwyck,  Esopus,  and  all  the 

Dutch  settlements  ;  but  they  were 
powerless  to  avert  the  impending 
blow,  wliieh  was  to  annihilate  Dutch 
dominion  in  North  America.* 

Tlie  profligate  British  monarch 
resolved  to  rob  the  Dutch  of  all  New 
Netherland.  With  no  more  riffht 
to  the  domain  than  had  the  arch- 
tempter  to  "  all  the  kingdoms  of  the 
earth,"  but  governed  by  the  ethics 
of  the  mailed. hand — "  might  makes 
right" — and  that  cannons  are  the 
"  last  arguments  of  kings,"  he  gave 
to  his  royal  brother,  the  Duke  of 
York,  a  patent  for  the  Dutch  terri- 
tory— "  all  the  lands  and  rivers  from 
the  west  side  of  Connecticut  River 
to  the  east  side  of  Delaware  Bay."  The  patent  included  Long  Island, 
Staten  Island,  and  all  the  adjacent  islands. 

As  Lord  High  Admiral  of  the  Royal  Navy,  tlie  duke  at  once  detached 
four  ships-of-war  for  service 
in  asserting  his  claim  by 
force  of  arms,  if  necessary. 
The  king  provided  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty  regular  soldiers 
for   the   same   purpose,    and 

intrusted  the  connnand  of  the  expedition  to  Colonel  Richard  Nicolls,  a 
stanch    Royalist  and  court  favorite,  who  had   served  under  the  great 


JEKEMIAS   VAN    RENSSELAER. 


SIGNATURE   OF   RICHARD   NICOLLS. 


*  This  General  Provisional  Assembly  was  presided  over  by  Jeremias  van  Rensselaer, 
the  second  patroon  and  director  of  Rensselaer wyck.  New  Amsterdam  was  represented 
by  Cornells  Steenwyck,  burgomaster,  and  Jacob  Bachker  ;  Rensselaerwyck,  by  Jeremias 
van  Rensselaer  and  Dirck  van  Schelluyne,  its  secretary  ;  Fort  Orange  (Albany),  by  Jan 
Verbeck  and  Gerritt  van  Slechteuhorst  ;  Breuckelen,  by  William  Brcdenbent  and  Albert 
Cornelis  Wuiitcnaar  ;  Midwout,  by  Jan  Strycker  and  William  Guillians  ;  Amersfoort,  bj' 
Elbert  Elbertsen  and  Coert  Stevensen  ;  New  Utreclit,  by  David  Jochemsen  and  Cornelis 
Beeckman  ;  Boswyck  (Bushwick),  by  Jan  van  Cleef  and  Gyshert  Tcunisson  ;  Wiltwyck, 
by  Tliomas  Chambers  and  Gyshert  van  Imbroeck  ;  Bergen,  by  EngelluTt  Steenhuysen 
and  Hermann  Smeeman  ;  and  Staten  Island,  by  David  de  Marest  and  Pierre  Billou.  This 
was  the  third  and  last  iwpular  assembly  convened  at  New  Amsterdam. 


A  BRITISH  ARMAMENT   APPEARS.  75 

Marshal  Turenne,  and  bore  the  commission  of  governor  of  the  province 
aftdr  it  should  be  secured  to  the  duke.      Associated  with  Nicolls  were 
Sir  Robert  Carr,  Colonel  George  Cartwright,  and  Samuel  Maverick,  as 
royal  commissioners,  instructed 
to    visit    the   several   colonies 
in  New  England  and  demand 
their  assistance  in  reducing  the 
Dutch  to  submission. 

Stuy  vesant  had  been  assured 
by     the     misled     Amsterdam      ly\  n .r^^n  W  / ^  .sL    \^*^/- 
Chamber  tl>at  no  danger  need      ^  tCH ^ ( a.ifK)X>t^ 


"VSdirt  (M?r: 


SIGNATURES   OF    CARR    AND    CARTWRIGHT. 


be  apprehended  from  the  Brit- 
ish expedition,  for  it  liad  been 
sent  out  to  visit  the  English- 
American  colonies  to  settle  affairs  among  them  and  to  introduce  episco- 
pacy.    Soothed  by  this  assurance,  the  work  of  fortifying  New  Amster- 
dam was  suspended,  vigilance  was  relaxed,  and  the  director-general  went 
up  to  Fort  Orange  at  near  the  close  of  July  to  look  after  affairs  there. 

This  dreamed-of  security  was  suddenly  dispelled.  Early  in  August 
intelligence  came  from  Boston  that  the  expedition  was  actually  on  the 
New  England  coast  on  its  w'ay  to  New  Amsterdam.  Stuyvesant, 
apprised  of  the  fact,  hastened  back  to  his  capital,  and  the  municipal 
authorities  ordered  one  third  of  the  inhabitants,  without  exceptions,  to 
labor  every  third  day  in  fortifying  the  city.  A  permanent  guard  was 
organized,  and  a  call  was  made  on  the  provincial  government  for  artillery 
and  ammunition.  Twenty  great  guns  and  a  thousand  j^ounds  of  powder 
were  immediately  furnished.  But  the  inhabitants  did  not  work  with 
much  enthusiasm  in  preparations  for  defence,  for  English  influence  and 
the  director-general's  temper  and  deportment  had  alienated  the  people, 
and  they  w-ere  indifferent.  Some  of  them  regarded  the  expected 
invaders  as  welcome  friends.  Stuyvesant  had  shorn  himself  of  strength, 
and  when  now,  in  his  extremity,  he  began  to  make  concessions  to  the 
people,  it  was  too  late.  The  sceptre  had  departed  from  him.  Loyal  to 
his  masters  in  Holland,  he  resolved  to  defend  the  city  until  the  last,  and 
entreated  the  jjeople  to  sustain  him. 

At  the  close  of  August  the  British  armament  anchored  outside  the 
Narrows — the  entrance  to  the  harbor  of  New  Amsterdam — and  on  Satur- 
day, the  30th,  Nicolls  sent  to  Stuyvesant  a  summons  to  surrender  the 
fort  and  city.  He  also  sent  a  proclamation  to  the  inhabitants  promising 
perfect  security  of  person  and  property  to  all  who  should  submit  to 
"  His   Majesty's   Government."     Stuyvesant    immediately    called    his 


76  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

coTTTicil  and  tlie  burgomasters  to  a  conference  at  the  fort.  He  would  not 
allow  the  terms  offered  by  Nicolls  to  the  people  to  be  communicated  to 
tliem.  "  It  would  not  be  approved  in  Fatherland,"  he  said,  for  he 
l»elieved  "  calamitous  consequences"  would  follow  by  making  them  insist 
upon  capitulating.  There  was  also  a  meeting  of  other  city  otKcers  and 
the  burghers,  at  the  City  Hall,  who  determined  to  prevent  the  enemy 
from  surprising  the  town,  if  possible,  and  yet  they  leaned  toward 
submission,  seeing  resistance  would  be  in  vain. 

The  Sabbath  passed  by  and  no  answer  was  returned  to  the  summons 
of  Nicolls.  The  people,  uncertain  as  to  what  was  going  on,  became 
much  excited.  On  Monday  the  citizens  assembled,  when  the  burgo- 
masters explained  to  them  the  terms  offered  by  Nicolls.  This  was  not 
sufficient.  They  demanded  a  sight  of  the  proclamation,  Stuyvesant 
went  in  person  to  the  meeting,  and  told  the  people  that  such  a  course 
would  "be  disapproved  in  Fatherland."  They  were  not  satisfied,  and 
clamored  for  a  sight  of  the  proclamation. 

Meanwhile,  Governor  Winthrop,  of  Connecticut,  who  was  on  friendly 
terms  with  Stuyvesant  and  had  jcrined  the  squadron,  received  from 
Nicolls  a  letter  repeating  his  terms  offered  in  the  proclamation,  and 
authorizing  Winthrop  to  assure  the  Dutch  governor  that  Hollanders, 
citizens  or  merchants,  should  have  equal  privileges  with  the  English  if 
he  would  quietly  surrender. 

"Winthrop,  under  a  flag  of  truce,  delivered  this  letter  to  Stuyvesant  out- 
side the  fort  and  urged  him  to  surrender.  The  proud  director-general 
promptly  refused,  and  withdrawing  to  the  Council-room  within  he 
oi)ened  and  read  the  letter  before  the  assembled  Council  and  burgo- 
masters. They  urged  him  to  communicate  the  letter  to  the  people,  as 
"  all  which  regarded  the  public  welfare  ought  to  be  made  public." 

The  governor  stoutly  refused  to  yield.  The  Council  and  burgomasters 
as  stoutly  insisted  upon  tlie  just  measure,  when  the  director-general, 
who  had  fairly  earned  the  title  of  "  Peter  the  Headstrong,"  unable  to 
control  his  passions,  tore  the  letter  in  pieces  and  threw  it  upon  the  floor. 
AVhen  the  people  who  were  at  work  on  the  palisades  heard  of  this  scene 
they  dropped  their  implements  and  hastened  to  the  City  Hall.  Thence 
they  sent  a  deputation  to  Stuyvesant  to  demand  the  letter.  In  vain  he 
attempted,  in  person,  to  satisfy  the  burghers  and  urge  them  to  go  on 
with  the  fortification.  They  would  not  listen  to  him,  but  uttered  curses 
against  his  administration. 

"  The  letter  !  the  letter  !"  they  shouted. 

The  governor  stormed.     The  people  shouted  more  vociferously  : 

"The  letter!  the  letter  !" 


SURRENDER   OF   NEW  NETHERLAND   DEMANDED.  77 

The  burghers  were  on  tlie  verge  of  open  insurrection.  To  avert  such 
a  calamity,  the  sturdy  old  governor  yielded.  He  allowed  the  fragments 
of  the  torn  letter  to  be  picked  up  from  the  floor  of  the  Council  chamber 
and  a  fair  copy  to  be  made  and  given  to  the  people  ;  and  he  sent  off  in 
silence  that  night,  through  the  dangerous  strait  of  Ilell  Gate,  in  a  small 
Dutch  vessel,  a  despatch  to  the  Amsterdam  Chamber,  saying  :  "  Long 
Island  is  gone  and  lost;  the  capital  cannot  hold  out  long."  This  was 
Stuyvesant's  last  official  despatch  as  Governor  of  New  Netherland. 

Tleceiving  no  reply  from  Stuyvesant,  ]S"icolls  landed  some  troops  and 
anchored  two  ships-of-war  in  the  channel  between  Fort  Amsterdam  and 
the  Governor's  Island.  Stuyvesant  saw  all  this  from  the  ramparts  of  his 
fort,  but  would  not  yield.  He  knew  the  extreme  weakness  of  the  fort 
and  city,  yet  his  proud  will  would  not  readily  bend.  Yielding  at  length 
to  the  persuasions  of  Dominie  Megopolensis  *  (who  had  led  him  from  the 
ramparts),  he  sent  a  deputation  to  Xicolls  with  a  letter,  in  which  he  said 
that,  though  he  felt  bound  to  "  stand  the  storm,"  he  desired,  if  possible, 
to  arrange  an  accommodation.     Nicolls  curtly  replied  : 

"  To-morrow  I  will   speak 
with    you    at    Manhattan."  y  .^w>  /:>    /? •■ 

Stuyvesant  as  curtly  replied  :        ^4^  ^i»7'*'7i^   W'^^-^^^^^^J;p^ 

"  Friends  will  be  welcome        ^  U  ^ 

if  they   come    in    a  friendly  signature  of  john  megopolensis. 

manner." 

"  I  shall  come  with  ships  and  soldiers,"  answered  Nicolls.  "  Raise 
the  white  flag  of  peace  at  the  fort,  and  then  something  may  be  con- 
sidered." 

AVhen  this  imperious  message  became  known  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren flocked  to  the  director-general  beseeching  him  to  submit.  The 
brave  old  soldier  said  :  "  I  would  much  rather  be  carried  out  dead  ;" 


•  *  Dr.  John  Megopolensis,  a  learned  clergyman,  was  brought  to  Rensselaerwyck  with 
his  family  from  Holland  at  the  expense  of  the  patroon,  and  employed  there  as  a  clergy- 
man for  six  years,  when  he  went  home.  He  soon  came  back,  became  a  patentee  of  Flat- 
bush,  on  Long  Island,  and  organized  a  church  there.  His  jealousy  of  and  intolerant  con- 
duct toward  the  Lutherans  called  an  admonition  from  Holland.  He  was  a  man  greatly 
beloved  by  Stuyvesant,  and  became  the  governor's  most  trusted  adviser  in  public  affairs. 
He  accompanied  Stuyvesant  on  his  expedition  against  the  Swedes  in  1655.  His  earnest 
missionary  spirit  caused  him  to  form  a  warm  friendship  for  Father  Le  Moyne,  the  French 
Roman  Catholic  missionary  among  the  Indians.  He  bore  communications  to  Nicolls 
from  Stuyvesant,  and  atlvised  the  surrender  of  the  province  to  the  English.  After  the 
surrender  he  and  the  English  chaplain  preached  alternately  in  the  church  at  the  fort.  He 
preached  on  Long  Island  also.  Dominie  Megopolensis  died  in  New  York,  when  his 
widow  returned  to  Holland. 


78 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


but  when  the  city  authorities,  the  clergy,  and  the  principal  inhabitants 
of  the  city,  and  even  his  own  son,  Balthazar,  urged  him  to  yield,  "  Peter 
the  Headstrong,"  who  liad  a  heart  "  as  big  as  an  ox  and  a  head  that 
would  have  set  adamant  to  scorn,"  consented  to  capitulate. 

On  the  morning  of  September  8th,  1664,  the  last  of  the  Dutch  gov- 
ernors of  New  York  led  his  soldiers  from  the  fort  down  Beaver  Lane  to 
the  place  of  embarkation  for  Holland.  An  hour  later  an  English  cor- 
poral's guard  took  possession  of  the  fort  and  raised  over  it  the  red  cross 
of  St.  George,  when  its  name  was  changed  to  Fort  James,  in  honor  of 
the  duke.  Nicolls  and  Carr,  with  nearly  two  hundred  soldiers,  then 
entered  the  city,  when  the  burgomasters  duly  proclaimed  the  former  the 
deputy-governor  of  the  province,  which,  with  the  city  of  ^N^ew  Amster- 
dam, he  named  "  New  York"  in  honor  of  the  duke's  first  or  English 


rt- 


C 


J 


SIGNATURES   OF   STUYVEEANT   AND   HIS   SECRETARY,    VAN   RUYVEN.* 

title.  The  surrender  of  the  garrison  at  Fort  Orange  soon  followed,  and 
the  name  of  that  post  was  changed  to  "  Albany"  in  honor  of  the  duke's 
second  or  Scotch  title.  Long  Island  was  named  "  Yorkshire,"  and  the 
region  now  known  as  New  Jersey  was  named  "Albania."     Very  soon 


*  Cornelis  van  Rviyven  was  appointed  provincial  secretary  in  1653,  and  performed 
excellent  service  for  Governor  Stuyvesant  for  about  eleven  years.  He  wjis  employed  in 
diplomacy  at  various  points  in  the  province,  on  the  South  Kiver  and  at  Hartford.  He 
was  one  of  a  committee  who  carried  the  letter  from  Governor  Stuyvesjuit  to  Colonel 
NicoUs  consenting  to  a  surrender  of  the  province  to  the  English.  Above  is  the  signature 
of  Van  Ruyven  signed  officially  below  that  of  Stuyvesant  to  a  Dutch  document  in  my 
possession,  dated  May,  1664.  The  document  bears  the  seal  of  New  Netherland,  seen  on 
page  27  of  this  volume.  Stuyvesant  also  had  an  English  secretary — George  Baxter — for 
a  few  years. 


GOVERNMENT   OF  NEW   NETHERLAND.  "  79 

every  part  of  New  Netherland  quietly  submitted  to  the  English,  and  so 
passed  away  forever  Dutch  dominion  in  North  x\merica. 

The  government  of  New  Netherland  under  Dutch  rule  was  little  better 
than  a  caricature  of  the  political  system  under  which  the  Dutch  colonists 
had  lived  happily  in  their  native  land.  The  province  during  its  whole 
career  of  forty  years  had  been  controlled  by  a  close  commercial  corpora- 
tion, whose  chief  aim  was  the  selfish  one  of  pecuniary  profit.  The 
magistrates  sent  to  preside  over  its  public  affairs  were  selected  as  sup- 
posed fit  representatives  of  the  great  monopoly's  aims  and  interests,  and 
are  not  to  be  judged  by  the  standard  of  those  in  power,  whose  chief  aim 
is  the  happiness  of  the  people  and  the  building  up  of  a  State  on  the  per- 
manent foundations  of  wisdom  and  justice.  The  Dutch  then  (as  now)  were 
distinguished  for  their  honesty,  integrity,  industry,  thrift,  and  frugality. 


:irifi»ww;»r.— ^ *"''*''':~~Ti--Lji:;^uill!!!ijiiSyi!^^^  i"l-  ■ '  ■' 


The  purity  of  their  morals  and  the  decorousness  of  their  manners  were 
always  conspicuous.  This  may,  perhaps,  be  justly  ascribed  to  the  influ- 
ence of  their  women,  who  were  devoted  wives  and  mothers  and  modest 
maidens.  The  women  were  remarkable  for  their  executive  ability  in 
managing  affairs,  and  their  housekeeping  was  perfect  in  cleanliness  and 
order. 

As  population  and  wealth  increased  at  New  Amsterdam  much  taste 
was  frequently  displayed  in  their  dwellings.  At  the  time  of  the  sur- 
render the  city,  within  the  palisades,  or  below  AYall  Street,  contained 
about  three  hundred  houses  and  fully  fifteen  hundred  inhabitants. 

Colonel  Nicolls  described  it  as  "the  best  of  His  Majesty's  towns  in 
America."  At  first  the  houses  were  built  of  logs  ;  the  roofs  were 
thatched  with  reeds  and  straw  ;  the  chimneys  were  made  of  wood,  and 
the  light  of  their  windows  entered  through  oiled  paper.  Finally  the 
thatched  roofs  and  wooden  chinmeys  gave  place  to  tiles  and  shingles  and 


80 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


brick.  The  better  lionses  were  built  of  brick  imported  from  Holland, 
until  some  enterprising  citizens  established  a  brickyard  on  the  island 
during  the  administration  of  Stuy  vesant. 


■'■r'^^  -- ^  — 


A   COTTAGE   AT  NEW   AMSTERDAM. 


Every  house  was  surrounded  by  a  garden,  in  which  the  chief  vegetable 
cultivated  was  cabbage,  and  the  principal  flowers  were  tulips.  The 
houses  were  plainly  but  sometimes  richly  furnished.  It  is  said  that  the 
first  carpet — a  Turkey  rug — seen  in  the  city  belonged  to  Sarah  Oort, 
wife  of  the  famous  Captain  Kidd.  The  clean  floors  were  strewn  daily 
with  white  beach  sand  wrought  into  artistic  forms  by  the  skilful  use  of 
the  broom.  Huge  oaken  chests  filled  with  household  linen  of  domestic 
manufacture  were  seen  in  a  corner  in  every  room,  and  in  another  corner 
a  triangular  cupboard  with  a  glass  door,  sometimes,  in  which  were 
displayed  shining  pewter  and  other  plates.  The  wealthier  citizens 
sometimes  had  china  tea-sets  and  solid  silver  tankards,  launch  bowls, 
porringers,  ladles,  and  spoons.  Tea  had  only  lately  found  its  way  to  New 
York.  Good  horses  were  rare  until  they  began  to  import  them  from 
New  England,  but  their  swine  and  cows  were  generally  of  excellent 
quality.  There  were  no  carriages  until  after  the  revolution  of  16SS. 
The  first  hackney  coach  seen  in  the  city  of  New  York  was  imported  in 
1096. 

Clocks  and  watches  were  almost  unknown.  Time  was  measured  by 
sun-dials  and  hour-glasses.  The  habits  of  the  people  were  so  regular 
that  they  did  not  need  clocks  and  watches.  They  arose  at  cock-crowing, 
breakfasted  at  sunrise,  and  dined  at  eleven  o'clock.     At  nine  o'clock  in 


DOMESTIC   CONDITION   OF  THE   PEOPLE. 


81 


the  evening  thej  all  said  their  prayers  and  went  to  bed.  Dinner-parties 
were  unknown,  but  tea-parties  were  frequent.  These  parties  began  at 
tliree  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  in  winter,  and  ended  at  six  o'clock,  when 
the  participants  went  home  in  time  to  attend  to  the  milking  of  the  cows. 

In  every  house  were  spinning-wheels,  large  and  small^  for  making 
threads  of  wool  and  flax  ;  and  it  was  the  pride  of  every  family  to  have 
an  ample  supply  of  home-made  linen  and  woollen  cloth.  The  women 
knit,  spun,  and  wove,  and  were  steadily  employed.  Nobody  was  idle. 
Nobody  was  anxious  to  gain  wealtli.  A  man  worth  $1000  was  regarded 
as  rich.  All  practised  thrift  and  frugality.  Books  were  rare  luxuries, 
and  in  most  houses  the  Bible  and  prayer-book  constituted  the  stock  of 
literature.  The  weekly  discourses  of  the  clergymen  eatisfled  their  intel- 
lectual wants,  while  their  own  hands,  industriously  employed,  satisfied 
all  their  physical  necessities.  Utility  was  as  plainly  stamped  upon  all 
their  labors  as  is  the  maker's  name  upon  silver  spoons.  Yet  they  were 
a  cheerful  people,  and  enjoyed  rollicking  fun  during  hours  of  leisure  and 
social  intercourse.  These  were  the  "  good 
old  days"  in  the  city  of  New  York — 
days  of  simplicity,  comparative  inno- 
cence and  positive  ignorance,  when  the 
commonalty  no  more  suspected  the  earth 
of  the  caper  of  turning  over  like  a  ball 
of  yarn  every  day  than  Stuyvesant  did 
the  Puritans  of  candor  and  honesty. 

'*'  The  pioneers  of  New  York,"  says 
Brodhead,  "left  their  impress  deeply 
upon  the  State.  Far-reaching  com- 
merce, which  had  made  old  Amsterdam 
the    Tyre    of   the   seventeenth   century, 

early  provoked  the  envy  of  the  colonial  neighbors  of  New  Amsterdam, 
and  in  the  end  made  her  the  emporium  of  the  Western  world.  .  .  . 
Cherished  birthdays  yet  recall  the  memories  of  the  genial  anniversaries 
of  the  Fatherland  ;  and  year  by  year  the  people  are  invited  to  render 
thanks  to  their  God,  as  their  fathers  were  invited,  long  before  Man- 
hattan was  known,  and  while  New  England  was  yet  a  desert.  These 
forefathers  humbly  worshipped  the  King  of  kings,  while  they  fearlessly 
rejected  the  kings  of  men. 

"  The  emigrants  who  first  explored  the  coasts  and  reclaimed  the  soil 
of  New  Netherland,  and  bore  the  flag  of  Holland  to  the  wigwam  of  the 
Iroquois,  were  generally  bluff,  plain-spoken,  earnest,  yet  unpresumptuous 
men,  who  spontaneously  left  their  native  land  to  better  their  condition 


THK   FLAG    OF   HOLLAND. 


82  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

and  bind  another  province  to  tlie  United  Netherlands.  Thej  brought 
over  with  them  the  hberal  ideas  and  honest  maxims  and  homelj  virtues 
of  their  country.  Tliey  introduced  their  church  and  their  schools,  their 
dominies  and  their  scliool-masters.  They  carried  along  with  them  their 
huge  clasped  Bibles,  and  left  them  heirlooms  in  their  families.  .  .  . 
The  Dutch  province  always  had  both  popular  freedom  and  public  spirit 
enough  to  attract  Avithin  its  borders  voluntary  immigrants  from  the 
neighboring  British  colonies.  If  the  Fatherland  gave  an  asylum  to  self- 
exiled  Puritans  of  England,  New  Netherland  as  liberally  sheltered 
refugees  from  the  intolerant  governments  on  her  eastern  frontier.  .  .  . 
Without  underrating  others,  it  may  confidently  be  claimed  that  to  no 
nation  in  the  world  is  the  Republic  of  the  West  more  indebted  than  to 
the  United  Provinces  for  the  idea  of  a  confederation  of  States  ;  for  noble 
principles  of  constitutional  freedom  ;  for  magnanimous  sentiments  of 
religious  toleration  ;  for  characteristic  sympathy  "with  the  subjects  of 
oppression  ;  for  liberal  doctrines  in  trade  and  commerce  ;  for  illustrioua 
patterns  of  private  integrity  and  public  virtue,  and  for  generous  and 
timely  aid  in  the  establishment  of  independence.  Nowhere  among  the 
people  of  the  United  States  can  any  be  found  excelling  in  honesty, 
industry,  courtesy,  or  accomplishments  the  posterity  of  the  early  Dutch 
settlers  in  New  Netherland."  * 

Upon  such  a  foundation — a  people  who  made  the  hearth-stone  the  test 
of  citizenship,  and  demanded  residence  and  loyalty  as  the  only  guarantee 
of  faithfulness  as  citizens — and  a  happy  mixture,  in  time,  of  various 
nationalities  and  theological  ideas,  has  been  reared  the  grand  superstruc- 
ture of  the  Empire  State  of  New  York. 

The  Dutch  West  India  Company  tried  to  shift  the  responsibility  of 
the  loss  of  New  Netherland  from  their  own  shoulders  to  those  of  Stuy- 
vesant.  They  declared  that  he  had  not  done  his  duty  well,  and  asked 
the  States- General  to  disapprove  the  "  scandalous  surrender"  of  New 
Amsterdam.  The  sturdy  old  Frieslander  made  serious  counter-charges 
of  remissness  in  duty  against  the  company,  and  sustained  them  by  sworn 
testimony  taken  at  New  York.  He  went  to  Holland  in  1665  and  urged 
the  States- General  to  make  a  speedy  decision  of  his  case.  There  was 
delay.  The  dispute  was  finally  ended  in  1667  by  the  peace  between 
Holland  and  England,  concluded  at  Breda.  Then  Stuyvesant  returned 
to  America,  where  he  was  cordially  welcomed  by  his  old  friends,  and 
kindly  received  by  his  political  enemies,  who  had  already  learned  from 
experience  that  he  was  not  a  worse  governor  than  th6  duke  had  sent 

*  Brodhead's  Zri«to;*y  of  tli^  State  of  New  York,  i.  747. 


CHARACTER  OF  PETER  STUYVESANT.  83 

them.  He  retired  to  his  houwerie  or  farm  on  the  East  River,  where  he 
enjoyed  the  respect  of  his  fellow-citizens.  There  he  died  in  1682,  at  the 
age  of  eighty  years.  Under  the  venerable  church  of  St.  Mark  his  mortal 
remains  repose.  In  the  northern  wall  of  that  venerable  fane  may  be 
seen  a  free-stone  slab  on  which  is  engraved  a  memorial  inscription. 

With  all  his  faults,  Peter  Stayvesant  was  a  grand  man  of  the  time  in 
which  he  lived.  Obedient  to  every  behest  of  duty  and  conscience  ; 
zealous  in  his  patriotic  devotion  to  the  interests  of  his  people  and 
country  ;  lion-hearted  in  the  maintenance  of  what  he  deemed  to  be  right 
and  just  ;  with  unswerving  loyalty  to  religions  and  political  creeds,  in 
his  day,  and  viewing  with  supreme  contempt  the  treachery  of  one  of  the 
most  despicable  of  the  British  monarchs  toward  his  unsuspecting  ally, 
he  felt  it  to  be  a  degradation  to  yield  an  iota  to  the  demands  of  the 
royal  robber,  who  was  incapable  of  exercising  any  truly  noble  aspiration 
or  truly  generous  impulse. 


84 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


CHAPTEE   VII. 


The  surrender  of  New  Netherland  to  the  English  being  accomplislied, 
a  new  provincial  government  for  New  York  was  organized  under  Colonel 
Nicolls  as  chief  magistrate.  Matthias  Nicolls  was  made  secretary  of 
the  province.  The  governor  chose  for  his  Council,  Robert  Needham, 
Thomas  Delavall,  Secretary  Nicolls,  Thomas  Topping,  and  William 
Wells.  Mr.  Delavall  was  made  collector  and  receiver-general  of  New 
York.  The  Dutch  municipal  officers  of  New  Amsterdam  were  retained. 
A  few  days  after  the  surrender  the  burgomasters  wrote  to  the  Dutch 

West  India  Company  giving  an  account  of 
the  event,  and  adding  :  "  Since  we  are  no 
longer  to  depend  upon  your  honors'  prom- 
ises or  protection,  we,  with  all  the  poor,  sor- 
rowing, and  abandoned  commonalty,  must 
fly  for  refuge  to  the  Almighty  God,  not 
doubting  but  lie  will  stand  by  lis  in  this 
sorely  afflicting  conjunction." 

A  harmonious  arrangement  was  made  for 
divine  worship  in  New  York.     The  Dutch 
church  in  the  fort  was  the  only  fane  in  the 
city  dedicated  to  Jehovah,  and  it  was  cor- 
dially agreed  that  after  the  Dutch  morning 
service  on  the  Sabbath  the  English  chaplain 
should  read  the  English    Episcopal  service 
to  the  governor  and  the   garrison.     Upon 
this  footing  the  Englisli  Episcopal  Church 
and    the    Dutch    Church    in    New    York 
i-einained  for  more  than  thirty  years. 
The  dreams  of  freedom  under  British  rule  in  New  York  were  never 
realized  by  the  Dutch.     They  soon  found  that  a  change  of  masters  did 
not  increase  their  prosperity  or  happiness.     "  Fresh  names  and  laws  did 


SEAT-   OF   THE   DUKE   OF   YOUK.' 


♦  Burke  says  the  Duke  of  York  was  directed,  by  a  royal  warrant  issued  in  1652,  to  use  a 
seal,  delineated  above,  which  bore  the  royal  arms  of  the  Stuarts  quartered  with  those  of 
France  and  England.  It  was  used  as  the  first  seal  of  tlie  i>rovince  of  New  York  imder 
the  English.  It  was  both  pendant  and  incumbent.  The  engraving  represents  a  pendant 
seal  attached  to  the  first  charter  of  the  city  of  Albany,  1686. 


UNDER  THE  NEW  ORDER  OF  THINGS.  85 

not  secure  fresli  liberties.  Amsterdam  was  changed  to  York,  and 
Orange  to  Albany  ;  but  these  changes  only  commemorated  the  titles  of 
a  conqueror.  It  was  nearly  twenty  years  before  that  conqueror  allowed 
for  a  brief  period  to  the  people  of  New  York  even  that  faint  degree  of 
representative  government  which  they  had  enjoyed  when  the  tri-colored 
ensign  of  Holland  was  hauled  down  from  the  flag-staif  of  Fort  Amster- 
dam, New  Netherland  exchanged  Stuyvesant  and  the  Dutch  West  India 
Company  and  a  republican  sovereignty  for  Nicolls  and  a  royal  proprietor 
and  a  hereditary  king.  The  province  was  not  represented  in  Parliament ; 
nor  could  the  voice  of  the  people  reach  the  chapel  of  St.  Stephen  at 
Westminster  as  readily  as  it  had  reached  the  chambers  of  the  Binnenhof 
at  the  Hague."  * 

Governor  Nicolls  required  the  Dutch  inhabitants,  who  numbered  about 
two  thirds  of  the  population  of  New  Netherland,  to  take  an  oath  of 
allegiance  to  the  British  monarch.  The  king  having  authorized  the 
duke  to  make  laws  for  the  colony,  the  latter  empowered  Governor 
Nicolls  and  his  Council  to  do  so  without  the  concurrence  of  representa- 
tives of  the  people.  The  code  so  prepared,  and  known  as  "  The  Duke's 
Laws,"  was  pronmlgated  in  the  spring  of  1665.f 

In  order  to  gain  the  good-will  of  the  Dutch,  Nicolls  allowed  the  munic- 
ipal government  of  the  city  to  continue  in  the  form  in  which  he  found 
it.  When,  in  February,  1G65,  the  terms  of  the  municipal  officers 
expired,  they  were  allowed,  as  usual,  to  nominate  their  successors.  They 
chose  Oloff  Stevens  van  Cortlandt,  burgomaster  ;  Timothy  Gabry, 
Johannes  van  Brugh,  Johannes  de  Peyster,:];  Jacob  Kip,  and  Jacques 
Coosseau,  aldermen  ;  and  Allard  Anthony,  sheriff. 

A  little  later  the  government  of  the  city  of  New  York  was  changed  so 
as  to  make  it  more  "  conformable  to  the  English."  The  governor 
selected  Thomas  Willett,  Stuyvesant's  wise  counsellor  in  diplomacy,  and 
then  a  resident  of  New  Plymouth,  to  be  the  first  Mayor  of  New  York. 

*  Brodhead's  History  of  the  State  of  JVew  York,  ii.  44. 

t  There  was  only  a  pretence  of  consultation  with  representatives  of  the  people  in  the 
construction  of  these  laws.  A  meeting  of  thirty-four  delegates  was  held  at"  Hempstead, 
on  the  call  of  Governor  Nicolls,  who  laid  before  them  the  laws  he  had  caused  to  be  com- 
piled from  those  of  New  England  ;  but  when  the  delegates  proposed  any  amendments 
they  found  that  they  had  been  assembled  merely  to  accept  laws  which  had  been  prepared 
for  them.  They  had  merely  exchanged  the  despotism  of  Stuyvesant  for  English  des- 
potism. 

I  Johannes  de  Peyster  was  the  first  of  his  name  who  came  to  New  Netherland.  He 
was  a  man  of  wealth,  and  became  active  in  public  affairs.  He  was  chosen  burgomaster 
in  1673,  while  the  Dutch  had  temporary  possession  of  the  province,  and.afterward  suffered 
much  from  the  petty  tyranny  of  Governor  Andros.  He  was  the  ancestor  of  the  De  Peyster 
family  in  America,  some  of  whom  have  been  distinguished  in  the  history  of  our  country. 


86 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


One  hundred  and  forty-two  years  afterward  (1807)  Marinus  Willett,  his 
great-great-grandson,  was  mayor  of  that  city,  then  freed  from  British 
rule.     It  was  in  May,  1665,  that  the  first  Mayor  and  Board  of  Aldermen 


^^S^]t^^  ^^  /^^ij^^c 


SIGNATURE   AND   ARMS   OP   JOHANNES   DK   PEY8TER. 


for  the  city  of  New  York  were  appointed.  Three  of  them  were  English- 
men— Willett,  Delavall,  and  Lawrence — and  four  of  them  were  Hol- 
landers— Van  Cortlandt,  Van  Brugli,  Van  Ruyven  (former  secretary  of 
Stuyvesant),  and  Anthony. 

"War  between  Holland  and  Great  Britain  broke  out  again  early  in 
1665.  The  Dutch  had  resolved  no  longer  to  submit  to  the  domination 
of  the  English.  The  States-General  authorized  the  Dutcli  West  India 
Company  to  "  attack,  conquer,  and  ruin  the  English,  both  in  and  out  of 
Europe,  on  land  and  water."  The  conflict  raged  chiefly  on  the  ocean, 
and  was  terminated  by  a  treaty  at  Breda  at   the  close  of  June,   1667, 

when  New  Netherland  was  formally  given  up 
to  Great  Britain. 

Meanwhile    two     royalist    favorites — Lord 
Berkeley  and  Sir  George  Carteret — had  per- 
suaded the  duke  to  convey  to  them  a  part  of 
the   magnificent   domain    in  America,  which 
was  not  yet  in  his  possession,  for  the  expedi- 
tion  sent  to  seize   it  was   still  (June,  166-1) 
out  upon  the  ocean.    These  favorites  had  been 
prompted  to  ask  this  grant  by  the  "  usurper" 
Scott — "born  to    work    mischief" — for  the 
purpose  of   injuring  the  duke,  who  had  re- 
fused to  let  him  have  Long  Island.    The  duke 
conveyed  the  whole  of  the  beautiful  territory 
between  the  Hudson  River  and  the  Delaware  to  Berkeley  and  Carteret, 
and  in  memory  of  the  gallant  defence  of  the  island  of  Jersey  by  the  lat- 
ter, he  named  the  domain  in  the  charter  Nova  Caesarea,  or  New  Jersey. 


ARMS   OF   THE   CAKTERET8. 


BEGINNING   OF  ENGLISH  RULE   AT   NEW   YORK. 


Richard  Nicolls  *  governed  New  York  judiciously  and  wisely  for 
about  four  years,  when  he  resigned  the  government  into  the  hands  of 
his  appointed  successor,  Francis  Lovelace.  The  latter  had  visited  Long 
Island  in  1652  under  a  pass  from  Cromwell's  Council  of  State,  and 
passed  thence  into  Yirginia. 
He  was  a  phlegmatic,  indolent, 
and  good-natured  man,  and  of 
a  mild  and  generous  disposition, 
his  weakness  causing  him  oc- 
casionally to  exercise  petty 
tyranny.  He  was  unfitted  to 
encounter  great  storms,  yet  he 
showed  considerable  energy  in 
dealing  with  the  French  and 
Indians  on  the  northern  frontier 
of  New  York  during  his  ad- 
ministration. 

One  of  Lovelace's  wisest 
counsellors  and  the  most  influ- 
ential man  in  the  province  at 
that  time  was  Cornells  Steen- 
wyck,f  a  wealthy  citizen,  and 
who  held  the  oflice  of  mayor 
for  three  years  during  the  ad- 
ministration of  Lovelace.  It  was  at  his  large  storehouse  that  the  corpo- 
ration gave  a  banquet  to  Governor  Nicolls  on  his  retirement  from  oflice. 


CO«NEl,IS    CTEENWVCK. 


*  Nicolls  was  born  in  Bedfordshire  in  1624,  the  son  of  a  London  barrister.  He  was  a 
descendant  of  the  Earl  of  Elgin.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war  he  joined  the  royal 
forces,  leaving  college  for  the  purpose,  and  soon  obtained  command  of  a  troop  of  horse. 
As  an  nttacM  of  the  Duke  of  York,  after  the  death  of  Charles,  he  served  in  France,  first 
under  Marslial  Turenne,  and  then  under  the  Prince  of  Conde.  After  the  Restoration  he 
returned  to  England,  found  employment  at  court,  became  a  favorite,  and  was  made  the 
duke's  deputy  governor  of  New  York.     He  returned  to  England  in  1668. 

f  Cornells  Steenwyck  emigrated  to  New  Netherland  from  Haarlem,  Holland.  He  was 
a  merchant,  who  arrived  at  New  Amsterdam  about  1652,  and  engaged  in  trade,  principally 
in  tobacco  for  the  European  market.  He  was  rated  among  the  most  wealthy  citizens  in 
1655.  In  1658  he  married  Margaretta  de  Riemer,  daughter  of  a  widow  who  conducted  a 
small  mercantile  establishment  in  New  Amsterdam.  The  widow  was  married  the  next 
year  to  Dominie  Drissius,  the  Dutch  clergyman  of  New  Amsterdam.  Steenwyck  had  a 
fine  residence  on  the  south-west  corner  of  (present)  Whitehall  and  Bridge  streets.  He 
was  a  very  active  man  in  public  affairs  as  burgomaster,  delegate  to  the  General  Assembly, 
and  colleague  of  De  Ruyven  in  carrying  Stuyvesant's  letters  to  Nicolls,  and  in  the  busi- 
ness of  surrender. 


88 


THE   EMPIRE   STATE. 


Lovelace  held  friendly  intercourse  with  the  peojjle  of  New  England, 
and  when,  in  1073,  there  was  war  again  between  Holland  and  Great 
Britain,  and  a  Dutch  squadron  appeared  before  his  capital  in  August,  he 
was  on  a  friendly  visit  to  Governor  Winthrop,  of  Connecticut.  With 
disaffection  to  his  government  he  was  always  impatient  ;  and  when  the 
inhabitants  in  the  territory  of  "  New  Sweden,"  on  the  Delaware,  and 
also  on  Long  Island,  showed  a  rebellious  spirit,  he,  at  the  suggestion  of  a 
Swede,  levied  heavy  taxes  upon  them,  and  told  them  that  they  should  have 
no  liberty  for  any  other  thought  than  how  they  should  j^ay  their  assessments. 
At  the  close  of  July,  1073,  a  Dutch  squadron,  commanded  by 
Admirals  Evertsen  and  Binckes,  twenty-three  vessels  in  all,  including 
numerous  prizes,  and  bearing  six  hundred  land  troops,  arrived  off  Sandy 
Hook,  and  soon  anchored  above  the  Narrows  in  sight  of  New  York. 
The  admirals  sent  a  summons  to  the  commander  of  the  fort  there  to  sur- 
render. The  English  were  taken  by  surprise.  Captain  John  Manning, 
M^ho  was  in  command  of  the  fort,  sent  a  messenger  to  Governor  Lovelace 
in  Connecticut,  ordered  the  drums  to  beat  for  volunteers,  and  sent  to  the 
nearest  towns  on  Long  Island  for  re-enforcements.     None  came.     The 

Dutch  in  the  city  showed  signs  of 
serious  disaffection.  The  call  for 
volunteers  was  little  heeded.  Few 
appeared,  and  those  who  did  re- 
spond came  as  enemies  instead  of 
friends,  and  spiked  the  cannon 
parked  in  front  of  the  City  Hall. 
In  this  extremity  Manning  sent  a 
deputation  to  the  Dutch  commander 
to  inquire  why  he  had  come  "  in 
such  a  hostile  manner  to  disturb 
His  Majesty's  subjects." 

' '  We  have  come, ' '  he  replied, 
"  to  take  what  is  our  own,  and 
our  own  we  will  have." 

Manning  tried  to  gain  time  by 
procrastination.  The  war  -  ships 
floated  up  with  the  tide  within  musket-shot  of  the  fort  without  firing  a 
gun.  At  the  end  of  half  an  hour  the  ships  fired  broadsides  and  killed  and 
wounded  some  of  the  gnrrison.  The  fort  returned  the  fire,  and  shot  the 
flag-ship  "  through  and  through."  Then  six  lumdred  men  were  landed, 
when  about  four  hundred  armed  burghers  encouraged  their  countrymen 
to  storm  the  fort. 


ADMIUAL   COllNELIS   EVERT8KN. 


RECONQUEST  BY  THE  DUTCH.  89 

Perceiving  resistance  under  the  circumstances  to  be  useless,  a  white 
flag  was  displayed  over  the  fort,  and  a  deputation  was  sent  out  to  meet 
the  advancing  storming  party  at  near  sunset.  A  capitulation  was  soon 
effected,  when  the  fort  and  garrison  were  surrendered  with  the  honors 
of  war.  The  Dutch  soldiers  marched  into  the  fort  and  the  English 
soldiers  marched  out  of  it  with  colors  flying  and  drums  beating,  and 
grounded  their  arms.  Then  the  English  garrison  was  ordered  back,  and 
were  made  prisoners  of  war  in  the  church  within  the  fort.  The  tri- 
colored  banner  of  the  Dutch  Republic  took  its  old  place  on  the  flag-staff 
of  the  fort,  and  the  heart  of  Stuyvesant,  who  was  a  witness  of  the  event, 
was  filled  with  joy.  New  Amsterdam  had  been  snatched  from  the 
Dutch  by  an  English  robber,  who  came  stealthily  while  Holland  and 
Great  Britain  w^ere  at  peace.  New  York  had  been  honorably  taken  by 
a  Dutch  squadron — an  open  enemy — engaged  in  war  with  Great  Britain. 
The  name  of  New  Netherland  was  now  restored  to  the  reconquered 
territory.  It  then  had  three  chief  towns,  thirty  villages,  and  between 
six  and  seven  thousand  Dutch  inhabitants.  Fort  James  was  renamed 
Fort  William  Henry  in  honor  of  the  Prince  of  Orange.  Captain 
Anthony  Colve*  was  chosen  to  be  governor-general  of  the  province,  his 
commission  defining  it  as  extending  from  "  fifteen  miles  south  of  Cape 
Hinlopen  to  the  east  end  of  Long  Island  and  Shelter  Island  ;"  on  the 
main  north  from  Greenwich  as  defined  in  1650,  and  including  "  Dela- 
ware Bay  and  all  intermediate  territory  possessed  by  the  Duke  of  York." 

The  name  of  the  city  of  New  York  was  changed  to  New  Orange, 
and  Albany  to  Willemstadt.  The  municipal  government  was  re-estab- 
lished after  the  Dutch  pattern.  Anthony  de  Milt  was  appointed  schout, 
Johannes  van  Brugh,  Johannes  de  Peyster,  and  -^gidius  Luyck  were 
chosen  burgomasters,  and  William  Beeckman,  Jeronimus  Ebbing, 
Jacob  Kip,  Laurens  van  der  Spiegel,  and  Gelyn  Yer  Planck  were 
made  schepens.\     Evertsen  and  Binckes  issued  a  proclamation  ordering 


*  Colve  was  "  a  man  of  resolute  spirit,  and  passionate,"  whose  arbitrary  nature  had 
not  been  improved  by  military  training.  When  made  governor,  he  sought  to  magnify 
the  office  by  setting  up  a  coach  drawn  by  three  horses.  He  ruled  with  energy  and  some- 
times with  severity.  When  an  English  force  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  province  to 
English  rule,  provided  by  treaty,  and  Edmond  Andros  claimed  the  right  to  take  the  seat  of 
Colve,  the  latter  yielded  to  the  inevitable  with  grace.  He  even  went  so  far  as  to  present  to 
Andros  his  coach  and  three  horses.    After  the  formal  surrender  Colve  returned  to  Holland. 

f  After  the  recovery  of  New  York  by  the  English  Captain  Manning  was  tried  by  a 
court-martial  on  a  charge  of  cowardice  and  treachery,  found  guilty,  and  sentenced  to 
have  his  sword  broken  over  his  head  by  the  executioner  in  front  of  the  City  Hall,  and 
forever  incapacitated  to  hold  any  office,  civil  or  military,  in  the  gift  of  the  crown.  Gov- 
ernor Lovelace  was  severely  reprimanded,  and  his  estates  were  confiscated  and  given  to 


90  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

the  seizure  of  all  property  and  debts  belonging  to  the  kings  of  France 
and  England,  or  their  subjects,  and  urging  every  person  to  report  such 
property  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Province,  Nicholas  Bayard.  De 
Ruyven,  who  had  been  made  the  receiver  of  the  duke's  revenue, 
although  an  old  Dutchman,  was  required  to  give  a  strict  account. 

The  swift  reconquest  of  I^ew  York  startled  the  other  English  colonies 
in  America,  and  some  of  them  prepared  for  war.  Connecticut  foolishly 
talked  of  an  offensive  war.  Colve  was  wide  awake,  and  watched  current 
events  around  him  with  great  vigilance.  He  kept  his  eye  on  the  move- 
ments of  the  Frenchmen  and  barbarians  on  the  north  ;  watched  every 
hostile  indication  on  the  east,  and  compelled  hesitating  boroughs  on 
Long  Island  and  in  Westchester  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the 
Prince  of  Orange.  He  made  strong  the  fortifications  of  New  York, 
planting  no  less  than  one  hundred  and  ninety  cannons  around  the  city 
and  on  the  fort. 

The  triumph  of  the  Dutch  was  of  short  duration.  The  reconquest 
was  an  accident,  not  the  result  of  a  preconceived  plan.  The  happy 
dreams  of  a  Belgic  empire  in  America  were,  in  a  few  months,  suddenly 
dispelled,  for  a  treaty  negotiated  at  Westminster  (London)  early  in  1G74 
ended  the  war,  and  upon  the  principle  of  reciprocal  restitution,  New 
Netherland  was  restored  to  the  British  crown,  and  remained  thereafter  a 
British  province  until  the  war  for  independence  in  1775-83.  Doubts 
having  arisen  respecting  the  effects  of  these  political  changes  upon  the 
duke's  title  to  his  American  possessions,  the  king  confirmed  it  by  issuing 
a  new  charter  in  June,  1674. 

Meanwhile  France  had  been  endeavoring  to  establish  and  extend  her 
dominion  on  the  borders  of  the  great  lakes,  especially  Ontario.  The 
strong  right  arm  of  her  power  in  this  work  was  composed  of  Jesuit  mis- 
sionaries, who  carried  the  lilies  of  France  wherever  they  displayed  the 
emblems  of  Christianity.  French  soldiers  followed  in  the  path  of  these 
missionaries.  Wars  between  the  French  and  barbarians  within  the 
domain  of  the  State  of  New  York,  as  well  as  alliances,  had  taken  place. 
In  the  hearing  of  the  barbaric  tribes  the  imposing  ritual  service  of  the 
Church  of  Rome  had  been  read  and  chanted  for  more  than  a  score  of 
years. 

At  the  period  of  the  political  changes  in  New  York  here  mentioned, 
the  Jesuits  were  active  among  the  Iroquois.     They  had  established  a  sort 


the  Duke  of  York.  Admiral  Evertsen,  the  commander  of  the  Dutch  forces  that  retook 
New  Netherland,  assisted  in  conveying  the  forces  of  William,  Prince  of  Orange,  to 
England  in  1688. 


FRONTENAC  AND  THE  IROQUOIS.  91 

of  metropolitan  station  among  the  Mohawks  at  Caiighnawaga,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Mohawk  River,  in  (present)  Fulton  County,  and  were 
successful  in  making  converts  among  the  Mohawks  and  Oneidas. 

"Working  in  concert  with  the  missionaries,  for  State  purposes,  was  the 
able  Governor-General  of  Canada,  Count  Louis  Frontenac.  Learning 
from  the  Jesuits  early  in  1673  that  the  Iroquois  were  not  well  disposed 
toward  the  French,  he  made  a  pompous  visit  to  the  eastern  end  of  Lake 
Ontario  and  there  held  a  conference  with  delegates  from  the  Five  Nations, 
whom  he  had  invited  to  meet  him.  The  object  of  the  conference  was 
to  impress  the  barbarians  with  a  sense  of  the  power  of  Canada.  With 
two  bateaux  gaudily  painted,  each  carrying  sixteen  men  and  a  small 
cannon  mounted,  accompanied  by  one  hundred  and  twenty  canoes  and. 
fonr  hundred  men,  he  ascended  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  conference  was 
held  on  the  site  of  Kingston.  It  was  exceedingly  friendly.  The  count 
tried  to  persuade  the  Iroquois  sachems  and  chiefs  to  consent  to  allow 
their  youths  to  learn  the  French  language.  He  called  the  Five  Nations 
his  "  children,"  and  in  every  way  tried  to  win  their  supreme  affection  for 
the  French.  But  he  was  unsuccessful  ;  he  only  won  their  friendly  feel- 
ings, and  a  safeguard  for  the  missionaries 
among  them.  He  did  not  weaken  in  the 
least  degree  their  attachment  to  the 
Dutch. 

Frontenac  had  begun  a  fort — the  after- 
ward  famous   Fort   Frontenac  of  history      signature  op  edmond  andros. 
— where  the  conference  was  held,  when, 

leaving  a  small  garrison  in  the  fort,  he  returned  to  Montreal.  The  great 
minister  of  Louis  XIY.,  Colbert,  sent  word  to  Frontenac  that  he  had 
better  imitate  the  Dutch  at  Manhattan  and  Orange,  and  instead  of 
''  prosecuting  distant  discoveries,  to  build  up  towns  and  villages  in 
Canada." 

On  the  reconquest  of  New  York  by  the  English  the  important  question 
arose  :  "  Who  shall  be  sent  to  govern  the  province  ?"  Nicolls  was  dead, 
and  Lovelace  was  incompetent.  The  king  commissioned  Sir  Edmond 
Andros,*  major  of  dragoons,  who  was  then  thirty-seven  years  of  age,  to 

*  Sir  Edmond  Andros  was  born  in  London  in  1637.  His  family  were  distinguished  on 
the  island  of  Guernsey.  After  serving  as  Governor  of  New  York  from  1674  to  1684  he 
returned  to  England,  and  entered  the  service  of  his  king  at  the  palace.  Appointed 
Governor  of  New  England,  New  York,  and  New  Jersey  in  1688,  he  exercised  arbitrary 
power  until  the  Revolution  dethroned  his  master.  King  James  II.,  that  year,  when  he 
was  deposed  and  sent  to  England.  In  1692  Andros  was  made  Governor  of  Virginia,  and 
so  remained  until  1698.  In  1704  he  was  created  Governor  of  Guernsey,  and  died  at  West- 
minster in  1713. 


92  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

fill  that  station.  lie  had  been  brought  up  in  the  royal  household  ;  -whs 
a  favorite  of  the  king  and  the  duke  ;  a  good  French  and  Dutch  scholar  ; 
a  thorough  royalist  ;  an  obedient  servant  of  his  superiors,  and  was  well 
fitted  to  perform  the  part  which  his  masters  appointed  him  to  play.  His 
private  character  was  without  blemish,  and  the  evil  things  spoken  of  him 
relate  to  his  public  career.  This  man  played  a  conspicuous  part  in 
American  history  for  a  few  years. 

Andros  received  the  government  of  New  York  from  Colve  in  October, 
1674.  With  all  their  political  disabilities  under  him,  the  people  of  that 
province  prospered  and  were  comparatively  happy.  Luxury  had  not 
corrupted  their  tastes,  and  their  wants  were  few.  A  man  worth  three 
thousand  dollars  was  considered  rich  ;  the  possessor  of  five  thousand 
dollars  was  considered  opulent.  There  was  almost  a  dead  level  of 
equality  in  society.  Beggars  were  unknown.  "  Ministers  were  few, 
but  religions  many,"  and  out  of  matters  of  faith  grew  many  contro- 
versies. There  seemed  little  reason  for  the  twenty  thousand  inhabitants 
of  the  domain  to  be  unhappy  ;  but  the  divine  instinct  of  freedom,  which 
demanded  a  free  exercise  of  the  rights  of  self-government,  made  many 
of  them  discontented  and  in  some  places  mutinous.  The  career  of 
Andros  in  America  outside  of  I^ew  York  was  more  striking — more 
dramatic  than  witliin  that  domain. 

Andros  in  his  zeal  exceeded  his  master's  instructions,  and  very  soon 
he  acquired  the  just  title  of  "tyrant."  The  duke,  his  master,  was  a 
strange  compound  of  wickedness  and  goodness,  slow  to  perceive  right 
from  wrong,  and  seldom  seeing  truth  in  its  purity.  Bancroft  says  of 
him  :  *'  A  libertine  without  love,  a  devotee  without  spirituality,  an 
advocate  of  toleration  without  a  sense  of  the  natural  right  to  freedom  of 
conscience — to  him  the  muscular  force  prevailed  over  the  intellectual. 
He  was  not  bloodthirsty  ;  but  to  a  narrow  mind  fear  seems  the  most 
powerful  instrument  of  government,  and  he  propj)ed  his  throne  [when 
he  became  king]  with  the  block  and  gallows.  He  floated  between  the 
sensuality  of  indulgence  and  the  sensuality  of  superstition,  hazarding 
heaven  for  an  ugly  mistress,  and,  to  the  great  delight  of  abbots  and  nuns, 
winning  it  back  again  by  pricking  his  flesh  with  sharp  points  of  iron  and 
eating  no  meat  on  Saturdays."  The  Duke  of  Buckingham  said  well 
that  "  Charles  would  not  and  James  could  not  see." 

One  of  the  first  of  the  acts  of  petty  tyranny  of  Andros  was  the  im- 
prisonment of  leading  citizens  of  New  York — Steenwyck,  Van  Brugh, 
De  Peyster,  Bayard,  Luyck,  Beeckman,  Kip,  and  De  Milt — on  a  charge 
of  "disturbing  the  government  and  endeavoring  a  rebellion."  Their 
offence  consisted  in  an  expressed  desire  not  to  take  an  unconditional  oatli 


COMMISSIONERS   OF   INDIAN   AFFAIRS.  93 

of  allegiance  to  Charles  Stuart,  and  petitioning  the  governor  for  leave  to 
sell  their  estates  and  to  remove  elsewhere. 

Andros  proceeded  to  enforce  jurisdiction  over  every  foot  of  territory 
included  in  the  duke's  charter  of  1564 — Pemaquid,  in  Maine,  the  islands 
of  Martha's  (Martin's)  Vineyard  and  Nantucket,  and  disputed  domains 
on  the  Delaware.  He  also  claimed  jurisdiction -over  all  the  territory 
\vest  of  the  Connecticut  River.  The  authorities  of  Connecticut  disputed 
the  claim,  and  Andros  denounced  their  action  as  "  rebellion  against  the 
duke." 

Finding  the  French  were  tampering  with  the  Iroquois,  Andros  went 
to  Albany,  regulated  some  affairs  at  Schenectady,  and  penetrated  the 
Mohawk  Valley  a  hundred  miles  beyond.  On  his  return  to  Albany  he 
received  solemn  assurances  of  the  friendship  of  the  Five  Nations,  and 
then  he  organized  the  first  "  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Indian  Affairs." 
This  was  a  most  important  measure,  and  its  operations  were  salutary  for 
a  hundred  years.  He  appointed  as  its  secretary  Robert  Livingston,  then 
town  clerk  of  Albany,  a  shrewd  Scotchman  who  had  lately  come  over 
from  Rotterdam,  and  who  afterward  became  prominent  in  colonial  affairs. 
The  Five  Nations  gave  Andros  the  name  of  "  Corlear,"  in  memory  of 
their  good  friend,  Arendt  van  Curler  or  Corlear,  who,  as  we  have 
observed,  was  commissary  of  Rensselaerwyck,  and  who  was  drowned  in 
Lake  Cham  plain. 

It  was  at  this  juncture  that  King  Philip's  War*  broke  out  and  spread 
great  alarm  throughout  New  England.  Andros  sympathized  with  his 
countrymen  in  their  distress,  but  could  not  spare  a  military  force  to  aid 
them  ;  but  he  sent  six  barrels  of  gunpowder  to  the  Rhode  Islanders  (who 
were  excluded  from  the  New  England  Confederacy),  and  invited  any  of 
them  who  should  be  driven  out  by  the  Indians  to  come  to  New  York 
and  be  welcomed  as  guests.  There  was  no  good  feeling  between  the 
''  United  Colonies  of  New  England  "  (see  p.  58)  and  Andros. 

*  Massasoit,  the  warm  friend  of  the  "  Pilgrim  Fathers"  at  New  Plymouth,  had  two 
sous,  called  respectively  by  the  English,  Philip  and  Alexander.  The  former  was  the 
elder,  and  succeeded  his  father  as  sachem.  Perceiving  that  the  English  were  undoubtedly 
determined  to  deprive  him  of  his  domain,  he  listened  favorably  to  the  counsels  of  his  hot 
young  braves,  and  began  a  war  for  the  extermination  of  the  white  intruders.  At  his 
seat  at  Mount  Hope,  in  Rhode  Island,  he  planned  a  federation  of  all  the  New  England 
trilies  for  that  purpose.  Exasperated  by  an  untoward  occurrence,  lie  suddenly  struck 
the  first  blow  thirty  miles  from  New  Plymouth,  and  for  about  a,  year  he  spread  terror 
and  desolation  far  and  wide.  Finally  he  was  killed  in  a  hiding-place  by  another  Indian. 
His  wife  and  little  son  had  been  made  prisoners.  The  Christians  of  Massachusetts  delib- 
erated whether  to  kill  or  .sell  into  slavery  to  fellow-Christians  in  Barbadoes  this  innocent 
pagan  boy.     The  latter  measure  was  the  most  profitable,  and  it  was  adopted. 


94 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


Late  in  1677  Andros  went  to  England  to  look  after  his  private  affairs, 
leaving  Anthony  Brockholls  *  in  charge  of  the  government  of  I^ew 
York.  Brockholls  administered  j)ublic  affairs  wisely  for  a  few  months. 
Meanwliile  the  governor  had  been  knighted  by  King  Charles,  and  he 
returned  to  l^ew  York  Sir  Edmond  Andros.  During  his  absence  a  royal 
marriage  had  taken  place  which  had  an  important  bearing  upon  the 
destinies  of  New  York — nay,  of  the  world.  It  was  the  marriage  of 
William,  Prince  of  Orange,  the  acknowledged  leader  of  the  Protestants 
of  Europe,  to  his  cousin  Mary,  daughter  of  the  Duke  of  York.  The 
duke  was  a  Roman  Catholic  by  conviction,  and  the  marriage  was  dis- 
tasteful to  him. 

The  duke,  regardless  of  the  rights  of  Berkeley  and  Carteret,  had 
given  Andros  sufficient  authority  to  allow  him  to  annoy  these  proprietors 
and  the  settlers  in  their  domain.  Berkeley  sold  his  interest  to  English 
"  Friends"  or  Quakers,  and  Carteret  consented  to  a  division  of  the  terri- 
tory into  East  and  West  Jersey.     He  held  East  Jersey.     The  proprietors 

of  West    Jersey,    making   liberal 
concessions    to   settlers,    soon   at- 
tracted a  numerous  population  to 
that  region.     But  Andros  was  a 
chronic  disturber.     He  caused  the 
duke  to  claim   the  right   to  rule 
all   New  Jersey,  and  Andros  at- 
tempted to  exercise  it.    A  judicial 
decision  soon  freed   it   absolutely 
from  the  duke's  control,  and  late 
in   1681    the  first   Representative 
Assembly  met  at  Salem,  in  West  Jersey,  and  adopted  a  code  of  laws. 
East  Jersey  was  also  sold  to  Quakers,  and  numerous  settlers  came  there 
also. 

Meanwhile  William  Penn,  an  English  Quaker,  son  of  Admiral  Penn 
(who  was  a  friend  of  the  king  and  the  duke),  had  become  a  proprietor  of 
West  Jersey,  having  obtained  from  Charles  a  grant  of  a  domain  (March, 
1681)  including  "  three  degrees  of  latitude  and  five  degrees  of  longitude," 
west  of  the  Delaware  River,  in  payment  of  a  loan  made  by  the  king  from 


SIGNATURE   OP    SIR   JOHN  BERKELEY   AND 
SIR   GEORGE   CARTERET. 


*  Anthony  Brockholls  was  of  a  Roman  Catholic  family  in  Lancashire,  England,  and 
was  a  "  professed  Papist"  himself.  He  came  to  New  York  at  about  the  time  of  its  sur- 
render to  the  Dutch  in  1674,  and  was  named  as  the  successor  of  Governor  Andros  in  the 
event  of  the  death  of  the  latter.  In  1681  he  was  appointed  receiver-general  of  the  prov- 
ince, and  in  1683  he  became  one  of  the  council  of  Governor  Dongan.  For  fully  thirty 
years  Brockholls  was  a  very  active  man  in  public  affairs  in  the  province  of  New  York. 


EAST  JERSEY  SOLD.  95 

Penn's  father.  The  domain  was  named  in  the  charter  "  Pennsylvania.'' 
Penn  obtained,  by  grant  and  purchase  of  the  duke,  the  territory  com- 
prised in  the  present  State  of  Delaware,  and  on  coming  to  America  the 
next  year,  the  agent  of  the  duke  surrendered  it  to  Penn. 

Andros  had  been  suddenly  recalled  from  New  York  in  the  autumn  of 


SEAT^  OF  NEW  YORK   CITY,    1686. 


1682,  and  Brockholls  again  became  acting  governor.  Nothing  of 
special  interest  in  public  affairs  occurred  during  his  administration  of 
nearly  three  years,  excepting  a  claim  to  Staten  Island  as  a  part  of  East 
Jersey,  made  by  Lady  Carteret,  widow  of  the  deceased  proprietor.  The 
matter  was  soon  settled  by  the  sale  of  East  Jersey. 


96    .  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

SiK  Edmond  Andkos  had  ruled  New  York  about  nine  years  with  vigor. 
He  liad  kept  peace  with  the  Iroquois  Confederacy  ;  crushed  rehgious 
enthusiasts  ;  frowned  upon  every  sign  of  repubhcanisni,  and  asserted 
with  great  tenacity  the  power  of  the  duke,  his  master,  within  the  char- 
tered limits  of  his  territory.  Meanwhile  the  duke  had  listened  to  the 
appeals  of  the  inhabitants  of  New  York  and  heeded  the  judicious  advice 
of  his  friend,  William  Penn,  to  give  the  people  more  liberty  ;  and  he 
sought  an  able  and  enlightened  governor  to  take  the  place  of  Andros. 
He  found  such  a  man  in  Thomas  Dongan,*  a  younger  son  of  an  Irish 
baronet,  and  then  about  fifty  years  of  age.  He  was  a  Roman  Catholic, 
enterprising  and  active,  a  "  man  of  integrity,  moderation,  and  genteel 
manners. ' ' 

Under  instructions  from  the  duke,  Dongan  ordered  an   election  of  a 

General  Assembly  of  Representatives  of 
the  people,  their  number  not  to  exceed 
Their  functions  were  to  as- 
sist the  governor  and  Council  in  framing 
laws  for  the  "good  of  the  colony," 
SIGNATURE  OF  GOVERNOR  DONGAN.     the  dukc  rescrvlng  to  himself  the  right 

to  examine  and  approve  or  reject  such 
laws.  The  representatives  were  to  be  allowed  free  debate  among  them- 
selves in  considering  proposed  laws.  Thus  the  people  of  New  York 
were  first  allowed  to  share  the  colonial  political  authority. 

It  was  a  notable  event  in  the  history  of  the  State  of  New  York  when, 
on  October  17th,  1683,  the  first  General  Assembly  of  the  Province  of 
New  York,  composed  of  ten  councillors  and  seventeen  representatives 
of  the  people,  met  at  the  City  Hall  and  were  addressed   by  Governor 


*  Governor  Dongan  had  served  in  the  French  army ;    was  a  colonel  in  the  royal 

army,  and  had  been  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Tangier.  Wlien  he  resigned  his  office  of 
Governor  of  New  York  to  Andros,  in  1688,  he  retired  to  his  farm  on  Long  Island.  With 
tlie  assumption  of  power  by  Leisler,  a  strong  anti-Romau  Catholic  spirit  was  fostered, 
and  Dongan  being  a  Papist,  was  wrongfully  regarded  with  suspicion.  Because  he  had  a 
brigantine  constructed  to  carry  him  on  a  visit  to  England,  he  was  charged  with  a  trea- 
sonable design  against  William  and  Mary,  in  favor  of  dethroned  King  James.  He  went 
to  Boston,  sailed  thence  to  England,  and  afterward  became  Earl  of  Limerick. 


CHARTER   OF  LIBERTIES   FOR  NEW   YORK.  97 

Dongan,  whose  sympathies  were  in  unison  witli  the  popular  desires. 
The  Assembly  chose  the  experienced  Matthew  Nicolls  speaker  and  John 
Spragg  clerk.  They  sat  three  weeks  and  passed  fourteen  acts,  all  of 
which  were  assented  to  by  the  governor,  with  the  advice  of  his  Council. 
The  first  of  these  acts  was  entitled  "  The  Charter  of  Liberties  and  Priv- 
ileges, granted  by  His  Royal  Highness,  to  the  Inhabitants  of  New  York 
and  its  Dependencies."  It  declared  that  the  supreme  legislative  power 
should  forever  be  and  reside  in  the  governor,  council,  and  people,  met 
in  General  Assembly  ;  that  every  'freeholder  and  freeman  should  be 
allowed  to  vote  for  representatives  without  restraint  ;  that  no  freeman 
should  suffer  but  by  judgment  of  his  peers  ;  that  all  trials  should  be  by 
a  jury  of  twelve  men  ;  that  no  tax  should  be  assessed,  on  any  pretence 
whatever,  but  by  the  consent  of  the  Assembly  ;  that  no  seaman  or  soldier 
should  be  quartered  on  the  inhabitants  against  their  will  ;  that  no  martial 
law  should  exist,  and  that  no  person  professing  faith  in  God,  by  Jesus 
Christ,  should  at  any  time  be  anywise  disquieted  or  questioned  for  any 
difference  of  opinion.  Not  a  feature  of  the  intolerance  and  bigotry  of 
the  New  England  charters  appeared  in  this  first 
"  Charter  of  Liberties"  for  the  province  of  New 
York. 

This  act  was  read  in  front  of  the  City  Hall  on 
the  morning  after  its  passage  in  the  presence  of 
the  governor,  his  Council,  the  Assembly,  the 
municipal  officers,  and  the  people,  the  latter 
having  been  summoned  to  the  joyous  feast  by 
the  sounding  of  trumpets.  In  this  charter  was 
again   enunciated  the  postulate  of   the  Nether- 

1        J  ..  m  i-  11  ^1  NEW   YOUK   COUNTY  SEAL. 

lands —     iaxation  only  by  consent. 

The  next  act  that  was  passed  provided  for  the 
division  of  the  province  into  twelve  counties  or  shires.  The  names  of 
the  twelve  are  still  retained,  but  their  territorial  dimensions  have  been 
much  modified  by  the  erection  of  new  counties  from  parts  of  some  of 
them.  The  names  and  boundaries  of  these  political  divisions  as  given  in 
the  act  of  1683  are  as  follows  :* 

The  City  and  County  of  New  Yo7'Jc  bear  the  name  of  the  duke's  first 
title.     It  included  all  Manhattan  Island,  and  several  adjacent  islands. 

Westchester  County  embraced  all  the  territory  eastward  of  Manhat- 
tan to  the  Connecticut  hue,  and  northward  along  the  Hudson  River  to 
the  Highlands. 

*  The  seals  of  the  several  counties  represented  on  page  99  were  of  those  in  use  in  1875. 


98  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Duchess  County  was  so  named  in  honor  of  the  duke's  wife,  the 
Duchess  of  York.*  It  extended  from  "Westchester  northward  to  Albany 
County,  and  "  into  the  woods  twenty  miles." 

Orange  County  extended  from  New  Jersey  northward  along  the  Hud- 
son River  to  Murderer's  Creek  (now  Moodna's  Creek),  above  tlie  High- 
lands near  Now  Windsor,  and  westward  to  the  Delaware  Kiver.  It  was 
so  named  in  honor  of  the  duke's  son-in-law,  the  Prince  of  Orange. 

Ulster  County  derives  its  name  from  the  duke's  Irish  earldom.  It 
extended  from  the  northern  boundary  of  Orange  County  along  the  river, 
and  "  twenty  miles  into  the  woods"  as  far  north  as  Saugerties. 

Albany  County,  bearing  the  duke's  second  or  Scotch  title,  extended 
indefinitely  northward  from  RoeloflP  Jansen's  Kill  (Creek)  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river,  and  on  the  west  side  from  Saugerties  northward  to 
"  the  Saraaghtoga. " 

liichmond  County,  which  included  Staten  Island  and  two  or  three 
smaller  islands,  was  probably  so  named  in  honor  of  the  king's  illegiti- 
mate son  by  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth,  the  Duke  of  Richmond. 

Kings  and  Queens  counties  occupied  the  western  portion  of  Long 
Island  from  Oyster  Bay  and  Hempstead,  and  was  named  in  honor  of  the 
monarch  and  his  wife. 

Siuffolk  County  embraced  the  eastern  portion  of  Long  Island,  and 
derived  its  name  from  that  of  the  most  easterly  county  in  England, 
south  of  Norfolk. 

The  duke's  possession  in  Maine  (at  Pemaquid)  was  called  Cornwall 
County.  The  islands  off  the  coast  of  Massachusetts  which  were  included 
in  his  charter  were  constituted  Duke's  County. 

Courts  of  justice  were  established  by  the  Assembly  in  the  several 
counties.  These  consisted  of  four  tribunals — town  courts,  county 
courts  or  Courts  of  Sessions,  a  court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer,  and  a  court 
of  Chancery  to  be  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  province.  The  latter  was 
composed  of  the  governor  and  his  Council.  But  every  inhabitant  of 
the  province  was  allowed  the  right  to  appeal  to  the  king  from  the  judg- 

*  When  the  names  of  the  counties  were  given,  the  title  of  the  wife  of  a  duke  was 
spelled  with  a  "  t  " — dutehcss — and  so  continued  in  the  English  language  until  the  ap- 
pearance of  Johnson's  Dictionary,  in  1755.  He  gave  it  the  orthography  of  its  French 
derivitivc — ducfiesse — omitting  the  final  e.  The  name  being  spelled  with  a  "  t  "  in  the 
early  records  of  the  State,  it  was  not  changed  when  the  orthography  of  the  name  of  the 
wife  of  a  duke  was  changed,  and  through  inadvertence  and  ignorance  of  its  origin,  the 
name  of  Duchess  County  has  been  spelled  with  a  "  t"  until  within  a  few  years,  when 
attention  was  calletl  to  the  fact  that  the  county  was  named  in  honor  of  the  Duchess  of 
York.  It  is  now  universally  spelled  without  a  "  t"  by  well-informed  people.  It  is  so 
spelled  in  the  United  States  Census  Reports  of  1880. 


DONGAN'S  FOREIGN  RELATIONS. 


99 


ment  of  any  court.     All  the  laws  passed  bj  this  first  General  Assembly 
of  New  York  were  read  to  the  people  in  front  of  the  City  Hall,  and 
were  then  sent  to  England  for  the  consideration  of  the  duke.* 
^TDongan  conducted  his  "  foreign  relations"  with  spirit.     He  told  the 
pestering  Connecticut  authorities  that  if  they  did  not  keep  quiet  and 


SEALS  OP   THE  FIRST  ORGANIZED   COUNTIES  IN  NEW  YORK. 

adhere  to  the  boundary  agreement  of  1650,  which  was  a  line  twenty 
miles  east  of  the  Hudson  River,  he  should  proceed  to  claim  the  original 
territory  defined  in  the  duke's    patent,   eastward  to  the  Connecticut 


*  Late  in  1683  the  city  of  New  York  was  divided  into  six  wards,  named  respectively 
North  Ward,  South  Ward,  East  Ward,  West  Ward,  Dock  Ward,  and  Out  Ward. 
James  Graham,  one  of  the  late  aldermen,  was  commissioned  the  first  recorder  of  New 


100  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

River.  He  renewed  the  claims  of  Andros  to  sovereignty  over  the  Five 
Nations.  At  an  interview  with  Mohawk  leaders  at  Albany,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Governor  of  Virginia  (Lord  Effingham),  he  enjoined  them 
not  to  deal  with  the  French  without  his  leave,  nor  allow  any  of  that 
nation  to  live  among  them  excepting  the  missionaries.  The  Mohawks 
readily  assented,  and  so  unfriendly  did  the  Iroquois  deport  tliemselves 
toward  the  French  that  most  of  the  missionaries,  alarmed,  went  back  to 
Canada.  Dongan  also  warned  the  French,  M'ho  had  come  among  the 
Indians  at  Pemaquid — especially  the  Baron  de  Castin  * — to  come  under 
the  duke's  authority  or  to  leave  the  region.  So  thoroughly  did  Dongan 
win  the  respect  and  reverence  of  the  Iroquois  that  they  called  Albany 
their  ' '  sixth  castle. ' '  Four  of  the  nations  requested  the  governor  to  put 
the  Duke  of  York's  arms  on  their  castles  as  a  protection  against  the 
French. 

When,  in  1682,  the  Count  de  la  Barre  became  Governor-General  of 
Canada  he  resolved  to  bring  the  Iroquois  into  subjection  to  the  French. 
This  design  he  cherished  continually,  but  he  found  the  energetic  Dongan 
a  bar  to  his  ambitious  schemes.  A  crisis  came  early  in  168-1.  De  la 
Barre  was  preparing  to  attack  the  Senecas.  Dongan  notified  him  that 
all  the  Iroquois  nations  were  subject  to  the  Duke  of  York  ;  that  the 
duke's  territory  extended  to  Lake  Ontario  and  the  St.  Lawrence  River, 
and  that  if  the  French  did  not  come  south  of  those  waters  the  English 
would  not  go  north  of  them.  Dongan's  tone  was  so  firm,  yet  concilia- 
tory, that  De  la  Barre  paused  for  awhile.  In  the  following  summer  he 
made  an  attempt  to  carry  out  his  threat  with  the  aid  of  the  Jesuit  mis- 
sionaries, but  signally  failed.  The  Intendant  of  Canada  said  he  was 
*'  fooled  in  the  most  shameful  manner"  by  Dongan  and  the  Iroquois. 

York,*  who  took  a  seat  on  the  bench  of  the  Mayor's  Court  on  the  right  hand  of  the 
Mayor.  The  shipping  of  the  port  of  New  York  at  that  time  consisted  of  three  barks, 
three  brigantines,  twenty-seven  sloops,  and  forty -six  open  boats. 

*  The  Baron  de  Castin,  a  French  nobleman  and  military  leader,  established  a  trading 
house  at  the  mouth  of  the  Penobscot  River,  and  exhibited  hostile  movements,  at  times, 
toward  the  duke's  possessions  in  Maine.  He  married  the  daughter  of  an  Indian  chief. 
In  1695,  accompanied  by  Iberville,  he  led  about  two  hundred  Indians  against  Pemaquid, 
and  captured  it. 

*  James  Graham,  the  first  recorder  of  the  city  of  New  York,  was  a  Scotchman  and  kinsman  of  the  Karl  of 
Montrose.  He  was  an  able  lawyer,  and  practised  his  profession  while  conducting  a  mercantile  business  in 
New  York.  He  was  an  alderman  in  1680,  and  became  attorney -general  and  one  of  the  Council  in  1685. 
He  was  attorney-general  under  Andros,  In  Boston,  shared  the  odium  of  the  governor,  and  on  the  downfall 
of  the  latter  was  imprisoned  awhile.  In  1691  he  returned  to  New  York,  was  elected  to  the  Assembly,  and 
became  its  Speaker.  He  was  again  in  the  Council  In  1699.  Graham  had  been  active  in  urging  the  execution 
of  Leisler,  and  shared  the  fortunes  of  the  auti-Leislerians,  which  ended  his  public  career  In  1701.  He  died  at 
Morrieania  the  same  year. 


POLICY   OF  KING  JAMES   IN   NEW   YORK. 


101 


The  discomfited  De  la  Barre  wrote  to  the  French  minister  that  his  cam- 
paign had  been  "  bloodless  !"  It  had  been  fruitless  as  well,  and  worse. 
^  Earl}^  in  February,  1685,  King  Charles  II.  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-five 
years,  a  worn-out  libertine.  His  brother,  the  Duke  of  York,  took  his 
place  on  the  throne  of  Great  Britain  as  James  II.  He  had  hesitated 
about  sending  the  j)romised  "  Charter  of  Liberties"  to  Kew  York  ;  now, 
as  king^  he  positively  refused  to  confirm  what,  as  ditke^  he  had  prom- 
ised. He  instantly  began  to  demolish  the  fair  fabric  of  civil  and  relig- 
ious liberty  which  had  been  raised 
with  BO  much  hope  in  New  York. 
A  direct  tax  was  ordered  without 
the  consent  of  the  people  ;  the 
printing-press — the  right  arm  of 
knowledge  and  freedom — was  for- 
bidden a  place  in  the  colony  ;  and 
as  he  had  determined  to  establish 
the  Roman  Catholic  faith  as  the 
State  religion  throughout  his  realm, 
the  provincial  offices  were  largely 
filled  by  adherents  of  the  Italian 
Church. 

The     liberal  -  minded      Dongan 
lamented  these  proceedings  ;    and 
when   the   scheming  monarch  in- 
structed the  governor  to  introduce 
French    missionaries    among    the 
Five    ]S"ations,     he     resisted,     the 
measure  as  dangerous  to  the  Eng- 
lish    power     on     the     American 
continent.      Fortunately   the    Iro- 
quois Confederacy  remained  firm    in   their  friendship  for   the   English 
in  after  years,  and  stood  as  a  powerful  barrier  against  the  aggressive 
French  when  the  latter  twice  attempted  to  reach  the  white  settlers  at 
Albany  with  hostile  intentions. 

The  clear-headed  and  right-hearted  Dongan  stood  by  the  people  and 
the  interests  of  England  with  a  firmness  which  finally  offended  the  mon- 
arch. Dongan  knew  that  the  king  had  a  great  love  for  the  French,  and 
when  he  saw  the  advantages  which  he  was  disposed  to  give  them  in 
America  by  his  unwise  acts,  he  could  not  but  regard  his  sovereign's  con- 
duct as  treason  toward  his  country.  For  his  faithfulness  he  was  rewarded 
with  the  gratitude  of  the  people  of  New  York  and  the  displeasure  of 


Ib^"" 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


the  monarch,  who  dismissed  him  from  the  office  of  governor.  He 
received  a  letter  from  James  in  tlie  spring  of  1688  ordering  liim  to  sur- 
render tlie  government  into  the  hands  of  Andros,  wlio  held  a  vice-regal 
commission  to  rule  New  York  and  all  New  England.  New  York  was 
made  a  royal  British  province.  It  had  been  a  dukedom  of  a  royal  Eng- 
lish subject  for  about  twenty  years.  James  was  proclaimed  king,  at 
New  York,  on  April  22d,  1685. 

In  the  mean  time,  Dongan  had  experienced  more  trouble  with  the 
French.  The  Marquis  de  Nonville  had  become  Governor  of  Canada. 
He  resolved  to  build  a  fort  at  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  Kiver  to  over- 
awe the  Iroquois,  and  he  prepared  to  attack  the  Senecas.  The  Jesuit 
missionaries  united  with  him.  To  counteract  their  influence,  Dongan 
summoned  the  Five  Nations  to  a  conference  at  Albany  in  the  spring  of 
1686.*  The  Indians  asked  to  be  relieved  of  the  French  priests  at  their 
castles,  to  be  replaced  by  English  priests.     The  governor  promised  to 

establish  an  English  church  at  Saratoga,  and 
to  ask  the  king  to  send  over  English  priests  ; 
at  the  same  time  he  warned  the  Iroquois  of 
De  Nonville' s  intention  to  attack  them. 

De  Nonville  now  appealed  to  Dongan  as 
a  Roman  Catholic  to  aid  him  in  converting 
the  Indians  to  Christianity.  Dongan  was  not 
deceived  by  this  false  pretence.  He  promised 
to  do  all  he  could  to  protect  the  missionaries 
among  the  barbarians  ;  that  was  all.  The 
Governor  of  New,  York  outwitted  and  out- 
generalled  the  Governor  of  Canada  at  every 
point,  though  the  latter  was  ably  assisted  by  the  venerable  Lamberville, 
the  Jesuit  priest  at  the  Onondaga  Castle.  Exasperated  beyond  measure, 
the  discomflted  De  Nonville  wrote  to  the  French  Minister  :  "  I  am  dis- 
posed to  go  straight  to  Orange  [Albany],  storm  their  fort,  and  burn  the 
whole  concern." 

In  May,  1687,  De  Nonville,  with  a  force  of  over  two  thousand  French 


SEAL  OF  THE  CITY  OF 
ALBANY. 


*  In  1686  (July  22(1)  Governor  Dongan  incorporated  Albany  as  a  city,  with  large  fran- 
chises, including  the  management  of  the  Indian  trade,  and  appointed  Peter  Schuyler  to 
be  its  first  mayor,  Isaac  Swinton  its  recorder,  and  Robert  Livingston  its  clerk.  Dirck 
Wessels,  Jan  Jansen  Bleecker,  David  Schuyler,  Johannes  Wendell,  Levinus  van 
Schaick,  and  Adraien  Garritse  were  appointed  aldermen  ;  Joachim  Stajtts,  John  Lansing, 
Isaac  Ver  Planck,  Lawrence  van  Ale,  Albert  Ryckman,  and  Elbert  Winantse,  assistants  ; 
Jan  Bleecker,  chamberlain  ;  Richard  Pretty,  slieriff ;  and  James  Parker,  marshal.  Such 
was  the  first  political  organization  of  the  city  of  Albany,  the  capital  of  the  State  of  New 
York. 


DE   NONVILLE'S  INVASION.  103 

regulars,  Canadians,  and  Indians,  coasted  along  the  southern  shores  of 
Lake  Ontario  and  penetrated  the  Seneca  country  from  Irondequoit  Bay. 
Eight  hundred  of  his  regular  troops  had  been  sent  over  from  France  for 
this  expedition.  The  invaders  desolated  the  Seneca  country,  destroying 
all  the  stored  corn  (more  than  a  million  bushels),  the  growing  crops, 
cabins,  and  a  vast  number  of  swine  belonging  to  the  natives.  Then  De 
Nonville  took  possession  of  the  country  in  the  name  of  the  French 
king  ;  but  by  an  act  of  foul  treachery  and  atrocious  cruelty  he  gave  a 
death-blow  to  Jesuit  missions  among  the  Five  Nations,  and  confirmed 
their  friendship  for  the  English.  De  Nonville  had  employed  Lamber- 
ville,  the  venerated  Jesuit  priest  at  Onondaga  Castle,  to  decoy  many 
Iroquois  chiefs  into  a  stronghold  under  the  pretence  of  holding  a  confer- 
ence. There  the  dusky  representatives  of  their  people  were  seized,  put 
in  irons,  sent  to  France,  and  committed  to  the  chain-galleys  at  Marseilles. 
This  was  done  to  strike  the  Five  Nations  with  terror.  It  had  an  oppo- 
site effect.  Tlie  missionaries  had  to  flee  for  their  lives  before  the 
angered  braves,  and  Lamberville  was  saved  only  by  the  generous  protec- 
tion of  the  chief  of  the  Onondagas. 

In  the  spring  of  1688  the  province  of  New  York  was  "  consolidated  " 
with  New  England  under  a  colonial  viceroy  (Sir  Edmond  Andros),  and 
formed  a  part  of  the  ephemeral  political  organization  known  as  the 
"  Dominion  of  New  England."  At  this  time  the  king,  as  he  informed 
the  Pope,  was  preparing  to  "  set  up  the  Roman  Catholic  religion  in  the 
English  Plantations." 

The  viceroy  arrived  in  New  York  from  Boston  in  August,  and  was 
received  by  the  loyal  aristocracy  with  great  parade.  In  the  midst  of  the 
rejoicings  news  came  that  the  young  queen  (James's  second  wife)  had 
given  birth  to  a  Prince  of  Wales,  heir  to  the  British  throne.  The  event 
was  celebrated  by  the  royalists  the  same  evening  by  bonfires  in  the  streets 
and  a  banquet  at  the  City  Hall.  At  the  festive  board  Mayor  Van  Cort- 
landt  became  so  hilarious,  it  is  said,  that  he  made  a  burnt  sacrifice  to  his 
loyalty  of  his  hat  and  periwig,  waving  the  blazing  victims  over  the 
banquet  table  on  the  point  of  his  straight  sword. 

The  Dutch  inhabitants  of  New  York  (as  well  as  the  Protestant  repub- 
licans) were  disappointed.  They  had  looked  forward  with  hope  for  the 
accession  of  James's  daughter  Mary,  the  wife  of  their  own  Protestant 
Prince  of  Orange,  to  the  throne  of  Great  Britain  ;  now  it  could  not  be 
hoped  for  excepting  on  the  death  of  the  infant  Prince  of  Wales  or 
revolution.     The  latter  alternative  was  near  at  hand. 

The  folly  and  recklessness  of  King  James  in  his  efforts  to  establish  the 
Roman  Catholic  as  the  State  religion  of  his  realm  alarmed  the  Pope, 


104  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

who  said  to  his  cardinals  :  "  We  must  excommunicate  this  king  or  lie 
will  destroy  the  little  Catholicism  which  remains  in  England."  Before 
this  remedy  could  be  applied  the  fate  of  King  James  was  fixed.  His 
folly  and  recklessness  had  aroused  the  whole  English  people  to  a  keen 
sense  of  the  danger  impending  over  their  liberties. 

The  crisis  was  soon  reached.  The  king  unwisely  declared  that  none 
should  serve  him  but  such  as  would  aid  him  in  his  designs.  There  was 
soon  an  open  rupture  between  the  monarch  and  the  Anglican  Church 
and  the  great  universities,  which  he  sought  to  control.  The  royal 
soldiers  in  camp,  the  Churchmen  and  Dissenters,  the  Whigs  and  the 
Tories  coalesced  in  sentiment,  and  an  invitation  was  sent  secretly  to 
William  of  Orange  to  come  and  "  deliver  the  land  from  pojiery  and 
slavery. ' ' 

William  had  expected  such  an  invitation  for  a  long  time,  and  was 
ready  to  accept  it.  He  gathered  a  fleet  in  Holland,  for  what  purpose 
neither  James  nor  his  friend  and  coreligionist,  Louis  of  France,  knew. 
After  accepting  the  call  of  a  nation  for  help,  William  published  a  decla- 
ration that  he  was  bound  for  England  to  save  the  liberties  of  the  people 
there,  and  to  investigate  the  alleged  birth  of  a  Prince  of  Wales,*  in 
which  matter  he  and  his  wife  were  deeply  concerned. 

With  a  strong  land  and  naval  force  William  reached  Torbay,  on  the 
coast  of  Devonshire,  where  he  landed  on  November  5th,  1G8S.  The 
best  men  of  the  country  joined  his  standard.  James  was  forsaken  by 
his  army  and  family  ;  even  his  son-in-law.  Prince  George  of  Denmark, 
who  married  the  Princess  Anne,  joined  the  deliverers.  Perceiving  that 
all  was  lost,  James  secretly  sent  his  queen  and  infant  son  to  France,  and 
soon  followed  them  thither.  He  left  his  palace  a  little  after  midnight  in 
December,  and  cast  his  Great  Seal  into  the  Thames  ;  but  he  was  brought 
back.  He  succeeded  in  reaching  France  not  long  afterward.  So  ended 
the  Stuart  dynasty  in  Great  Britain. 

On  the  flight  of  the  king  the  government  authority  was  assumed  by 
the  House  of  Lords.  They  requested  William  of  Orange  to  take  control 
of  public  affairs  and  to  call  a  convention,' to  assemble  on  January  22d 
following.  That  body  declared  William  and  Mary  joint  sovereigns  of 
Great  Britain.  James  made  efforts  to  recover  the  throne  he  had  abdi- 
cated, but  failed. 

News  of  the  revolution  in  England  first  reached  Virginia,  whence  it 

*  It  was  alleged  that  the  son  of  James's  Italian  wife  was  only  a  supposititious  child, 
the  offspring  of  another  beside  the  queen.  He  was  excluded  from  the  succession. 
In  1715  he  laid  claim  to  the  crown  of  Great  Britain,  and  is  known  in  history  as  "  The 
Old  Pretender." 


REVOLUTION  IN  ENGLAND.  105 

was  carried  to  New  York,  in  February  (1689),  by  a  skipper,  and  com- 
tTinnicated  to  Francis  Nicholson  at  Fort  James.  He  was  the  lieutenant- 
governor  of  the  province.  He  forbade  its  divulgence  among  the  people, 
as  he  wished  to  prevent  any  "  private  tumults"  until  he  could 
communicate  with  Andros,  who  was  at  Fort  Charles  at  Pemaquid. 
Andros  had  departed  from  Pemaquid  for  Boston  when  the  express 
arrived,  and  reached  that  place  at  near  the  close  of  March.  The  people 
there,  suffering  from  the  tyrannies  of  Andros,  were  on  the  verge  of  open 
insurrection  when,  on  the  14th  of  April,  a  vessel  brought  to  Boston 
authentic  information  of  the  accession  of  William  and  Mary.  Andros 
was  seized  and  cast  into  prison,  and  soon  afterward  he,  with  fifty  of  his 
political  associates,  was  sent  to  England,  charged  with  maladministra- 
tion of  affairs  in  the  colonies. 

Meanwhile  a  crisis  in  public  affairs  had  been  reached  at  New  York. 
The  people  there  were  also  on  the  verge  of  insurrection  when  the  * '  great 
news"  was  revealed  in  that  city.     The  authority  of  Lieutenant-Governor 
Nicholson  was  questioned  by 
a  large  portion  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  city  and  province. 
Two  parties  were  formed,  one 
composed  of  the  adherents  of 
James,  the  other  of  the  friends 

;  1     nr  mi  SIGNATURE   OP  FRANCIS   NICHOLSON. 

oi    Wilham  and  Mary,      ihe 
former  embraced   the   aristo- 
cratic   citizens,    including   Nicholas    Bayard,    the    commander    of    the 
city  militia,   the  members  of  the  council,   and  the  municipal  authori- 
ties. 

The  friends  of  the  new  monarchs  formed  a  large  majority  of  the  citi- 
zens. Tliey  maintained  that  the  entire  fabric  of  the  imperial  govern- 
ment, including  that  of  the  colonies,  had  been  overthrown  by  the  revolu- 
tion, and  that,  as  no  person  was  invested  with  authority  in  the  province, 
it  reverted  to  the  legitimate  source  of  all  authority — the  2:>eople — who 
might  delegate  their  powers  to  whomsoever  they  would. 

Among  the  principal  supporters  of  this  view  was  Jacob  Leisler,  a 
German  by  birth,  a  merchant,  the  senior  captain  of  one  of  the  five  train- 
bands of  the  city  commanded  by  Colonel  Bayard,  and  one  of  the  oldest 
and  wealthiest  inhabitants.  His  wife  was  Alice,  daughter  of  Govert 
Loockermans.  He  was  a  zealous  opponent  of  the  Roman  Catholics,  and 
a  man  of  great  energy  and  determination.  He  was  kind  and  benevolent, 
and  was  very  popular.  He  had  just  bought  lands  in  Westchester  County 
to  form  an  asylum  for  persecuted  Huguenots,  who  had  fled  from  France 


106 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


after  the  revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes.*  The  domain  was  named 
!New  Rochelle,  after  Rochelle  in  France,  from  wliich  place  many  of 
them  came. 

Rumors  of  terrible  things  contemplated  by  the  adherents  of  James 

spread  over  the  town,  and  produced  great 
excitement.  The  five  companies  of  militia 
and  a  crowd  of  citizens  gathered  at  the  house 
of  Leisler,  and  induced  him  to  become  their 
leader  and  guide  in  this  emergency.  Colonel 
Bayard  attempted  to  disperse  them,  but  he 
was  compelled  to  fiy  for  his  life.  A  distinct 
line  was  now  drawn  between  the  aristocrats^ 
led  by  Bayard,  Yan  Cortlandt,  Robert  Liv- 
ingston, and  others,  and  the  democrats — the 
majority  of  the  people — who  regarded  Leisler 
as  their  leader  and  champion.  At  his  sug- 
gestion a  "  Committee  of  Safety"  was  formed, 
composed  of  ten  members — Dutch,  Hnguenot, 
and  English.  They  constituted  Leisler  "  Captain  of  the  Fort,"  and  in- 
Axsted  him  with  the  jDOwers  of  commander-in-chief — really  chief  magis- 
trate— until  orders  should  come  from  the  new  monarch.     This  was  the 


THE  BAYAUD   ARMS. 


SIGNATURE   OP   NICHOLAS  BAYARD. 


first  really  republican  ruler  that  ever  attained  to  power  in  America. 
He  took  possession  of  Fort  James  and  the  public  funds  that  were  in  it, 
and  in  June,  1689,  he  proclaimed,  with  the  sound  of  trumpets,  William 
and  Mary  sovereigns  of  Great  Britain  and  the  colonies.     Then  he  sent  a 


*  Jacob  LeLsler  was  born  at  Frankfort-on-the-Main,  and  emigrated  to  America  in  1660. 
In  1683  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  commissioners  of  the  Court  of  Admiralty  at  New 
York,  and  was  the  leader  in  the  popular  movement  of  assuming  the  functions  of  govern- 
ment on  hearing  of  the  revolution  in  England.  The  people  chose  him  to  be  their  governor 
until  the  new  British  sovereigns  shoidd  send  them  one.  His  political  enemies  finally 
brought  him  to  the  scaffold  in  1691. 


LEISLER  ASSUMES  POLITICAL  CONTROL.  107 

Jetter  to  the  king,  giving  him  an  account  of  what  he  had  done.  The  New 
Englanders  commended  Leisler's  acts.  Lieutenant-Governor  Nichol- 
son, lacking  spirit,  and  fast  bound  by  "  red  tape,"  perceiving  the  strong 
support  given  to  Leisler  by  the  New  Yorkers,  departed  for  England  after 
formally  giving  authority  to  his  councillors  to  preserve  the  peace  during 
his  absence,  and  until  their  Majesties'  pleasure  should  be  made  known. 

At  this  juncture  the  northern  colonies  were  thoroughly  alarmed  by  the 
opening  hostilities  of  the  French  and  Indians  on  the  frontiers.  A 
convention  of  delegates  from  the  colonies  of  Massachusetts,  Plymouth, 
Connecticut,  and  New  York  assembled  at  Albany,  and  there  held  a  con- 
ference (September,  1689)  with  the  heads  of  the  Five  Nations.  The  New 
England  delegates  tried  to  persuade  the  Iroquois  to  engage  in  the  war 
against  the  Eastern  Indians,  but  they  wisely  declined.  They,  however, 
ratified  the  existing  friendship  between  them  and  the  English  colonists. 


SIGNATURE   AND   SEAL   OF   JACOB   LEIgLEU. 

Nicholson's  desertion  of  his  j)ost  gave  Leisler  and  tlie  liepublicans 
great  advantages.  He  ordered  the  several  counties  of  the  province  to 
elect  their  civil  and  military  officers.  Some  counties  obeyed,  and  others 
did  not.  The  counter  influence  of  Nicholson's  councillors  was  contin- 
ually and  persistently  felt,  and  Leisler  and  his  party  became  greatly 
incensed  against  them,  especially  against  Baj'ard,  who  was  the  chief  insti- 
gator of  the  opposition  to  the  "  usurper,"  as  he  called  the  Republican 
leader.  So  hot  became  the  indignation  of  Leisler  and  his  friends  that 
Bayard  was  compelled  to  fly  for  his  life  to  Albany.  The  other  council- 
lors, alarmed,  soon  followed  him.  At  Albany  they  acknowledged  allegi- 
ance to  William  and  Mary.  They  set  up  an  independent  government, 
and  claimed  to  be  the  true  and  only  rulers  of  the  province.  In  this 
position  they  were  sustained  by  the  civil  authorities  at  Albany. 

Leisler  now  sent  his  son-in-law,  Jacob  Milborne,  an  Englishman,  with 
three  sloops  filled  with  armed  men  and  ammunition  to  take  possession 


108 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


EOBEKT  LIVINGSTON. 


of  Albany,  protect  the  inhabitants  against  the  menaced  attack  of  the 

French  from  Canada,  and  to  assert  there  the  supreme  power  of  the  peo- 
ple's governor  at  New  York.  Mil- 
borne  was  instructed  to  withhold 
assistance  against  the  barbarians  in 
ease  he  should  be  denied  admission 
to  the  fort. 

Mil  borne,  with  his  force,  arrived 
at  Albany  early  in  November,  and 
demanded  of  Mayor  Schuyler,  \\\\o 
had  been  appointed  the  commander 
of  the  fort,  admission  to  it.  It 
was  refused.  At  that  time  a 
convention,  largely  controlled  by 
Robert  Livingston,  composed  of 
delegates  from  each  ward  in  the 
city,  was  sitting  daily  in  Albany, 
and  exercising  executive  authority 
temporarily.  A  deputation  was 
sent  from  the  convention  to  meet 
Milborne,      They   introduced   him 

to  the  convention,  when  he  harangued  the  members  for  some  time,  but 

with  little  effect.    Then  he  presented  his  credentials  to  the  recorder,  and 

afterward  harangued  the  populace  in  front  of 

the  City  Hall,  but  they  were  not  responsive. 
Milborne  now  took  a  bolder  step.     He  flung 

open  the  gate  of  tlie  city  near  the  fort,  marched 

his  men  out  with  loaded  guns,   and  drawing 

them  up  in  front  of  the  stronghold,  made  a 

peremptory  demand  for  its  surrender.    Schuy- 
ler refused  compliance,  and  caused  a  protest 

of  the  convention  to  be  read  from  one  of  the 

bastions.     Some  Mohawk  warriors,  wlio  had 

been  watching  Milborne's  movements  from  a 

neighboring  hill,  sent  word  to  Schuyler  that 

if  the  New   Yorkers  should  attack   the   fort 

they  would   fire   on   them.      Perceiving  his 

peril,    Milborne   took   counsel    of    prudence, 

withdrew,  dismissed  his  men  in  confusion,  and 

hastened  back  to  New  York.     A  letter  soon  came  from  the  sheriff  at 

Albany  reporting  treasonable  words  spoken  by  Robert  Livingston  con- 


e>-e^o^EU£jK 


THE  LIVINGSTON   ARMS. 


LEISLER   ORGANIZES   GOVERNMENT. 


109 


.-^^ 


'  cerning  King  "VYilliam.  Leisler  ordered  Livingston's  arrest,  but  he 
escaped  to  jSTew  England.  Soon  after  this  event  a  letter  arri  ved  at  New 
York  by  a  special  messenger  from  the  British  Privy  Council,  directed  to 
"Francis  Nicholson,  Esq.,  or,  in  his  absence,  to  such  as,  for  the  time 
being,  take  care  for  preserving  the  peace  and  administering  the  laws  in 
His  Majesty's  province  of  New  York."  Bayard  having  heard  of  the 
document,  entered  the  city  in  disguise,  had  a  clandestine  interview  with 
the  bearer  of  the  letter,  and  claimed  .the  right,  as  one  of  N  icholson's 
councillors,  to  open  the  despatch.  The  messenger  refused  to  let  him 
have  it,  but  delivered  it  to  Leisler,  whom  he  found  acting  as  governor 
by  the  grant  of  the  people.  Leisler  at  once  caused  the  arrest  and  im- 
prisonment of  Bayard  on  a  charge  of  a  "  high  misdemeanor  against  His 
Majesty's  authority."  From  this 
time  the  opposition  to  Leisler's 
government  assumed  an  organized 
shape,  and  was  sleepless  and  re- 
lentless. Leisler  justly  regarding 
himself  as  invested  with  supreme 
power  by  the  people  and  the 
spirit  of  the  letter  from  the 
Privy  Council,  at  once  assumed 
the  title  of  lieutenant-governor  ; 
appointed  councillors  ;  made  a 
new  provincial  seal  ;  established 
courts,  and  called  an  assembly  to 
provide  means  for  carrying  on 
war  with  Canada.  The  aggres- 
sive old  Count  Frontenac  was 
again  governor  of  that  province, 
and  was  making  preparations  to 
extend  the  French  dominion  southward, 
be  noted  presently. 

Colonel  Henry  Sloughter  was  appointed  Governor  of  New  York,  but 
did  not  arrive  until  the  spring  of  1691.     Richard  Ingoldsby,  a  captain 


FIRST   GREAT   SEAL   OF   THE   PROVINCE   OP 
NEW   YORK.* 


The  conflict  that  ensued  will 


*  The  first  great  seal  of  the  province  of  New  York  was  sent  over  by  Governor 
Sloughter  from  William  and  Mary  in  1691.  It  bears  the  full-length  effigies  of  the  joint 
sovereigns,  before  whom  kneel  two  Indians  in  the  position  of  offering  gifts.  The  woman 
presents  to  the  queen  a  beaver-skin  ;  the  man  presents  to  the  king  a  roll  of  wampum. 
On  the  reverse  of  the  seal  are  the  royal  arms  of  Great  Britain,  with  the  inscription  round 
the  circumference  :  Sigillum  Proving  :  Nosr  :  Nov  :  Ebor  :  etc.  in  America.  This 
seal  was  superseded  by  one  sent  by  Queen  Anne  in  1705. 


110 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


of  foot,  arrived  early  in  tlie  year,  with  a  company  of  regular  soldiers,  to 
take  possession  of  and  hold  the  government  until  the  arrival  of  the  gov- 
ernor.    He  was  urged  by  Leisler's  enemies  to  assume  supreme  power  at 

once,  as  he  was  the  highest  royal 
officer  in  the  province.  He  haugh- 
tily demanded  of  Leisler  the  sur- 
render of  the  fort,  without  deigning 
to  sliow  the  governor  his  credentials. 
Leisler,  of  course,  refused,  and  or- 
dered the  troops  to  l)e  quartered 
in  the  city.  Ingoldsby  attempted 
to  take  the  fort  by  force,  but 
failed.  For  several  weeks  the  city 
was  fearfully  excited  by  rival  fac- 
tions— ''  Leislerians"  and  "  anti- 
Leislerians." 

On     the    arrival    of     Governor 

Sloughter,  in  March  (1691),  Leisler 

at  once  loyally  tendered  to  him  the 

fort  and  the  province.     Under  the 

influence  of  the  enemies  of  Leisler,  the  royal  governor  responded  to  this 

meritorious  action  by  ordering  the  arrest  of  the  lieutenant-governor  ; 

also  Milborne,  and  six  other  "  inferior  insurgents" — Abraliam  Gouver- 


GERARDUS  BEECKMAN. 


)^o0  L/ 


SIGNATURE   OF   GERARDU8   BEECKMAN. 


neur  (Leisler's  secretary),   Gerardus  Beeckman,*    Johannes    Vermilye, 
Thomas  Williams,   Myndert    Coerten,    and    Abraham    Brasher  —  on   a 


*  Gerardus  Beeckman,  son  of  William  Bceckman,  was  a  leading  citizen  of  New  York, 
living  at  Brooklyn.  He  wsis  a  physician,  and  took  a  prominent  part  in  public  affairs. 
He  was  one  of  Leisler's  warmest  adherents,  and  was  a  member  of  his  council.  After 
Leisler's  death  Dr.  Beeckman  was  tried  for  treason,  condemned,  and  sentenced  to  bo 
hung,  but  was  pardoned  by  order  of  the  king  in  1694.  He  was  a  member  of  the  provin- 
cial coimcil  under  Governors  Cornbury,  Hunter,  and  Burnet,  and  died  in  1724. 


SENTENCE   OF  LEISLER  AND  ASSOCIATES. 


Ill 


dharge  of  high  treason.  Tlie  accused  were  imprisoned.  "  Bayard's 
chain  was  put  upon  Leisler's  leg."  The  enemies  of  the  latter  were  re- 
solved on  swift  revenge. 

When  the  accused  were  arraigned,  Leisler  and  Mil  borne  refused  to 
plead  to  the  indictment,  for  they  denied  the 
authority  of  the  court  which  had  just  been 
organized  for  the  purpose,  and  was  composed 
wholly  of  Bayard's  j)olitical  friends.  The 
judges  were  all  councillors,  and  the  petit  jury 
was  composed  of  "youths  and  other  bitter 
men,"  quotes  Brodhead.  The  trial,  as  had 
been  predetermined,  resulted  in  the  convic- 
tion of  the  accused,  and  they  were  sentenced 
to  be  hanged.  All  but  Leisler  and  Milborne 
were  afterward  pardoned.  The  excepted 
prisoners  had  appealed  to  the  king,  but  the 
perfidious  councillors  did  not  send  their  ap- 
peal to  His  Majesty  ! 

Evident  enemies  of  Leisler,  in  Albany,  sent 
word  to  Bayard,  at  whose  house  Governor  Sloughter  was  staying,  that 
the  Mohawks,  disgusted  with  the  mismanagement  of   Leisler,  were  in 
treaty  with  the  French,  and  that  it  was  indispensable  that  the  governor 
should  quickly  conciliate  the  Five  ISTations.     Bayard  urged  the  governor 


THE   BEKCKMAN   ARMS. 


SIGNATURE   OF   ABRAHAM   GOUVERNEUR. 


to  act  promptly.  So  urged,  he  asked  the  opinion  of  his  Council,  in  which 
Bayard  was  most  powerful.  That  body  unanimously  resolved,  "  That, 
as  well  for  the  satisfaction  of  the  Indians  as  the  asserting  of  the  govern 


112  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

ment  authority  residing  in  liis  Excellency,  and  preventing  insurrections 
and  disorders  for  the  future,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  tliat  the  sentence 
pronounced  against  the  principal  offenders  be  forthwith  put  into  execu- 
tion." This  resolution  was  communicated  to  the  Assembly,  which 
answered,  "  that  this  House,  according  to  their  opinion  given,  do  approve 
of  what  his  Excellency  and  Council  have  done." 

The  governor  hesitated  ;  for,  though  a  libertine  in  morals  and  an 
habitual  drunkard,  lie  was  a  jnst  man,  and  had  determined  not  to  sign 
the  death-warrants  of  the  convicted  until  he  should  hear  from  his  sov- 
ereign, supposing  Leisler's  appeal  had  been  sent  to  him. 

Meanwhile  the  people,  in  large  numbers,  signed  petitions  to  the  gov- 
ernor for  the  pardon  of  these  prisoners.  The  council  became  alarmed, 
and  caused  tlie  arrest  of  some  of  those  who  brought  the  petitions.  Fear- 
ing the  effects  of  the  daily  increasing  clamor  of  the  people  ;  determined 
to  have  tlie  lives  of  the  prisoners,  and  finding  they  could  not  induce 
the  governor  to  violate  justice  or  his  conscience,  the  councillors  con- 
spired to  extort  from  him  liis  signature  to  the  death-warrant  by  foul 
means.  They  invited  him  to  a  dinner-j)arty  at  the  house  of  one  of 
them,  on  Staten  Island,  on  a  beautiful  day  in  May.  One  of  the  coun- 
cillors carried  to  the  banquet  a  legally  drawn  death-warrant,  and  when 
the  governor  was  sufficiently  stupefied  by  excessive  draughts  of  wine, 
he  was  induced  to  sign  the  awful  paper,  unconscious  of  its  purport.  It 
was  sent  to  the  sheriff  at  New  York  the  same  evening,  and  the  next 
morning  Leisler  and  Milborne  were  summoned  to  prejDare  for  immediate 
execution.  They  sent  for  their  wives  and  children,  and  after  a  sorrow- 
ful parting,  the  two  victims  were  led  to  the  scaffold  in  a  drenching  rain. 
Their  enemies,  fearing  the  governor  might  reprieve  the  prisoners,  kept 
him  drunk,  and  the  victims  were  hanged  before  he  became  sober.* 
The  scaffold  stood  near  the  site  of  the  Tribune  building,  on  Printing 
House  Square,  New  York. 

An  eye-witness  of  this  murder  by  the  form  of  law  wrote  that  just  at 
the  moment  of  the  execution  the  lieavens  grew  black,  the  rain  fell  in 
torrents,  and  the  screams  of  women,  who  were  present,  were  heard 
on  every  side.  Restrained  by  the  troops,  only  a  few  citizens  were 
present.     Milborne,  seeing  among  them  Livingston,  one  of  the  worst 

*  We  have  observed  that  six  of  the  friends  of  Leisler  condemned  to  death  were 
pardoned.  On  the  day  of  the  execution  of  Leisler  and  Milborne  (May  16th,  1691) 
the  Legislature  of  New  York  passed  an  act  for  the  pardon  of  all  such  as  had  been 
active  "  in  the  late  disorders."  Twenty-two  persons  received  the  benetit  of  this  act.  In 
1699  an  act  of  indemnity  was  passed  in  favor  of  all  these  jwrsous  excepting  Leisler  and 
Milborne. 


EXECUTION   OF  LEISLER  AND  MILBORNE.  113 

enemies  of  Leisler,  said,  "  Kobert  Livingston,  I  will  implead  thee  at 
the  bar  of  Heaven  for  this  deed."  Leisler  uttered  a  prayer  for  bless- 
ings npon  the  province  and  his  family  ;  and  alluding  to  his  enemies, 
he  said,  "  Father,  forgive  them  ;  they  know  not  what  they  do." 

"  Thus  perished,"  says  Hoffman,  "  the  loyal  and  noble  Captain  Leisler 
of  New  York  ;  so  loyal  to  his  king,  so  noble  to  his  compatriots." 
His  enemies  extended  their  malice  to  his  family  and  that  of  Mil- 
borne.  They  were  attainted,  and  their  property  was  confiscated. 
But  justice  was  swift  in  righting  a  great  wrong.  Before  four  years 
had  passed  by  their  property  was  restored,  and  the  British  Parlia- 
ment declared  that  Leisler  and  Milborne  were  innocent  of  the  crime 
of  treason. 

When  the  governor  became  sober,  he  was  appalled  at  w^hat  he  had 
done.  He  was  so  keenly  stung  by  remorse  and  afflicted  by  delirium 
tremens  that  he  died  a  few  weeks  afterward.  Calm  and  impartial 
judgment,  enlightened  by  truth,  now  assigns  to  Jacob  Leisler  the  high 
position  in  history  of  2^]patriot  and  martyi'. 


114  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

The  revolution  of  1688  in  England  produced  much  suffering  in  some 
of  the  Enghsh  colonies,  for  it  was  the  cause  of  war  between  Great  Britain 
and  France,  which  extended  to  their  respective  American  dominions. 
It  continued  about  seven  years,  and  is  known  in  American  history  as 
"King  William's  War." 

In  this  conflict  the  Indians  bore  a  conspicuous  part,  and  terrible  were 
many  of  their  achievements.  Under  the  influence  of  Jesuit  priests  they 
became  allies  of  the  French. 

Hostilities  began  in  the  East  in  the  summer  of  1689.  The  Indians 
attacked  the  frontier  settlements  of  New  England  in  July,  killing  and 
torturing  many  white  people.  In  August  a  war- party  fell  upon  the 
stockade  at  Pemaquid,  in  Maine,  and  captured  the  garrison.  A  few 
months  later  Governor  Frontenac  sent  an  expedition  into  Xew  York, 
with  the  design  of  seizing  Albany.  He  had  gathered  at  Montreal  a 
large  military  force  of  French  and  barbarians,  and  in  the  dead  of  winter 
(February,  1670)  he  despatched  over  two  hundred  French  and  Indians 
(eighty  of  the  latter  were  "  praying  Indians,"  or  Roman  Catholic  con- 
verts), under  two  lieutenants,  with  orders  to  penetrate  the  Mohawk 
country  and  attempt  the  capture  of  Albany. 

The  weather  was  intensely  cold,  and  the  snow  was  deep.  The  ex- 
pedition traversed  the  wilderness  with  snow-shoes.  It  was  resolved  at 
a  council  to  first  attack  Schenectady,  a  stockaded  village  containing  about 
eighty  comfortable  houses,  on  the  bank  of  the  Mohawk  River.  A  few 
Connecticut  soldiers  were  in  it.  As  the  expedition  drew  near  the  place 
they  met  some  Indian  women  who  directed  them  how  to  enter  the  vil- 
lage secretly  by  one  of  the  two  gates,  which  was  always  standing  open. 
The  villagers,  unsuspicious  of  any  danger,  felt  so  secure  that  a  few 
hours  before  the  attack,  when  warned  by  the  commander  of  the  soldiers 
to  be  vigilant,  they  set  up  some  snow  images  in  mockery  to  personate 
sentinels. 

The  blow  fell  upon  Schenectady  suddenly  and  with  frightful  energy 
at  midnight,  while  the  inhabitants  were  asleep.  Sixty-three  persons 
were  massacred,  twenty-seven  were  carried  into  captivity,  and  the  Dutch 
Church  and  sixty-three  houses  were  laid  in  ashes.  Nearly  all  of  the 
little  garrison  were  killed.     A  few  persons  escaped  to  Albany,  travelling 


EXPEDITIONS  AGAINST   CANADA.  115 

through  the  snow  in  the  keen  wintry  air  in  their  night-clotlies.  In- 
formed of  the  strength  of  Albany,  the  invaders  did  not  attempt  its  cap- 
ture, but  hastened  back  toward  Canada  with  their  phinder. 

Governor  Leisler  now  proposed  a  union  of  New  York  and  New  Eng- 
land, in  an  effort  to  conquer  Canada  and  expel  the  French  from  the 
Continent.  At  the  suggestion  of  Massachusetts  he  called  a  Colonial 
Congress,  which  met  in  New  York  in  xlpril — the  first  ever  convened  in 
America.  An  arrangement  was  made  for  an  invasion  of  Canada.  All 
the  colonies  were  aroused  to  a  sense  of  mutual  danger,  and  the  Congress 
resolved  to  invade  Canada  by  land  and  sea.  It  was  agreed  that  New 
York  should  provide  400  men  ;  Massachusetts,  160  ;  Connecticut,  135, 
and  Plymouth,  60,  while  Maryland  promised  100,  making  a  total  land 
force  of  857. 

To  stimulate  Massachusetts  to  undertake  a  naval  expedition  against 
the  French,  Leisler  fitted  out  three  war-vessels  for  the  capture  of 
Quebec,  commissioned  to  "  attack  Canada  and  take  French  prisoners  at 
sea."  This  little  squadron — the  first  war-ships  sent  out  from  New  York 
— sailed  late  in  May,  with  orders  to  stop  at  Cape  Ann,  and  going  on  to 
Port  Royal,  Acadia,  "  entice  the  Boston  fleet"  to  go  with  them.  The 
latter,  commanded  by  Sir  William  Phips,  and  bearing  about  eight  hun- 
dred men,  did  go  to  Port  Royal  (May,  1690),  and  seized  and  plundered 
it.  That  place  was  soon  afterward  plundered  again  by  English  privateers 
from  the  West  Indies. 

Encouraged  by  these  successes,  another  expedition  was  planned,  having 
for  its  object  an  invasion  of  Canada  by  land  and  water.  It  was  arranged 
for  an  army  to  march  from  Albany  by  way  of  Lake  Champlain  to 
Montreal,  and  at  the  same  time  a  strong  naval  armament  was  to  sail 
from  Boston,  ascend  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  attack  Quebec.  The  army 
was  placed  under  the  command  of  General  Winthrop,  a  son  of  Governor 
Winthrop,  of  Connecticut,  the  cost  of  the  expedition  to  be  borne 
jointly  by  that  colony  and  New  York.  The  command  of  the  fleet, 
which  was  composed  of  thirty-four  vessels  manned  by  two  thousand 
New  Englanders,  was  given  to  Sir  William  Phips,  who,  as  we  have 
observed,  had  seized  and  plundered  Port  Royal  a  short  time  before. 

The  army  moved  slowly  from  Albany  early  in  July.  The  greater 
portion  of  the  troops  had  only  reached  the  head  of  Lake  Champlain 
(now  White  Hall)  early  in  September,  where  they  remained  for  want  of 
boats  or  canoes,  while  some  white  troops  and  Iroquois  Indians,  com- 
manded by  Captain  John  Schuyler,  pushed  on  toward  the  St.  Lawrence. 
Old  Count  Frontenac  was  in  Montreal  when  he  was  informed  of  the 
approach  of  the  invaders.     He  called  out  his  Indian  allies,  and  taking  a 


116  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

tomaliawk  in  his  hand,  the  aged  nobleman   danced  tlie  Avar-dance  and 
chanted  the  war-song  in  their  presence.     Tlie  excited  braves  were  then 
led  by  him  against  the  foe.     Schuyler  was  compelled  to  withdraw,  and. 
the  whole  army  returned  to  New  York.     The  expedition  was  a  failure, 
partly  from  a  want  of  supplies  and  partly  from  sickness. 

Phips  sailed  from  Boston,  and  without  pilots  or  charts  crawled  cau- 
tiously around  Acadia  and  up  the  St.  Lawrence  for  nine  weeks.  A  swift 
Indian  runner,  starting  from  Pemaquid,  carried  the  news  of  the  naval 
expedition  to  Frontenac  at  Montreal  in  time  to  enable  him  to  reach 
Quebec  with  re-enforcements  early  enough  to  strengthen  its  defences 
before  the  arrival  of  Phips.  When  the  "  admiral "  appeared  before  the 
town  and  demanded  its  surrender,  Frontenac  treated  the  summons  with 
contempt.*  Failing  in  attempts  to  take  the  city,  and  hearing  of  the 
failure  of  the  land  expedition,  Phips  returned  to  Boston. 

Leisler  attributed  the  failure  of  the  land  expedition  to  Winthrop,  and 
even  charged  him  with  treachery,  and  \n\t  him  under  arrest  awhile. 
Winthrop  charged  the  failure  chiefly  to  the  incompetency  of  Milborne, 
Leisler's  son-in-law,  who  had  engaged  to  furnish  boats  for  transportation 
and  all  other  supplies,  but  failed  to  do  so  in  time. 

The  French  and  their  barbarian  allies  in  Canada  and  Acadia  were 
greatly  elated  by  the  repulse  of  their  assailants  ;  and  so  important  was 
the  event  regarded  by  French  statesmen,  that  King  Louis  caused  a  medal 
to  be  struck  bearing  his  likeness  on  one  side  and  on  the  other  a  figure 
seated  on  military  trophies,  symbolizing  France,  with  the  legend  around 
it  :  "  France  Yictorious  in  New  England."  The  expedition  ex- 
hausted the  treasury  of  Massachusetts,  and  compelled  the  Government 
to  emit  new  bills  of  credit.  The  first  emission  was  in  February,  1690, 
and  was  the  first  paper  money  ever  issued  on  the  continent  of  America. 

On  the  death  of  Governor  Sloughter  (June  IGth,  1091)  the  care  of 
the  Government  devolved  upon  Dudley,f  the  chief-justice  and  senior 

*  Sir  William  sent  a  messenger  with  a  written  demand  for  the  surrender  of  the  city. 
The  bearer  was  taken,  blindfolded,  before  Frontenac,  who,  after  reading  the  demand, 
angrily  threw  the  paper  in  the  messenger's  face,  and  gave  his  answer  that  "  Sir  William 
Phips  and  those  witli  him  were  heretics  and  traitors,  and  had  taken  up  with  that  usurper 
the  Prince  of  Orange,  and  had  made  a  revolution  which,  if  it  had  not  been  made.  New 
England  and  the  French  had  all  been  one  ;  and  that  no  other  answer  was  to  be  expected 
from  him  but  what  should  be  from  the  mouth  of  his  cannon." 

f  Joseph  Dudley  was  born  in  Roxbury,  Mass.,  in  1647  ;  died  there  in  1720.  He  repre- 
sented his  native  town  in  the  General  Court  from  1673  to  1681,  and  was  one  of  the  Com- 
missioners of  the  United  Colonies  of  New  England.  In  1682  he  was  agent  of  the  colony 
of  Massachusetts  in  England.  James  II.  appointed  liim  President  of  New  England  in 
1685,  and  in  1687  he  was  commissioned  Chief -Justice  of  the  Superior  Court,  and  the  next 
year  he  was  sent  to  England  with  Audros  by  the  Bostoniaus,  who  expelled  them  from 


CHARACTER  AND   ADMINISTRATION  OF  FLETCHER.  IIT 

member  of  the  governor's  council.  He  was  then  absent  at  Curaqoa. 
His  associates  filled  his  place  temporarily  with  Captain  Ingoldsby,  who, 
as  commander  of  the  troops,  had  more  real  power  than  any  one  else  in 
the  province.  He  held  the  position  until  late  the  next  year,  when,  at 
the  close  of  August,  Colonel  Benjamin  Fletcher,  who  had  been  commis- 
sioned Governor  of  New  York,  arrived.  Fletcher  w^as  by  profession  a 
soldier,  a  man  of  strong  passions,  inconsiderable  ability,  aristocratic  in 
his  tendencies,  opposed  to  all  popular  concessions,  averse  to  religions 
toleration,  and  very  avaricious.  Fortunately  for  himself  and  the  public 
welfare,  he  early  became  acquainted  with  Major  Peter  Schuyler,  of 
Albany,  who  had  almost  unbounded  influence  over  the  Five  Nations 
The  governor  appointed  him  one  of  his  council,  and  his  influence  there 
was  equally  salutary.  He  so  guided  the  conduct  of  the  governor  that 
he  saved  the  magistrate  from  becoming  intolerably  obnoxious  to  the 
people,  for  Fletcher  s  incessant  solicitations  for  money,  his  passionate 
temper,  and  his  bigotry  were  continually  manifested.    During  the  whole 


SIGNATURE   AND   SEAL   OF    GOVERNOR   FLETCHER. 

of  his  administration  of  seven  years,  party  rancor,  kindled  by  the  death 
of  Leisler,  burned  intensely,  and  at  one  time  menaced  the  province  with 
civil  war.  He  adopted  the  views  of  the  anti-Leislerians,  and  became 
their  supple  instrument. 

Although  the  New  York  Assembly  was  filled  with  bitter  opponents  of 
Leisler,  they,  as  boldly  as  he,  asserted  the  supremacy  of  the  people,  and 
would  suffer  no  encroachments  on  colonial  rights  and  privileges.  They 
rebuked  the  interference  of  the  governor  in  legislation  by  insisting  upon 
amendments  to  bills,  and  drew  from  him  on  one  occasion  the  reproachful 
words  which  tell  of  their  independence  and  firmness  :  "  There  never 
was  an  amendment  desired  by  the  Council  Board,"  said  Fletcher,  "  but 


the  colony.  Then  he  was  made  Chief -Justice  of  New  York  (1690),  where  he  served  until 
1693,  when  he  returned  to  England  and  was  made  Deputy-Governor  of  the  Isle  of  Wight. 
He  was  in  Parliament  in  1701,  and  from  1703  until  1715  he  was  Captain-General  and 
Governor  of  Massachusetts.     Retired  to  private  life  at  Roxbury. 


118  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

wliat  it  was  rejected.  It  is  a  sign  of  a  stiil>born  ill-temper."  With 
that  "  stubborn  ill-temper"  of  the  Assembly  the  governor  was  almost 
continually  in  conflict,  and  when  he  was  recalled  he  seemed  as  glad  to 
leave  the  province  as  the  people  were  to  get  rid  of  him.* 

From  the  beginning  of  Fletcher's  administration,  Frontenac  almost 
continually  gave  the  province  uneasiness  by  his  attempts  to  win  the  Five 
Nations  to  the  French  interest  by  persuasions  and  threats.  Failing  to 
persuade  them,  he  struck  the  Mohawks  a  severe  blew  early  in  1693. 
Colonel  Schuyler  hastened  from  Albany  with  pale  and  dusky  volunteers 
to  the  aid  of  the  Iroquois,  and  drove  the  invaders  back.  lie  re-took 
about  fifty  captives  from  the  French. 

When  Fletcher  heard  of  this  invasion,  he  hastened  to  Albany  with 
three  hundred  militia  volunteers.  The  river  being  free  of  ice,  they 
ascended  it  to  Albany  in  sloops,  with  a  fair  wind,  in  three  days.  This 
promptness  and  celeritj'^  gained  great  credit  for  the  governor.  The 
Iroquois  called  him  ''  The  very  Swift  Arrow." 

The  restless  Frontenac  continually  disturbed  the  Five  ^N^ations  and  the 
English  by  menaces,  until  finally,  in  the  summer  of  1696,  he  invaded 
the  heart  of  the  country  of  the  Iroquois  with  a  large  army.  He  had 
gathered  at  Montreal  all  the  regulars  and  militia  under  his  command  and  a 
host  of  Indian  warriors  ;  and  in  light  boats  and  bark  canoes  they  ascended 
the  St.  Lawrence,  entered  Lake  Ontario,  and  crossed  it  to  the  mouth  of 


*  To  Governor  Fletcher  "was  intrusted  the  large  powers  of  commander-in-chief  of  the 
militia  of  Connecticut  and  New  Jersey.  Late  in  the  autunm  of  1693  he  went  to  Hartford 
with  Colonel  Bayard  and  others  to  assert  his  authority  there,  which  had  been  questioned. 
He  ordered  out  the  Connecticut  militia  when  the  season  for  parades  had  ended.  The 
charter  of  the  colony  denied  Fletcher's  jurisdiction.  The  Assembly,  then  in  session, 
promptly  gave  utterance  to  that  denial  on  this  occasion.  Fletcher  haughtily  said  to  the 
governor  :  "  I  will  not  set  my  foot  out  of  this  colony  until  I  have  seen  His  Majesty's 
commission  obeyed. "  The  governor  yielded  so  much  as  to  allow  Captain  Wadsworth  to 
call  out  the  train-bands  of  Hartford. 

When  these  troops  were  assembled  Fletcher  stepix?d  forward  to  take  the  command,  and 
ordered  Bayard  to  read  his  Excellency's  commission.  At  that  moment  Wadsworth 
ordered  the  drums  to  be  beaten. 

"  Silence  !"  angrily  cried  Fletcher,  and  Bayard  began  to  read  again. 

"  Drum  !  drum  !  I  ssvy  !"  shouted  Wadsworth,  and  the  voice  of  Bayard  was  drowned 
in  the  sonorous  roll  that  followed.  Fletcher,  enraged,  stamped  his  foot  and  cried, 
"  Silence  !"  and  threatened  the  captain  with  punishment.  Wadsworth  instantly  stepped 
in  front  of  the  irate  governor,  and  while  his  hand  rested  on  his  sword-belt,  he  ssiid  in  a 
firm  voice  : 

"If  my  drummers  are  interrupted  again  I'll  make  the  sunlight  show  through  you. 
We  deny  and  defy  your  authority." 

The  governor  was  a  coward.  He  meekly  folded  up  his  commission,  and  with  his  ret- 
inue retired  to  New  York.     He  complained  to  the  king,  but  nothing  came  of  it. 


THE   FRENCH   INVADE  THE   FIVE   NATIONS.  119 

the  Onondaga  River  at  Oswego.  This  narrow  and  rapid  stream  they 
ascended  (carrying  the  boats  around  the  falls)  to  Onondaga  Lake,  fifty 
men  marching  on  each  side  of  the  river.  The  Onondagas  had  sent  away 
their  wives  and  children,  and  had  determined  to  defend  tlieir  castle  near 
the  shore  of  the  lake  ;  but  when  they  discovered  the  number  of  the  in- 
vaders and  the  nature  of  their  weapons,  they  set  lire  to  their  village  and 
fled  into  the  deep  forest.  The  old  Count  Frontenac  was  carried  in 
an  elbow-chair.  His  only  trophy  was  a  venerable  sachem  about  one 
hundred  years  old,  who  saluted  him  at  the  castle.  With  the  count's 
permission  the  French  Indians  put  the  old  man  to  the  most  exquisite 
tortures,  which  he  bore  with  amazing  fortitude  and  defiance. 

When  the  invaders  turned  their  forces  toward  Canada,  the  Onondagas 
pursued  them,  and  annoyed  them  all  the  way.  This  expensive  expedi- 
tion and  the  continual  incursions  of  the  Five  Nations  into  the  country 
near  Montreal  spread  famine  in  Canada.  Frontenac  continued  to  send 
out  scalping  parties  until  tlie  treaty  of  Ryswyk,  in  1697,  brought  com- 
parative peace  to  the  contending  nations.  Count  Frontenac  died  the 
next  year. 

From  the  beo^inninor  of  liis  administration  Fletcher  made  strenuous 
efforts  to  introduce  the  Anglican  Church,  with  its  ritual,  into  the  city  and 
province  of  New  York.  He  was  very  intemperate  in  his  zeal  to  accom- 
plish his  purpose,  for  he  was  a  bigot.  A  majority  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  province  were  of  Dutch  descent,  and  were  members  of  the  Dutch 
Refonned  Church,  which  they  regarded  as  the  established  church  in 
New  York. 

The  governor  succeeded  in  j^rocuring  from  the  Assembly,  in  1693,  an 
act  which  he  construed  as  giving  him  the  right  to  recognize  the  Anglican 
instead  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church  as  the  State  religion.  Under 
this  act  Trinity  Church  was  organized,  and  its  first  edifice  for  public 
worship  was  completed  in  1696.*  The  first  printing-press  in  the  prov- 
ince was  set  up  by  William  Bradford,  a  Quaker  from  Philadelphia,  in 
1693.  He  was  afterward  employed  by  the  city  government  to  print  the 
corporation  laws  and  ordinances.     In  1725  Bradford  began  the  publica- 


*  This  church  corporation  still  exists.  The  first  vestrymeu  were  :  Thomas  Weuham 
aucl  Robert  Lusting,  church-wardens ;  Caleb  Heathcote,  William  Mcrritt,  John  Tudor, 
James  Emott,  William  Morris,  Thomas  Clarke,  Ebenezer  Wilson,  Samuel  Burt,  James 
Everts,  Nathaniel  Marston,  Michael  Howden,  John  Crooke,  William  Sharpas,  Lawrence 
Reed,  David  Jamison,  William  Huddleston,  Gabriel  Ludlow,  Thomas  Burroughs,  John 
Merritt,  and  William  Janeway. 

There  is  no  drawing  of  the  first  church  edifice  in  existence.  The  engraving  represents 
the  second  or  enlarged  church,  erected  in  1737.     It  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1776. 


120 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


tion  of  a  newspaper  in  New  York,  the  first  ever  issued  in  that  province. 
During  Fletcher's  administration  an  organized  system  of  piracy  (its  name 
softened  to  "  privateering")  grew  iip  and  extensively  prevailed,  espe- 
cially on  the  coasts  of  New  York  and  the  middle  provinces.  Some  of 
these  marauders  sailed  out  of  the  port  of  New  York,  and  merchant  ves- 


OLD  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


eels  were  seized  and  plundered  in  sight  of  that  port.  The  system  was 
then  encouraged  by  governments  as  a  strong  arm  in  fighting  their  ene- 
mies, and  by  men  in  high  places,  who,  as  shareholders  in  "  privateers," 
found  it  profitable.  It  finally  became  so  odious,  so  absolutely  piratical, 
and  so  injurious  to  commerce,  that  it  was  resolved  to  break  up  the  system. 
Fletcher's  direct  and  indirect  connection  with  the  pirates,  his  petty 
tyranny,  his  participation  in  frauds  in  making  grants  of  land,  and  his 
universal  unpopularity  caused  his  recall  in  1695,  when  Richard  Coote, 
Earl  of  Bellomont,*  an  Irish  peer,  was  appointed  his  successor.     The 

*  Richard  Coote  was  born  in  the  county  of  Sligo,  Ireland,  in  1636,  and  succeeded  his 
father  as  Baron  of  Coloony  in  1683.  He  was  among  the  first  who  espoused  the  cause  of 
the  Prince  of  Orange  in  1688.  On.  the  accession  of  James  he  went  to  the  Continent,  but 
returned  in  1688  and  became  a  member  of  Parliament.  He  was  made  the  treasurer  of 
Queen  Mary,  and  was  created  Earl  of  Bellomont.  Succeeding  Fletcher  as  Governor  of 
New  York,  his  conduct  there  made  him  popular.     Bellomont  died  in  New  York  City. 


GOVERNOR  BELLOMONT  AND  PRIVATEERING 


121 


earl  was  specially  charged  to  investigate  the  conduct  of  his  predecessor, 
ynj^o  enforce  the  navigation  laws,  and  to  suppress  piracy.  But  the  earl 
did  not  arrive  in  the  province  until  April,  1698,  when  he  bore  the  com- 
mission of  governor  not  only  of 
New  York,  but  of  Massachusetts 
and  New  Hampshire.  To  assist 
him  in  his  arduous  duties,  he 
brought  with  him  his  kinsman, 
John  Nanfan,  as  Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor of  New  York.  The  British 
Government  seemed  powerless  to 
suppress  the  pirates.  They  infested 
almost  every  sea.  Before  Bellomont 
left  England  a  stock  company  was 
formed  for  the  purpose  of  at- 
tempting the  task.  It  was  com- 
posed of  the  king.  Governor 
Bellomont,  several  noblemen,  Rob- 
ert Livingston,  the  first  "  Lord  of 
the  Manor  of  Livingston,"  and 
others.  They  fitted  out  the  galley 
Adventure  as  a  "privateer,"  well 
manned,  armed,  and  provisioned. 

Livingston,  who  had  proposed  the  scheme,  recommended  Captain  William 
Kidd,  a  notable  ship-master  of  New  York  (then  in  England),  as  her 

commander.*  He  was  commis- 
sioned by  King  William,  sailed 
from  Plymouth  for  New  York  in 
April,  1696,  and  soon  did  noble 
service  in  clearing  American  waters 
of  pirates.  Then  he  sailed  for  East- 
ern seas  with  a  crew  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-five  men  to  ineasure  strength  with  the  pirates  in  the 
Indian  Ocean. 


EARL   OF   BELLOMONT. 


SIGNATURE   OP   EARL   OF   BELLOMONT. 


*  This  privateering  company  was  proposed  by  Robert  Livingston,  who  offered  to  be 
"  concerned  with  Kidd  a  fifth  part  in  the  ship  and  charges.  The  king  approved  the  proj- 
ect, raising  a  tenth  share  to  show  tliat  lie  was  concerned  in  the  enterprise."  Lord  Chan- 
cellor Somers,  the  Duke  of  Shrewsbury,  the  Earls  of  Romney  and  Oxford,  Sir  Edward 
Han-ison,  and  others  joined  in  the  scheme  to  the  amount  of  $30,000.  The  management 
of  the  whole  affair  was  left  to  Lord  Bellomont.  Kidd  sailed  from  Plymouth  for  New 
York  in  his  own  ship  in  April,  1696. 


123  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Kidd  was  successful  as  2t,  privateer,  but  soon  became  a  jj)irate  himself. 
At  Madagascar  he  exchanged  his  ship  for  another,  and  swept  the  seas 
for  booty  from  Farther  India  to  the  coasts  of  South  America,  respect- 
ing no  flag  or  nationality.  Thence  he  made  his  way  homeward  (1698), 
and  on  Gardiner's  Island,  east  of  Long  Island,  he  buried  much  treasure, 
consisting  of  gold,  silver,  and  precious  stones.  His  piracies  were  known 
in  England  long  before  the  company  noticed  them.  The  belief  l^ecame 
general  that  the  monarch,  the  earl,  the  Lord  of  the  Manor  and  tlieir 
noble  associates  had  shared  the  plunder  with  Kidd.  It  became  neces- 
sary to  vindicate  their  character.  They  needed  a  scapegoat,  and  Kidd 
was  made  their  victim.  After  burying  his  treasures  he  appeared  openly 
in  Boston,  for  in  his  pocket  was  his  king's  commission,  and  Governor 
Bellomont,  who  was  there,  was  his  partner  in  business.  What  had  he  to 
fear  ?  Tlie  earl,  expressing  a  horror  of  Kidd's  crimes,  ordered  his  arrest, 
and  he  was  brought  before  his  associates  a  prisoner  in  irons. 

Kidd  sought  Bellomont's  favor  by  revealing  to  him  the  place  where 
the  treasures  were  liidden.  It  was  a  critical  moment  for  the  earl,  for 
his  safety  lay  in  an  attitude  of  immovable  firmness.  lie  was  deaf  to  the 
prayers  of  the  prisoner  and  the  entreaties  of  his  wife  for  mercy,  human 
and  divine,  for  her  erring  Imsband.  There  was  a  severe  struggle  in  the 
breast  of  tlie  governor  between  pride  and  fear  and  his  better  nature. 
The  former  triumphed.  Kidd  was  sent  to  England  in  fetters  to  be  tried  on 
a  charge  of  piracy  and  murder.  He  was  convicted  of  the  second-named 
offence,  and  was  hanged  in  London,  in  May,  1701.  So  the  penalty  of 
omission,  at  least,  of  the  associate  king  and  nobles  and  rich  citizens  was 
l)orne  by  the  poor  commoner  on  the  scaffold.  The  earl  secured  the 
buried  treasure,  and  at  his  coffers  its  history  ends  in  impenetrable 
mystery. 

Bellomont  arrived  at  New  York  in  the  spring  of  160S.  Before  he 
sailed  for  America  he  had  learned  much  concerning  public  affairs  in  the 
jjrovince  from  Robert  Livingston,  who  had  been  one  of  the  bitterest 
foes  of  Leisler.  Aware  that  the  new  governor  had  espoused  the  cause 
of  Leisler  and  Milborne,  and  always  willing  to  favor  the  stronger  side 
in  public  questions,  Livingston  now  changed  liis  political  position.  On 
his  return  to  New  York  he  was  found  to  be  a  professedly  warm  friend 
of  the  new  governor,  as  he  had  been  of  Fletcher.  He  had  shared  with 
the  latter  the  profits  of  "privateering,"  and  had  flourished  under  his 
ofticial  favor.  Now  as  Bellomont  had  attached  himself  to  the  democratic 
or  Leislerian  party,  Livingston  found  himself  oj^posed  to  his  old  asso- 
ciates. Bayard,  Yan  Cortlandt,  and  others,  who  still  held  places  in  the 
council,  and  wielded  much  power.     Livingston  had  become  a  patwon — 


A  POLITICAL  CONDITION   OF  THE  PROVINCE.  123 

/ 
the  possessor  of  a  manorial  estate  of  many  thousand  acres  on  tlie  eastern 

border   of   the   Hudson   Riv^er,    south   of   the  Yan   Rensselaer  Manor. 

Active,  shrewd,  and  intelligent,  he  became  one  of  the  most  useful  men 

in  the  province. 

The  Provincial  Assembly  convened  on  the  ISth  of  May,  1698.  It 
comprised  nineteen  members.  In  his  speech  to  them  the  governor 
alluded  to  the  legacy  his  predecessor  had  left  him — "  a  divided  people  ; 
an  empty  purse  ;  a  few  miserable,  naked,  lialf -starved  soldiers,  not  half 
the  number  the  king  allowed  pay  for  ;  the  fortifications  and  even  the 
Government  House  very  much  out  of  repair  ;  the  province  a  receptacle 
of  pirates,  and  the  Acts  of  Trade  violated  by  the  neglect  and  connivance 
of  those  whose  duty  it  was  to  have  prevented  it."  It  w^as  a  severe 
commentary  on  the  conduct  of  his  predecessor  when  he  added  :  "I 
will  take  care  there  shall  be  no  misapplication  of  the  public  money  ;  I 
will  pocket  none  of  it  myself,  nor  shall  there  be  any  embezzlement  by 
others."  Perceiving  the  danger  to  be  apprehended  from  so  small  a 
body  through  undue  influences,  the  governor  recommended  an  increase 
of  the  number  of  representatives  to  thirty. 

The  Assembly  was  strongly  anti-Leislerian  in  its  composition.  The 
members  agreed  in  a  hearty  address  of  thanks  to  the  new  governor,  but 
really  in  nothing  else.  They  wrangled  continually.  The  late  elections 
formed  a  subject  for  angry  controversy.  At  the  beginning  of  June  six 
members  seceded,  when  the  governor  dissolved  the  Assembly,  and  soon 
afterward  dismissed  two  of  his  council  who  were  specially  obnoxious. 
They  were  all  anti-Leislerians,  and  friends  of  Fletcher.  * 

Bellomont  found  the  province  disturbed  by  the  continued  hostile  atti- 
tude of  the  French  in  Canada  toward  the  Five  Nations.  He  sent 
Colonel  John  Schuyler  and  Dominie  Dellius  (April,  1698)  to  Count 
Frontenac,  at  Montreal,  with  tidings  of  the  treaty  of  peace  at  Ryswyk, 
and  a  request  for  an  exchange  of  prisoners,  "  whether  Christians  or 
Indians,"  who  had  been  taken  in  wars  between  the  French  and  the  Five 
Xations  and  the  English.  The  old  count,  still  claiming  for  France 
sovereignty  over  the  Iroquois,  refused  to  give  up  barbarian  prisoners  ; 
and  Jesuit  priests  insisted  upon  keeping  up  missionary  stations  among 
the  Iroquois  in  defiance  of  the  opposition  of  the  latter.  Bellomont 
finally  said  to  Frontenac  :"  If  it  is  necessary  I  will  arm  every  man  in 
the  provinces  under  my  government  to  oppose  you,  and  redress  the 
injury  you  may  perpetrate  against  our  Indians."     He  added  that  he 

*  The  following  gentlemen  composed  the  council  :  Frederick  Philipse,  Stephen  Van 
Cortlandt,  Nicholas  Bayard,  Gabriel  Mienvielle,  William  Smith,  William  NicoU,  Thomas 
Willett,  W^illiam  Pinhorne,  John  Lawrence. 


124  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

would  not  suffer  tliem  to  be  insulted  ;  and  lie  threatened  to  execute  the 
laws  of  England  upon  the  missionaries  "  if  they  continued  longer  in 
the  Five  Cantons."  Another  war  seemed  to  be  impending,  but  this 
certainty  was  averted  by  the  death  of  Frontenac  in  the  fall  of  1698.* 
During  this  controversy,  Bellomont  visited  Albany  to  strengthen  the 
Iroquois  by  his  presence  and  by  material  aid.  On  his  return  he  com- 
pleted the  weeding  out  of  obnoxious  members  of  his  council.  Pinhorne 
and  Brook  had  been  dismissed  from  office  in  June,  and  now  Bayard, 
Mienvielle,  Willett,  and  Lawrence  were  suspended,  and  Philipse  re- 
signed. Their  respective  places  were  soon  filled.  Abraham  de  Peyster, 
Robert  Livingston,  Dr.  Samuel  Staats,  and  Robert  Walters  took  seats 
at  the  Board.     They  were  all  Leislerians. 

The  anti-Leislerians  perceived  that  they  had  nothing  to  expect  from 
the  new  governor.  Indeed,  he  did  not  conceal  his  indifference  to  their 
praise  or  censure.  He  continually  opposed  and  exasperated  their  leaders. 
Early  in  the  fall  of  1698  he  granted  to  the  families  of  Leisler  and 
Milborne  the  privilege  of  exhuming  the  remains  of  their  murdered 
kinsmen  and  giving  them  Christian  burial.  They  were  taken  from  the 
soil  near  the  gallows  into  which  they  had  been  almost  as  rvidely  thrust 
seven  years  before  as  if  they  were  mere  brutes.  They  were  placed  in 
coffins,  and  at  the  request  of  their  political  friends  they  were  permitted 
to  lie  in  state  in  the  old  City  Hall,  at  Coenties  Slip,  several  days.  There 
was  fearful  public  excitement  during  the  time,  for  this  act  was  fraught 
with  a  significance  almost  incomprehensible  to  us.  It  was  a  gauntlet  of 
defiance  cast  by  the  democracy  of  the  day  at  the  feet  of  the  aristocracy. 

The  re-interment  of  the  remains  of  the  martyrs  was  marked  by 
imposing  ceremonies.  It  was  late  in  September,  and  the  autumnal 
"equinoctial  storm"  was  raging.  Fearing  a  riot,  the  governor  fur- 
nished a  military  guard  to  the  procession  of  men,  women,  and  children, 
who  were  preceded  by  trumpeters  and  drummers  beating  a  funeral 
march.  From  the  City  Hall  they  moved  with  solemn  tread,  unmind- 
ful of  the  wind  and  rain,  and  deposited  the  precious  burdens  in  one 
grave  in  the   burial-ground  of    the  little  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  in 


*  On  every  occasion  the  French  did  all  in  tlicir  power  to  win  the  alliance  and  tho 
allegiance  of  the  Iroquois  by  flattery,  by  displays  of  power,  and  especially  by  the  spectac- 
ular ministrations  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  which  captivated  the  barbaric  imag- 
ination. As  an  illustration,  Dr.  Cadwalladcr  Colden  mentions  the  parade  made  by  the 
French  at  Montreal  on  the  occasion  of  tlie  funeral  of  one  of  their  Indians.  "  The  priest 
that  attended  him  at  his  death,"  says  Colden,  "  declared  that  he  died  a  true  Christian, 
and  as  a  proof  he  gave  his  exclamation  on  hearing  of  the  crucifixion  :  '  Oh,  had  I  been 
there  I  would  have  revenged  his  death  and  brought  away  their  scalps  !  '  " 


LEISLERIANS   OR  DEMOCRATS  IN  POWER. 


125 


Gardelt"  Street,  near  Wall  Street.  *  ' '  There  was  a  great  concourse  of 
people  [twelve  hundred  'tis  said]  at  the  funeral,"  wrote  Belloraont  to 
the  Lords  of  Trade,  "  and  would,  'tis  thought,  have  been  as  many 
more,  but  that  it  blew  a  rank  storm  for  two  or  three  days  together,  that 
hindered  people  from  coming  down  or  crossing  the  rivers." 

A  new  Assembly  convened  in  March,  1699.  It  was  almost  entirely 
Leislerian  or  democratic  in  character.  The  governor,  lieutenant-gov- 
ernor, and  the  council  were  the  same.  A  great  change  in  public  affairs 
soon  appeared.  Among  the  most  radical  and  influential  members  of  the 
Assembly  was  Abraham  Gouverneur,  who  had  been  Leisler's  secretary, 
had  been  condenmed  to  death  but  pardoned,  and  had  married  the  widow 
of  Milborne.     He  represented  Orange  County. 

Wrongs  were  righted  and  wrongs  were  committed  by  this  reacting 
Assembly.  Kighteous  indem- 
nifications were  granted,  and 
liberal  allowances  were  voted 
for  the  governor  and  lieuten- 
ant-governor. Such  was  the 
confidence  reposed  in  the  in- 
tegrity and  judgment  of  Bel- 
lomont,  that  a  revenue  for  six 
years  was  voted  and  placed  at 
his  absolute  disposal. 

The  most  important  busi- 
ness of  the  Assembly  was  the 
revocation  of  most  extrava- 
gant and  fraudulent  grants  of 
lands  by  Governor  Fletcher 
for  money  considerations 
which     swelled     his     purse. 

These  grants  were  made  to  favorites.  Among  others,  and  the  most  con- 
spicuous of  the  receivers  of  these  grants,  was  ^Nicholas  Bayard,  Fletcher's 
right-hand  man,  whose  acres  thus  bestowed  exceeded  in  number  those  of 
any  patroon.    He  and  others  attempted  to  monopolize  all  the  lands  on  the 


DUTCH  REFORMED  CHURCH  IN  GARDEN  STREET. 


*  This  little  structure  was  built  of  wood,  octagonal  in  form,  with  a  very  high,  steep 
roof,  and  a  cupola  in  the  centre  of  it  surmounted  by  a  "  weather-cock. "  It  was  enlarged 
and  repaired  in  1776,  and  was  rebuilt  of  stone  in  1807.  It  stood  upon  a  lane  extending 
eastward  from  Broad  Street  parallel  with  Wall  Street.  The  grounds  on  the  lane  were 
neatly  laid  out  and  well  cultivated,  and  it  received  the  name  of  "  Garden  Lane,"  and 
finally  Garden  Street,  now  Exchange  Place.  When  it  was  built,  in  1693,  it  was  considered 
rather  too  far  out  of  town. 


126 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


upper  Hudson  and  t]ie  Mohawk  River.  Dominie  Dellius,  of  tlie  Dutch 
Eeformed  Church,  was  convicted  of  obtaining,  by  fraud,  an  enormous 
tract  of  land  from  tlic  Indians,  while  holding  an  official  i30sition  among 
them,  which  Fletcher  had  confirmed  on  receiving  a  portion  of  the 
plunder  as  a  bribe.  The  timely  demolition  by  the  Assembly  and  the 
governor  of  these  huge  schemes  of  land  monopoly  removed  a  great  bar 
to  emigration  to  the  interior  of  the  province  of  Kew  York.     It   also 


NEW   crrY  HALL,    NEW   YOKK,    1700. 


served  to  maintain  the  good-will  of  the  Five  Nations,  who  had  been 
disturbed  by  the  operation  of  these  land  robbers  under  Fletcher. 

Earl  Bellomont  went  to  Boston  in  June,  1699,  leaving  the  province 
of  New  York  in  the  care  of  Lieutenant-Governor  Nanfan.  Little  of 
public  importance  occurred  during  his  absence,  excepting  further  mis- 
chievous meddling  with  the  Irocpiois  by  the  French  in  Canada  and  the 
Jesuit  missionaries.  The  earl  returned  in  the  summer  of  1700,  and  met 
the  Assembly.  Irritated  by  the  conduct  of  the  French,  and  especially 
by  that  of  the  missionaries,  that  body,  at  the  earl's  suggestion,  passed  a 
law  for  hanging  every  Roman  Catholic  priest  who  should  come  volun- 
tarily into  the  province — a  law  which  Chief-Justice  Smith,  the  his- 
torian, writing  fifty  or  sixty  years  afterward,  said  "  ought  to  bo  in  full 
force  to  this  day." 

Governor  Bellomont  died  in  the  city  of  New  York  on  the  5th  of 


BELLOMONT   AND   HIS   ENEMIES.  127 


^^ 


arch,  1701.  His  remains  lay  in  state  a  day  or  two,  when  they  were 
buried  with  pubhc  honors  under  the  chapel  of  the  fort.  A  few  days 
afterward  his  arms  were  carried  in  state  and  placed  on  the  front  of  the 
new  City  Hall,  then  just  completed,  in  Wall  Street,  at  the  head  of  Broad 
Street.  His  remains,  enclosed  in  a  leaden  coffin,  were  transferred  to 
St.  Paul's  churchyard  nearly  a  hundred  years  afterward,  where  they 
still  lie. 

Lord  Bellomont  had  many  and  bitter  enemies  and  also  warm  friends. 
The  late  Frederick  de  Peyster,  LL.D.,  wrote  on  this  subject  : 

"  I  am  convinced  that  he  was  persistently  maligned  and  abused  solely 
because  he  had  an  eye  to  the  public  service  and  not  to  individual  ad- 
vancement. Strange  to  say,  his  enemies  Avere  to  be  found  among  all 
classes — a  fact  which,  to  my  mind,  however,  determines  his  great  honesty 
and  independence  of  character.  Those  engaged  in  illegal  trade  hated 
him,  because  he  was  not  to  be  bribed  or  cajoled  into  tolerating  the  least 
infraction  of  laws.  The  merchants  were  also  his  enemies,  because  he 
would  not  violate  his  obligation  of  office  and  wink  at  their  evasions  of 
the  Acts  of  Trade.  All  opposed  to  Leisler  and  Milborne  were  against 
him,  because  he  carried  out  the  Acts  of  Parliament  ordering  that  justice 
be  done  their  memory.  Even  a  greater  part  of  the  clergy  were  arrayed 
against  him  :  those  of  the  Dutch  Church  because  he  would  not  tolerate  the 
iniquitous  conduct  of  Dellius  [see  page  126]  ;  and  those  of  the  English 
Church  because  he  would  not  alienate  a  portion  of  the  estate  attached  to 
the  governor's  residence.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  the  private  interests  of  a 
large  class  were  opposed  to  law  ;  and  Bellomont,  as  the  representative  of 
the  law  and  its  faithful  administrator,  was  reprobated  and  vilified  by 
that  class." 


128 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER  X. 


New  political  troubles  in  tlie  province  appeared  on  the  death  of 
Governor  Bellomont  (March,  1701).  Lieutenant-Governor  Nanfan  was 
then  in  Barbadoes,  and  the  question  arose,  Who  shall  rightfully  exercise 
the  powers  of  government  ?  The  Leislerians  declared  tliat  tlie  power 
devolved  on  the  Council  collectively  ;  the  president  of  the  Council, 
Colonel  William  Smith,  contended  that  he  alone  had  a  right  to  exercise 

the  supreme  provincial  pow- 
er. In  this  view  he  was 
joined  hy  Peter  Schuyler 
and  Robert  Livingston.  The 
Assembly  was  perplexed  by 
these  opinions,  and  adjourn- 
ed in  Ajjril  ;  and  disputes 
continued  %vith  much  asper- 
ity nntil  the  middle  of  May, 
when  Nanfan  returned  and 
lawfully  assumed  supreme 
authority.  lie  dissolved  the 
Assembly  in  June,  A  new 
Assembly  was  chosen,  and 
convened  on  August  19th. 

Meanwhile  a  grant  of  an 
immense  tract  of  land  had 
been  made  (July  19th)  by 
the  Five  Nations  to  the 
British  crown  to  insure  pro- 
tection against  the  French, 
and  the  king  had  given  out 
of  the  exchequer  $12,500 
for  strengthening  the  de- 
fences at  Albany  and  Schenectady  and  to  build  a  fort  in  the  Onondaga 
country  ;  also  $4000  for  presents  to  the  Indians.  These  were  wise 
measures,  and  strengthened  the  bond  of  friendship  between  the  English 
and  the  Iroquois. 

The  government  of  the  province  was  now  under  the  full  control  of  the 


PLAN  OF    ALBANY  IN   1695. 


LEISLERIANS   IN   POLITICAL   CONTROL. 


129 


JQ 


Leislerians  or  Democrats.  A  new  Court  of  Chancery  was  organized,  tlie 
power  of  chancellor,  as  before,  being  vested  in  the  governor  and  Council. 
AVilliam  Atwood,  a  zealous  Leislerian,  was  chief-justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  with  Abraham  de  Peyster  *  and  Robert  Walters  as  his  associates 
on  the  bench.  In  the  Assembly  the 
fires  of  contention  blazed  fiercely, 
and  Livingston,  who  had  taken  sides 
wMth  Smith  in  the  controversy  about 
the  lawful  depositoi'y  of  executive 
power,  became  the  object  of  bitter 
persecutiou  by  the  more  radical 
Leislerians.  Indeed,  the  foundations 
of  most  of  the  public  quarrels  of  the 
day  were  laid  in  personal  animosities. 
Such  was  largely  the  case  during  the 
twenty  years  of  warfare  between  the 
political  factions  in  the  province  of 
New  York  from  the  death  of  Leisler, 
At  the  same  time  the  seminal  idea 
of  republicanism  was  working  pow- 
erfully in  the  public  mind,  and  there 

was  a  steady  and  permanent  advance  in  the  direction  of  popular  liberty. 
Governor  Nanfan's  administration  was  brief.  King  William  died  in 
the  spring  of  1702  without  legitimate  issue.  His  queen,  Mary,  had  died 
several  years  before,  and  her  sister  Anne  now  became  the  sovereign  of 
Great  Britain.  Anne  appointed  her  uncle,  Sir  Edward  Hyde  (a  son  of 
Lord  Clarendon,  and  called  Lord  Combury  by  courtesy),  Governor  of 
New  York.  He  was  a  libertine  and  a  knave,  and  cursed  the  province 
with  his  presence  and  misrule  about  seven  years.     He  w^as  a  bigot,  and 


ABRAHAM   DE   PEYSTER. 


*  Abraham  de  Peyster  was  a  distinguished  citizen  of  New  York,  and  an  eminent 
merchant.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of  Johannes  de  Peyster,  born  in  New  York  City  in 
1658,  and  died  there  in  1728.  He  was  Mayor  of  New  York  between  1691  and  1695  ;  was 
afterward  cliief- justice  of  the  province  and  president  of  the  King's  Council,  in  which 
capacity  he  performed  the  duties  of  governor  in  1701,  on  the  deatli  of  Lord  Bellomont. 
He  was  colonel  of  the  military  forces  of  New  York,  and  treasurer  of  that  province  and 
of  New  Jersey.  He  and  William  Penn  were  intimate  friends.  His  spacious  mansion  on 
Pearl  Street  was  the  headquarters  of  Washington  in  1776.  It  existed  until  1856,  when 
it  was  demolished.  Colonel  de  Peyster  was  considered  the  most  popular  man  in  the  city 
of  New  York  in  his  day.  He  man-ied  his  beautiful  cousin,  Katharine  de  Peyster,  while 
on  a  visit  to  Holland.  His  sister  Maria  married  David  Provost.  After  his  death  she 
married  James  Alexander,  secretary  of  the  province,  and  by  him  became  the  mother  of 
William  Alexander,  Lord  Sterling. 


130  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

persecuted  all  denominations  of  Christians  outside  of  the  Church  of 
England.  lie  embezzled  the  public  money,  and  on  all  occasions  was  the 
persistent  enemy  of  popular  freedom  and  common  justice, 

"  I  know  no  right  which  you  have  as  an  Assembly,"  he  said  to  the 
representatives  of  the  people,  "  but  such  as  the  queen  is  pleased  to  allow 
jou." 

This  was  said  in  1705,  the  year  when  that  Assembly  won  the  first 
substantial  victory  over  absolutism  or  despotic  rule.  They  obtained 
from  the  queen  permission  to  make  specific  appropriations  of  incidental 
grants  of  money,  and  to  appoint  their  own  treasurer  to  take  charge  of 
extraordinary  supplies.  This  was  a  bold  and  important  step  in  the  direc- 
tion of  popular  independence  and  sovereignty. 

When  the  news  of  the  appointment  of  Cornbary  reached  Kew  York 

the    aristocracy   took    heart,    and    their    leaders   became   insolent    and 

defiant  ;    for  they  felt  sure   of   the  friendship   of   the  new   governor. 

Xor   were   they   disappointed,     Nicholas    Bayard    was 

still   the   most   conspicuous   of   their  leaders   for   zeal 

and  activity.     He  promulgated  addresses  to  the  king, 

the  Parliament,  and  to    Governor  Cornbury,  libelling 

the  Leislerians   and  the  administrations  of  Bellomont 

and  Nanfan  in  the  most  scandalous  manner.     One  of 

these  addresses  contained  thirty-two  "  Heads  of  Accu- 

THE  DE  PEY8TEK     ^atiou   of  tlic  EaH  of  Bellomont,"     It  was   specially 

AKMs.  untruthful,  and  was  calculated  to  stir  up   revolt  in  the 

colony.     This  seditious   and  dangerous  paper   Bayard 

dared  not  issue  over  his  own  signature,  but  sigUed  it  with  the  fictitious 

name  of  "  John  Key." 

Nanfan  was  aroused  to  immediate  and  energetic  action.  In  the  spring 
of  1691  Bayard  had  procured  the  enactment  of  a  law  intended  for  the 
special  punishment  of  Leisler.  That  law  declared  that  whoever  should 
attempt  to  "  disturb  the  peace,  good,  and  quiet  of  the  government 
should  be  deemed  a  rebel  and  a  traitor,  and  punished  accordingly.' '  Into 
this  trap  set  for  Leisler  Bayard  now  fell.  Putting  this  unrepealed  law 
in  force,  Nanfan  caused  the  arrest  of  Bayard  on  a  charge  of  treason. 
He  was  tried  before  Justice  Atwood  and  his  associate  justices  in  Feb- 
ruary (1702),  found  guilty,  and  sentenced  to  be  "  hanged,  drawn,  and 
quartered,"  in  accordance  with  British  law.  After  a  virtual  confession 
of  guilt  he  was  reprieved  by  Nanfan  "until  His  Majesty's  pleasure 
should  be  known,"  On  the  arrival  of  Cornbury  (who  had  been 
"  hunted  out  of  England  by  a  host  of  hungry  creditors")  these  proceedings 
were  all  reversed,  and  Bayard  was  set  at  liberty.     Governor  Cornbary 


GOVERNOR   CORNBURY'S   ADMINISTRATION. 


131 


espoused  the  anti-Leislerian  party,  which  immediately  arose  into  power, 
and  then  began  the  flight  of  some  of  the  Leislerian  leaders.  This 
change  was  of  short  duration, 

New  York  City  was  sorely  smit- 
ten by  yellow  fever  in  the  summer 
of  1703.  The  governor  transferred 
his  court  to  Jamaica,  Long  Island, 
where  he  exercised  his  bigotry 
and  petty  tyranny  in  the  most 
scandalous  manner.  One  illustra- 
tive example  will  suffice.  The 
best  house  in  tlie  village  was  the 
dwelling  of  the  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, built  by  his  congregation, 
Cornbury  begged  the  minister  to 
allow  his  lordship  to  occupy  the 
parsonage  for  a  while.  It  was 
cheerfully  done.  This  hospital- 
ity was  requited  by  the  seizure 
of  the  parsonage,  the  meeting- 
house, and  the  glebe  for  the  use 

of   the  members   of   the  Church  of  England  residing  there.*      When 

resistance  to  tliis  act  of  robbery  was  made, 
the  victims  were  subjected  to  fines  and  im- 
prisonments ! 

And  yet  this  governor,  weak-minded, 
mean-spirited,  and  vacillating,  was  so  over- 
powered by  the  indomitable  will  of  the 
people — a  hardy,  mixed  race — that  he  often 
submitted  to  reproof,  and  in  tlie  poverty 
of  his  soul  and  purse  he  humbly  thanked 
the  Assembly  for  simple  justice.  For  three 
years  (1705-08)  there  was  no  meeting 
'  of  that  body.  Intolerance,  licentiousness, 
and   dishonesty  were  conspicuous  traits  in  this   governor's   character. f 


GOVERNOU  CORNBURY. 


SIGNATURE   OF   GOVERNOR 
CORNBURY. 


*  Lord  Cornbury  sent  au  order  over  liis  own  signature  for  the  minister  (Rev.  Mr. 
Hubbard),  on  July  4th,  1704,  to  deliver  his  house  and  lands  to  the  sheriff,  and  not 
to  fail  at  his  "  perill."  On  the  same  day  he  signed  an  order  for  the  sheriff  to  eject  the 
minister  from  the  premises,  claiming  that  the  property  belonged  to  the  Anglican  Church 
at  Jamaica. 

+  "  We  never  had  a  governor  so  universally  detested,"  says  Smith,  the  historiap,."  nor 


132 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CALEB    HEATHCOTE. 


He  contracted  debts  everywhere,  and  refused  to  pay  ;  and  wlien, 
in   1708,   tlie  queen,   yielding  to   the   desires   of   the   people,  recalled 

him,  and  he  left  the  chair  of 
State,  his  creditors  cast  him  into 
prison,  and  kept  him  there  until 
the  death  of  his  father  the  next 
year  made  him  a  peer  of  the  realm 
and  a  member  of  the  House  of 
Lords.  Then  the  unrighteous  law 
of  the  kingdom  which  exempts  a 
member  of  that  body  from  arrest 
and  imprisonment  for  debt  set  him 
free,  and  he  returned  to  England. 

One  of  the  most  distinguished 
and  useful  men  in  the  province  at 
this  time  was  Caleb  Heathcote, 
proprietor  of  the  manor  of  Scars- 
dale,  in  Westchester  County,  a 
representative  of  the  ancient  fam- 
ily of  Heathcote  of  Scarsdale,  Derbyshire,  England,  who  came  to  Am- 
erica in  1692,  and  became  a  member  of  Governor  Fletcher's  council 
the  next  year.  He  was  an  earnest  ad- 
herent of  the  Church  of  England,  and 
exercised  his  authority  judiciously  as 
colonel  of  militia  in  the  maintenance  of 
morality  and  religion.* 

At  about  the  beginning  of  Cornbury's 
administration  war  between  France  and 

England  was  kindled.  It  extended  to  their  American  colonies.  This 
contest,  known  as  "  Queen  Anne's  War,"  lasted  about  eleven  years,  and 

any  who  so  richly  deserves  the  public  abhorrence.  In  spite  of  his  noble  descent,  his 
behavior  was  trifling,  mean,  and  extravagant.  It  was  not  uncommon  for  him  to  dress  in 
a  woman's  habit,  and  then  to  patrol  the  fort  in  which  he  lived.  Such  freaks  of  low 
humor  exposed  him  to  the  universal  contempt  of  the  whole  i^eople.  Their  indignation 
was  kindled  by  his  despotic  rule,  .savage  bigotry,  insatiable  avarice  and  injustice,  not  only 
to  the  public,  but  even  his  private  creditors." 

*  Caleb  Heathcote  was  a  son  of  the  wealthy  Mayor  of  Chester,  England.  His  oldest 
brother.  Sir  Gilbert  Heathcote,  was  the  first  President  of  the  Bank  of  England  and  Lord 
Mayor  of  London.  Caleb  was  affianced  to  a  beautiful  maiden,  and  took  his  bachelor 
brother  Gilbert  to  see  her.  Smitten  by  her  charms,  Gilbert  supplanted  his  brother,  when 
Caleb  sought  relief  from  the  pangs  of  disappointment,  took  refuge  with  his  uncle  in  New 
York,  and  afterward  married  a  daughter  of  William  ("  Tangier")  Smith,  of  Long  Island. 
He  found  Westchester  County,  he  wrote  in  1704,  "  the  most  heathenish  country  I  ever 


SIGNATURE   OF    CALEB    HEATHCOTE. 


THE   PROVINCIAL   ASSEMBLY   DEMOCRATIC. 


13J 


was  ended  by  the  treaty  of  Utrecht  in  1713.  Its  ravages  in  the  colonies 
were  chiefly  felt  by  the  English  in  New  England  and  farther  east.  The 
Five  Nations  had  made  a  treaty  of  nentrality  with  the  French  in  Canada, 
and  they  stood  as  a  barrier  against  incursions  of  the  French  and  Indians 
into  New  York.      That  province  enjoyed  peace  during  the  long  war. 

Jolm,  Lord  Lovelace,  succeeded  Corn- 
bury  as  Governor  of  New  York.  He 
did  not  reach  the  province  until  near 
the  close  of  1708,  when  he  found  the 
Assembly  and  the  people  strongly  demo- 
cratic in  their  political  views.  The  very 
vices  of  the  late  governor  had  disciplined 
them  to  the  exercise  of  resistance  to  op- 
pression and  to  aspire  to  self-government,  and  secured  to  them  the  exer- 
cise  of  rights  which  might  have  been  postponed  for  many  years. 

The  new  governor  was  cordially  received  by  the  people,  and  his  course 
was  judicious.     He  called  a  new  Assembly  in  April,  1709,  who,  taught 


SIGNATURE   OP   LORD   LOVELACE. 


SIGNATURE   OF   CAPTAIN   INGOLDSBY. 


by  experience,  refused  to  vote  a  permanent  revenue  without  appropria- 
tion, but  resolved  to  raise  an  annual  revenue  and  appropriate  it  specifi- 
cally.    This  would  make  the  servants  of  the  crown  dependent  upon  the 


saw  -which  called  themselves  Christians,"  there  being  not  the  "least  footsteps  of 
religion."  Sabbaths  were  spent  in  "  vain  sports  and  lewd  derision. "  As  colonel  of  militia 
he  ordered  his  captains  to  require  the  men  in  every  town  to  appoint  readers  of  the  Scrip- 
tures on  Sundays,  and  if  they  refused,  to  call  their  men  under  arms  on  Sundaj's  and 
si^end  the  day  in  military  exercises.  They  chose  ' '  readers. ' '  Heathcote  was  Mayor  of 
the  city  of  New  York  from  1711  to  1714  ;  judge  of  Westchester  County  ;  made  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  forces  of  the  colony  ;  surveyor-general  of  the  province  for  some 
time,  and  from  1715  till  1721  was  receiver-general  of  the  customs  for  all  North  America. 
Colonel  Heathcote 's  last  will  was  dated  February  29th,  1719.  He  left  his  large  estate  to 
two  daughters,  one  of  whom  married  James  do  Lancey. 


134 


thp:  empire  state 


people  for  tlieir  salaries.  The  Assembly  showed  a  firm  disposition  to 
assert  and  maintain  all  the  popular  rights  which  they  had  acquired,  and 
now  fairly  began  the  contest  in  the  province  of  New  York  l)etween 
democracy  and  absolutism,  which  ended  in  permanent  victory  for  the 
former  at  the  close  of  the  old  war  for  independence  three  fourths  of  a  cen- 
tury afterward. 

Before  the  issue  concerning  the  revenue  had  fairly  assumed  positive 
form  Lord  Lovelace  died.  His  lieutenant,  Richard  Ingoldsby*  (the 
contestant  with  Leisler  for  power  in  1691),  succeeded  him.  During 
Ingoldsb^'s  administration  of  eleven  months  another  feeble  attempt  was 
made  to  conquer  Canada. 

In  this  enterprise  the  province  of  New  York  engaged  with  great 
zeal.  The  Assembly  appointed  connnissioners  to  procure  the  mate- 
rials for  war  and  transportation  ; 
issued  bills  of  credit  (New  York's 
first  paper  money),  and  through 
the  powerful  influence  of  Colonel 
Peter  Schuyler  secured  the  neu- 
trality and  warm  friendship  of  the 
Five  Nations. 

New  York  and  New  Jersey 
raised  an  army  of  about  two 
thousand  men,  and  Francis  Nichol- 
son, Andros's  lieutenant-governor*, 
was  made  the  chief  commander 
of  these  forces.  The  little  army 
moved  from  Albany  for  Montreal 
before  the  close  of  June,  and  early 
in  August  they  had  halted  at  the 
southern  end  of  Lake  Champlain. 
There  they  waited  long  for  tidings  of  the  departure  from  Boston  of  a  prom- 
ised English  fleet  "destined  to  attack  Quebec.  No  such  tidings  came,  and 
the  sadly  disappointed  soldiers,  as  in  1691,  were  compelled  to  return 
to  their  homes,  their  ranks  thinned  by  sickness  and  death.      This  event 


PETEK    SCHIJYLEK. 


*  Richard  Ingoldsby,  who  came  to  New  York  in  1691  in  command  of  forces  sent  with 
Governor  Sloughtcr,  liad  served  as  a  field  officer  in  Holland.  We  liave  observed  his 
conduct  !it  New  York  in  jin^ceding  pages.  He  returned  to  England  on  furlough  in 
1696,  and  was  absent  several  years,  leaving  his  wife  and  children  in  New  York  with 
scanty  means  of  support.  He  was  commissioned  Lieutenant-Governor  of  New  York  and 
New  Jersey  in  1702,  but  did  not  return  until  1706.  On  the  death  of  Governor  T-ovelaco 
he  administered  the  government  until  the  arrival  of  Governor  Hunter. 


IROQUOIS   SACHEMS  IN  ENGLAND. 


135 


^6  56 


caused  much  irritation  in  the  pubHc  mind,  and  weakened  the  confidence 
of  the  Five  Nations  in  the  puissance  of  Great  Britain. 

Colonel  Schuyler,*  mortified  and  alarmed  by  the  apathy  and  neglect 
of  the  home  government,  which  seemed  unconscious  of  the  importance 
to  British  interests  in  America  of  effecting  the  conquest  of  Canada, 
went  to  England  the  next  year,  at  his 
own  expense,  to  arouse  the  court  and 
people  to  vigorous  action  in  support  of 
the  momentous  cause  he  had  espoused.  He 
persuaded  a  sachem  from  each  Iroquois 
nation  to  accompany  him,  that  the  Con- 
federacy might  be  certified  of  the  immense 
strength  of  Great  Britain.  The  presence 
of  these  barbarian  kings  produced  a  great 
sensation  throughout  the  realm,  especially 
in  London.  Multitudes  followed  the  dusky 
monarchs  wherever  they  went.  Their  por- 
traits soon  appeared  in  the  print-shops. 
The  queen  caused  them  to  be  covered  with 
scarlet  mantles  edged  with  gold.  They  were 
feasted  at  banquets ;  witnessed  military 
reviews  ;  saw  a  part  of  the  mighty  British 

navy  ;  in  a  word,  they  were  shown  the  glories  of  the  kingdom,  and  were 
deeply  impressed  by  the  evidences  of  British  power.  They  were  con- 
veyed to  the  palace  of  St.  James  to  stand  before  the  queen  ;  and  they 
gave  belts  of  wampum  and  signed  their  totems  to  documents  as  pledges 
of  their  friendship  and  fidelity. 

The  grand  objects  of  Schuyler's  mission  were  accomplished.  The 
friendship  and  loyalty  of  the  Five  Nations  were  secured  for  the 
English  forever,  and  the  Iroquois  were  made  willing  to  join  the 
latter  in  an  attempt  to  conquer  Canada.  The  new  British  ministry 
authorized  a  campaign  for  the  pm*pose.     Henry  St.  John  (Lord  Boling- 

*  Peter  Schuyler  was  one  of  the  most  useful  men  in  the  province  for  a  period  of  almost 
forty  years.  He  was  the  first  Mayor  of  Albany,  and  there  led  the  movement  against 
Leisler.  In  Governor  Fletcher's  Council  he  performed  most  important  public  service. 
He  was  not  only  a  statesman,  but  the  foremost  military  leader  in  the  province,  as  his 
ojierations  against  the  French  in  Canada  show.  As  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  he 
wielded  potential  influence  over  the  Iroquois  Confederacy,  and  by  his  courage,  skill,  and 
goodneas  won  the  affections  of  the  white  people  and  the  Indians.  The  latter  called  him 
"Brother  Quedor."  When  Governor  Hunter  retired,  Schuyler,  as  President  of  the 
Council,  became  acting  governor  of  the  province.  As  such  he  displayed  great  wisdom 
and  energy  at  a  trying  period 


THE  SCHUYLKR  ARMS. 


signature:  of  loiid  bolingbroke. 


136  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

broke),*  the  Secretary  of  State,  planned  a  naval  expedition  against 
Quebec  to  co-operate  with  a  land  force  of  provincials  to  proceed  from  the 
Hudson  River  and  attack  Montreal. 

A  fleet  of  war-ships — transports  and  store-ships — bearing  marines  and 

regular  troops  was  sent  to 
Boston  early  in  the  summer 
of  1711  under  the  command 
of  Admiral  Sir  llovenden 
Walker.  lie  sailed  from 
that  port  with  about  seven 
thousand  regulars  and  pro- 
vincial troops  on  the  10th 
of  August.  Like  Braddoek, 
the  haughty  commander  dis- 
dained the  opinions  and  advice  of  experienced  subordinates,  and  lost  eiglit 
of  his  transports  and  nearly  one  thousand  men  among  the  rocks  at  the 
mouth  of  the  St.  Lawrence  River.  The  expedition  was  abandoned. f 
Meanwhile  New  York,  New  Jersey,  and  Connecticut  had  formed  a 
provincial  army  for  the  capture  of  Montreal  and  the  holding  of  the  upper 
waters  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  These  were  under  the  command  of 
Nicholson,  who  held  a  general's  commission.  They  marched  from 
Albany,  four  thousand  strong,  toward  Lake  Champlain.  Among  them 
were  six  Imndred  Iroquois  warriors.  Hearing  of  Walker's  disaster,  these 
troops  also  abandoned  the  expedition  and  returned  home.  So  ended  in 
failure  the  third  attempt  of  the  English  to  conquer  Canada. 

Robert  Hunter,  a  Scotchman,  succeeded  Lord  Lovelace  as  Governor 
of  New  York.  He  had  risen  in  military  rank  from  a  private  soldier 
to  brigadier-general.  His  literary  accomplishments  had  gained  for  him 
the  friendship  of  Addison  and  Swift,  and  his  handsome  person   and 

*  II(!nry  St.  John,  Lord  Bolingbroke,  was  born  in  1678,  and  became  a  member  of 
Parliament  in  1701.  In  1704  he  was  made  Secretary  of  War,  and  left  office  with  a 
change  in  the  ministry  in  1708.  In  1710  he  became  Secretary  of  State  for  Foreign 
Affairs,  and  was  the  principal  negotiator  of  the  treaty  of  Utrecht  in  1713.  lie  had  been 
created  Viscount  Bolingbroke,  and  became  prime-minister  a  few  weeks  before  the  death 
of  Queen  Anne.  Being  known  as  a  Jacobite,  he  now  fled  to  France,  and  entered  the 
service  of  the  Pretender,  who  appointed  him  his  prime-minister.  In  1720  he  married  a 
French  lady,  and  was  jxirmittcd  to  return  to  England  in  1723.  He  died  in  1751.  Boling 
broke  was  a  good  writer  and  brilliant  orator.  Pope  addressed  his  "  Essay  on  Man"  to 
St.  John. 

f  "  According  to  Harley,"  says  Smith,  in  his  Hutory  of  New  York,  "  this  exj-KMlition 
was  a  contrivance  of  Bolingbroke,  Moore,  and  the  Lord  Chancellor  Harcourt  to  cheat 
the  public  of  twenty  thousand  pounds.  The  latter  of  these  was  pleased  to  say,  '  No  gov- 
ernment was  worth  serving  that  would  not  admit  of  such  advantageous  jobs.'  " 


IMMIGRATION   OF   PALATINES. 


137 


SIGNATURE   OP   KOBEKT   HUNTER. 


insinuating  manners  had  won  the  hand  of  a  peeress — Lady  Hay.  By  her 
influence  he  obtained  the  appointment  first  to  the  office  of  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  Virginia,  and  then  Governor  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey. 
With  Hunter  came  three  thousand  German  Lutherans,  refugees  from 
the  Palatinate  of  the  Rhine,  who  had  been  driven  from  their  homes  by 
the  persecutions  of  the  King  of 
France,  and  had  taken  refuge  in 
England.  The  queen  and  Par- 
liament sent  them  to  America 
free  of  expense.  They  settled 
some  on  Livingston's  Manor, 
some  in  the  valley  of  the  Scho- 
harie, others  on  the  Upper  Mo- 
hawk at  the  "  German  Flats," 
and  some  in  the  city  of  New- 
York,  W'here  they  built  a  Luther- 
an church.  A  large  portion  of  these  refugees  settled  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  became  the  ancestors  of  much  of  the  German  population  in  that 
State.     A  few  went  to  North  Carolina. 

It  was  daring  Hunter's  administration  that  the  Tuscaroras  fled  from 
North  Carolina  (1712)  and  joined  their  Iroquois  brethren  in  New  York, 
as  we  have  observed,  and  so  made  the    Confederacy  a  league  of   Six 

Nations.  In  the  same  year  the  inhabitants  of 
New  York  were  greatly  disturbed  by  appre- 
hensions of  an  impending  servile  insurrection 
there.  The  population  of  the  city  was  then 
about  six  thousand,  a  large  proportion  of 
which  were  negro  slaves. 

At  that  time  there  was  a  brisk  slave-trade 
carried  on  at  New  York,  Newport,  and  Bos- 
ton, for  since  the  revolution  (1688)  this  trade 
had  been  thrown  open.*  The  slaves  in  New 
York  were  held  in  the  most  abject  bondage, 
and  the  masters  were  forbidden  by  law  to  set 
them  free.  In  1709  a  slave-market  was  established  at  the  foot  of  Wall 
Street,  where  they  were  sold  and  hired.     A  slave  caught  out  at  night 

*  The  Stuarl  kings  of  England  liad  chartered  slave-dealing  companies,  and  Charles 
II.  and  his  brother,  the  Duke  of  York,  were  shareholders  in  them.  In  1713  an 
English  company  obtained  the  privilege  of  supplying  the  Spanish  colonies  in  America 
with  African  slaves  for  thirty  years,  stipulating  to  deliver  one  himdred  and  forty-four 
thousand  negro  slaves  within  that  period.     One  quarter  of  the  stock  of  the  company  was 


SEAIi   OP    ROBERT    HUNTER. 


138  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

without  a  lantern  and  a  lighted  candle  in  it  was  put  in  jail  and  his  master 
was  fined  ;  and  the  authorities  pledged  themselves  that  the  prisoner 
should  receive  thirty-nine  lashes  at  the  whipping-post  if  the  master 
desired  it.  Other  punishments  for  offences  were  sometimes  very  cruel. 
Human  nature  revolted,  but  chiefly  under  a  mask.  From  time  to  time 
the  slaves  made  some  resistance.  In  one  case  they  murdered  a  white 
family  in  revenge. 

"  Conscience  makes  cowards  of  us  all."  A  rumor  spread  that  a  plot 
of  the  negroes  to  murder  the  white  people  and  burn  the  city  had  been 
discovered.  A  sense  of  impending  peril  filled  the  town  with  terror.  A 
riot  that  occurred  at  that  moment,  during  which  a  house  was  burnt 
and  several  white  people  were  killed,  intensified  the  alarm.  The 
magistrates  acted  promptly.  The  jail  and  other  strong  places  were 
immediately  filled  with  suspected  slaves.  Almost  without  evidence 
nineteen  suspects  were  found  guilty  of  conspiracy,  and  were  summarily 
hanged  or  burnt  alive.  A  similar  scene  occurred  thirty  years  after- 
ward. 

Hunter's  administration  was  marked  by  frequent  and  violent  contests 
between  the  chief  magistrate  and  the  Assembly,  the  latter  boldly  assert- 
ing that  they  possessed  an  inherent  right  to  legislate,  not  from  any  com- 
mission or  grant  from  the  crown,  but  from  the  free  choice  and  election 
of  the  people,  who  ought  not,  nor  justly  could  be  divested  of  their  prop- 
erty, by  taxation  or  otherwise,  without  their  consent."  The  governor 
could  not  assent  to  this  republican  doctrine,  and  the  Assembly  would  not 
recede  a  line. 

Hunter  loved  ease  and  quiet.  These  disputations  wearied  him.  At 
one  time  he  wrote  :  "  I  have  spent  three  years  in  such  torture  and  vex- 
ation that  nothing  in  life  can  make  amends  for  it."  In  1719  failing 
health  compelled  him  to  return  to  England,  when  he  left  the  govern- 
ment of  the  province  in  the  hands  of  Colonel  Peter  Schuyler,  the  senior 
member  of  his  Council. 

William  Burnet*  succeeded  Hunter  as  Governor  of  ^ew  York,  and 

taken  bj'  King  Philip  V.  of  Spain,  and  Queen  Anne  of  England  reserved  for  hereelf 
another  quarter. 

*  William  Burnet,  a  son  of  the  eminent  Bishop  Burnet,  was  born  at  the  Hague  in 
1688,  and  had  William  the  Prince  of  Orange  (afterward  William  HI.  of  England)  for  his 
godfather.  He  had  been  engaged  in  public  office  in  London  when  he  was  apix)intefl 
Governor  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey.  He  reached  New  York  in  September,  1730. 
His  administration  was  popular.  On  the  accession  of  George  H.  he  was  transferred  to 
the  government  of  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire,  in  1728.  He  is  represented  an 
majestic  in  stature,  frank  in  manner,  witty  and  brilliant  in  conversation.  He  was  also 
a  clever  writer.     Governor  Burnet  died  in  Boston  in  September,  1729. 


A  WISE  ADMINISTRATOR  OF  GOVERNMENT. 


139 


""^S, 
<«=;" 


'y       ^ 


kV. 


hK 


'j- — iftlierited  his  political  discomforts  ;  but  he  soon  found  a  cure  for  tliem  in 
liis  own  disposition  and  the  exercise  of  common  sense.  His  administra- 
tion of  about  eight  years  (1720-28)  was  generally  serene  and  more  bene- 
ficial to  the  province  than  any  which  had  preceded  it.  Indeed,  it  was 
more  quiet  than  any  which  succeeded  it  in  the  colonial  period.  Toward 
the  last  he  incurred  the  enmity  of  a  powerful  body  of  merchants  who 
controlled  the  Assembly,  and  his  position  was  made  so  uncomfortable 
that  he  was  transferred  to  the  gov- 
ernment of  Massachusetts  at  his  .^e,.^!^^^-^'^^-^ 
own  request. 

Governor  Buniet  was  a  scholar, 
but  not  a  recluse,  and  soon  became 
very  popular.  He  "  was  gay  and 
condescending,"  affected  no  pomp, 
but  visited  every  family  of  repu- 
tation, and  often  diverted  himself 
in  free  converse  with  the  ladies, 
by  whom  he  was  much  admired. 
He  made  few  changes  among 
public  officers.  He  called  Dr. 
Cadwallader  Golden  and  James 
Alexander  to  the  Council  Board. 
They  were  both  men  of  learning 
and  sterling  worth.  Golden  was 
a  philosopher,  and  was  specially 
familiar    with    the    affairs    of  the 

colony  and  with  matters  pertaining  to  the  Indians,  and  the  latter  was 
an  able  lawyer  and  man  of  business.  The  governor  s  most  trusted  con- 
fidant was  Ghief -Justice  Lewis  Morris, 

The  Assembly,  in  response  to  the  governor's  first  message  to  them, 
returned  a  most  cordial  address,  and  voted  him  a  five  years'  support. 
Everything  was  done  to  promote  harmony  and  good  feeling.  Such  con- 
fidence did  the  governor  repose  in  the  integrity,  wisdom,  and  patriotism 
of  the  Assembly  that  he  did  not  dissolve  them,  but  continued  them  on, 
session  after  session,  until  jealousy  was  excited  by  the  self-interest  of 
certain  merchants. 

Since  the  treaty  of  Utrecht  in  1Y13  a  large  and  increasing  trade  had 
been  carried  on  between  merchants  in  New  York  and  Albany  and  the 
French  in  Ganada,  in  goods  salable  among  tiie  Indians,  The  Iroquois, 
who  were  thus  compelled  to  buy  most  of  these  goods  from  the  French, 
as  "middle  men,"  at  a  high  price,  complained  to  the  commissioners  of 


■1'      '1 

Wm 

1p^ 

■W^, 

Vl     ^\ 

WILLIA 

M  BURNET. 

1              '} 

140 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


SEAL  OF  CADAVALLADEK  GOLDEN. 


Indian  Affairs,*  because  the  trade  was  injurious  to  them..  "Wise  men 
in  and  out  of  the  Assembly  perceived  the  danger  that  might  ensue  to  the 
friendship  between  the  Five  Nations  and  the  Enghsh  by  this  continual 

trade  intercourse  with  tlie  French,  for  the 
Jesuit  missionaries  were  now  more  active 
than  ever  in  their  endeavors  to  alienate 
the  Iroquois  from  the  English  and  to  win 
them  to  the  French  interest.  A  law  was 
finally  passed  prohibiting  this  inter-colonial 
traffic.  The  governor  also  perceived  the 
necessity  of  acquiring  control  of  Lake  On- 
tario for  the  benefit  of  trade  and  the  security 
of  the  friendsliip  of  the  Six  Nations,  so 
as  to  frustrate  the  designs  of  the  French. 
Accordingly,  in  1722,  with  the  sanction  of 
the  Assembly,  he  caused  a  trading-house  to 
be  erected  at  Oswego,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Onondaga  River,  These  measures  at  once  created  a  strong  opposition 
to  the  provincial  government  among  the  merchants  engaged  in  the  inter- 
colonial trade,  and  excited  the  indignation  and  alarm  of  the  French 
in  Canada,  for  they  saw  that  their  trade  and  their  dominion  were  both 
in  peril.  The  latter  immediately  proceeded  to  erect  a  strong  store- 
house at  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  River,  and  to  repair  the  fort  there. 
Unable  to  prevent  this  work,  the  governor  caused  a  fort  to  be  built  at 
Oswego,  at  liis  own  private  expense,  for  the  protection  of  the  trading 
post  and  trade  there.  The  French  were  incensed  and  made  threats,  but 
prudently  curbed  their  wrath. 

This  state  of  things  disturbed  the  political  tranquillity  of  the  province. 
Party  spirit  grew  apace,  and  there  finally  arose  such  a  clamor  against  the 
"  permanent"  and  "  unconstitutional  "  Assembly  that  the  governor  dis- 
solved them.  There  was  great  excitement  at  the  ensuing  election,  and 
when  the  new  Assembly  met,  in  the  spring  of  1727,  the  majority  of  the 


*  Tlie  commissioners  of  Indian  Affairs  resided  at  Albany,  They  served  as  such 
Avitliout  salaries,  but  the  advantages  as  traders  which  their  ix)sition  gave  them  was 
ample  compensation.  For  many  years  William  Johnson  (made  Sir  William  in  1755)  was 
the  sole  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs  and  became  very  wealtlu%  especially  in  land. 
It  was  the  business  of  the  commissioners  to  maintain  the  friendship  of  the  Iroquois.  They 
received  and  distributed  the  moneys  and  presents  provided  for  that  pui-pose.  A  secretary 
was  paid  for  keeping  a  record  of  these  transactions.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Revolution,  power  wielded  by  Sir  William  Johnson  alone  passeii  again  into  the  hands  of 
a  committee. 


THE  POLITICAL  TRANQUILLITY  DISTURBED. 


141 


members  were  ill-aiiected  toward  the  chief  magistrate.  His  removal 
seemed  necessary  to  insure  tlie  public  tranquillity,  and  on  April  15th, 
1728,  Governor  Burnet  surrendered  into  the  hands  of  John  Montgomery 
(or  Montgomerie),  his  appointed  successor,  the  great  seal  of  the  province.* 
Montgomery  was  a  Scotchman.  He  was  bred  a  soldier,  and  had  held 
a  place  at  court  and  also  a  seat  in  Parliament.  He  was  much  inferior  to 
his  predecessor  in  abilities,  and  made  no  pretensions  to  scholarship. 
Loving  his  ease,  he  allowed  public  affairs  to  flow  on  placidly,  and  during 
the  three  years  of  his  administration  nothing  of  special  public  importance 


FORT   IN   OSWEGO,    IN   1750. 
(From  a  print  iu  Smith's  "  History  of  New  York.") 

occurred  in  the  colony  excepting  the  repeal  of  the  law  (1729)  prohibiting 
the  trade  with  the  Canadians.  This  repeal  was  effected  through  the 
influence  of  the  interested  merchants.     This  trade  worked  mischief. 

Governor  Montgomery  died  on  July  1st,'  1731,  when  the  chief  com- 
mand of  the  province  devolved  on  Rip  Van  Dam,  the  senior  member  of 
the  Council  and  an  eminent  and  ■wealthy  merchant.  Van  Dam  filled  the 
office  well  until  August  1st,  1732,  when  AYilliam  Cosby  arrived  bearing 
a  commission  as  governor  of  the  province  of  New  York. 

Just  before  the  death  of  Montgomery  a  settlement  of  the  long-con- 
tinued controversy  about  the  boundary-line  between  New  York  and  Con- 


*  The  provincial  seal  of  New  York  was  changed  (as  in  other  provinces)  on  the  acces- 
sion of  successive  monarchs.  There  were  two  great  .seals  of  New  York  made  during  the 
reign  of  Queen  Anne,  on  which  appeared  an  effigy  of  a  queen  and  Indians  making  pres- 
ents, similar  to  the  device  on  the  seal  on  page  109.  The  seals  of  the  three  Georges  each 
bore  the  effigy  of  a  king,  with  Indians  making  presents,  but  modified  in  design.  The 
reverse  of  each  seal  was  similar. 


Wi 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


KIP  VAN   DAM. 


necticut  was  definitely  settled.     The  partition-line  agreed  upon  in  1664: 
being  considered  fraudulent,  attempts  were  afterward  made  to  effect  a 

settlement  of  the  question  in  a 
manner  mutually  satisfactory,  but 
this  was  not  accomplished  until 
Ma}',  1731.  In  1725  a  partition- 
line  was  agreed  upon  by  the 
commissioners  of  both  colonies, 
but  it  was  not  entirely  satis- 
factory ;  now  a  tract  of  sixty 
thousand  acres,  lying  on  the 
Connecticut  side  of  the  line,  and 
from  its  figure  called  the  Ob- 
long, was  ceded  to  New  York, 
and  an  equivalent  in  terri- 
tory near  liOng  Island  Sound 
was  surrendered  to  Connecticut. 
Hence  the  divergence  from  a 
straight  line  north  and  south  seen 
in  the  southern  boundary  between 
New  York  and  Connecticut. 
The  Oblong  is  nearly  two  miles  wide.  Through  its  centre  a  line  was 
drawn,  and  the  whole  tract  was  divided  into  lots  of  five  hundred  acres 
each,  on  both  sides,  and  sold  to  emigrants,  who  came  chiefly  from  New 
England.  Governor  Cosby  was  avaricious,  unscrupulous,  and  arbitrary. 
He  had  been  a  colonel  in  the  British  army,  and  came  to  New  York 
intent  upon  making  a  fortune.  He  could  not  comprehend'  tlie  liberal 
spirit  that  prevailed  in  the  colony,  and  he  played  the  part  of  a  petty 
military  tyrant  in  the  most  ridiculotis  manner.  As  English  officials  were 
M'ont  to  do  at  that  time,  he  looked  with  contempt  upon  all  provincials, 
treated  them  accordingly,  and  soon  became  one  of  tlie  most  obnoxious 
governors  which  had  aflflicted  the  colony. 

Cosby  came  in  conflict  with  Tan  Dam  at  the  outset.  He  brought 
with  him  a  royal  order  for  an  equal  division  between  himself  and  the 
president  of  the  Council  of  "  the  salary,  emoluments,  and  perquisites" 
of  the  office  of  governor  during  the  thirteen  months  the  merchant  had 
exercised  its  functions.  Cosby  demanded  half  the  salary  which  the 
merchant  had  received  ;  Van  Dam  claimed  one  half  the  perquisites,  etc., 
according  to  the  order,  Cosby  refused,  and  brought  a  suit  against  Van 
Dam  in  the  Court  of  Chancery,  over  which  the  governor  presided  ex- 
ojfflcio.     Van  Dam  tried  to  bring  a  counter-suit   at  common  law,  but 


STRIFE  AMONG  CIVIL  AUTHORITIES. 


143 


1 


failed.     Cosby 's  judges,   James  De  Laucey  and  Adolpli  Pliilipse,  were 
the  governor's  personal  friends  and  willing  instruments.     Lewis  Morris, 
the    able    chief -justice   of   the   province   for  twenty  years,   denied  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  court  ;  but  the  trial  went  on, 
and,  of  course,  was  decided  in  favor  of  the  gov- 
ernor.    Morris  published  his   Opinion,  and  was 
punished  by  the  governor  by  dismissal  from  the 
high  oflice  of  chief -justice,  and  filling  it  by  the 
appointment    of    De   Lancey  without   even   the 
formality  of  consulting  his  council. 

The  sympathies  of  the  people  were  with  Yan 
Dam,  and  these  high-handed  proceedings  pro- 
voked intense  public  indignation.  They  led  to 
the  establishment  of  a  democratic  newspaper  and 
a  trial  in  which  popular  liberty  and  the  freedom 
of  the  press  were  vindicated.  This  famous  trial 
was  the  most  conspicuous  event  of  the  adminis- 
tration of  Governor  Cosby. 

William  Bradford  issued  the  first  newspaper  printed  in  the  province 
of  New  York,  in  October,  1725,  called  the  New  York  Gazette.  He 
was  the  Government  printer,  and  his  Gazette  was  controlled  by  Cosby 
and  his  political  friends.  Bradford  had,  first  as  an  apprentice  and  after- 
ward as  a  business  partner  for  a  short  time,  the  son  of  a  widow  among 
the  Palatines  who  came  with  Governor  Hunter,  John  Peter  Zenger. 


^TANDEM  vTlMClTUR 


THE   MORRIS   ARMS. 


,^ 


'a/^^rrry 


SIGNATURE    OP    I-EWIS    MORRIS. 


The  opponents  of  Cosby  induced  Zenger  to  establish  a  newspaper  that 
might  be  an  organ  of  the  democratic  party — a  tribune  of  the  people.  It 
was  first  issued  in  November,  1733,  and  was  named  the  New  York 
Weekly  Journal.     Yan  Dam  stood  at  the  back  of  Zenger  financially. 

The  Journal  made  vigorous  warfare  upon  the  governor  and  his  oflicial 
friends,  as  well  as  upon  public  measures.  It  kept  up  a  continuous 
fusillade  of  squibs,  lampoons,  and  satires  ;  and  it  finally  charged  the 
governor  and  his  council  with  violating  the  rights  of  the  people,  the 
illegal  assumption  of  power,  and  the  perversion  of  their  official  stations 


144 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


for  selfish  purposes.     The  Assembly,  which  was  a  "  permaneiit"   one 
and  very  obsequious,  received  its  share  of  animadversion.* 

These  attacks  were  endured  by  the  officials  for  about  a  year,  when,  in 
tlie  autumn  of  1734,  the  governor  and  council  ordered  certain  copies  of 
Zenger's   paper   to   be    publicly   burnt    by   the 
common  hangman.     Then  they  caused  the  arrest 
of  the  publisher,  and  he  was  cast  into  prison  on 
a   charge    of    libelling    the   government.     The 
Grand  Jury  refused  to  find  a  bill  of  indictment 
for  this   offence,   but  he  was   lield  by   another 
process — information.       James   Alexander   and 
AVilliam  Smith,   the   eminent   lawyers,   became 
his  counsel.     Unable  to  give  bail,  he  was  kept 
in  jail  until  early  in  the  next  August,  wdien  he 
was  brought  to  trial  in  the  City  Hall,  Kew  York. 
The  case  excited  intense  interest  throughout  the 
wliole  country,  for  it  involved  the  great  subject 
of  liberty  of  speech  and  of  the  press. 
"  Meanwhile  an  association  called  the    Sons  of  Liberty  had  worked 
diligently   for   Zenger.     The    venerable   Andrew  Hamilton,   of   Phila- 
delphia, then  eighty  years  of  age  and  the  foremost  lawyer  in  the  country, 
was  engaged  as  the  prisoner's  counsel.     On  the  hot  morning  when  the 
trial  began  the  court-room   was   densely    crowded.     Chief-Justice  De 
Lancey  presided.     A  jury  was  impanelled.     The  prisoner  pleaded  '  Not 
guilty,'   but  boldly  admitted  the  publication  of  the  alleged  libel,  and 
offered  full  proof  of  its  justification.     The  attorney -general  (Bradley) 
had  just  risen  to  oppose  the  introduction  of  such  proof,  when  the  vener- 


THE    I'IHIjII'SE   AKMS. 


*  Illustrative  of  the  obsequious  deference  which  was  then  paid  in  the  colonies  even  to 
an  insignificant  scion  of  nobility,  a  contemporary  writer  relates  that  when  the  young 
Lord  Augustus  Fitzroy,  son  of  the  Duke  of  Grafton,  a  favorite  of  the  king,  arrived  in 
New  York,  in  the  fall  of  1732,  on  a  visit  to  the  governor  (and  who  was  induced  to  marry 
his  daughter),  the  corporation  of  the  city  waited  upon  the  yoiuig  man  "  in  a  full  body, 
and  the  recorder  addressed  his  lordship  in  a  speech  of  congratulation,  returning  him 
thanks  for  the  honor  of  his  presence,  and  presented  him  the  Fi"eedom  of  the  City  in  a 
gold  box." 

Smith,  the  liistorian,  speaking  of  the  marriage  of  the  young  lord  to  Cosby's  daughter, 
says  :  "  The  match  was  clandestinely  brought  about  by  the  intrigues  of  Mrs.  Cosby,  Lord 
Augustus  being  then  on  his  travels  through  the  provinces  ;  and  to  blind  his  relations  and 
secure  the  governor  from  the  wrath  of  his  father,  a  mock  persecution  was  instituted 
against  C/ampbell,  the  parson,  who  had  scaled  the  wall  of  the  fort  and  solemnized  the 
imptials  without  a  written  license  from  the  governor  or  any  publication  of  the  banns." 
The  duke  refused  to  acknowledge  the  wife  of  his  sou,  and  the  ambition  of  her  parents 
was  wofully  disappointed. 


4        THE  LIBERTY   OF  THE  PRESS  VINDICATED. 


145 


able  Hamilton  unexpectedly  entered  the  room,  liis  long  white  hair  flowing 
over  his  shoulders  instead  of  being  made  into  a  queue,  in  the  fashion 
of  the  day.  Tlie  excited  audience,  most  of  them  in  sympathy  with  the 
prisoner,  arose  to  tlieir  feet,  and  in  spite  of  the  voice  and  frowns  of  the 
chief -justice,  waved  their  hats  and  shouted  loud  huzzas.  When  silence 
prevailed  the  attorney-general  took  the  ground  that  facts  in  justifica- 
tion of  an  alleged  libel  were  not  admissible  in  evidence.  The  court 
sustained  him.^ 

"  "When  Hamilton  arose  a  murmnr  of  applause  ran  through  the  crowd. 
In  a  few  eloquent  sentences  lie 
scattered  to  the  winds  the  soph- 
istries which  supported  the  per- 
nicious doctrine,  '  the  greater  the 
truth  the  greater  the  libel. '  He 
declared  that  the  jury  were 
themselves  judges  of  the  facts 
and  the  law,  and  that  they  were 
competent  to  judge  of  the  guilt 
or  innocence  of  the  accused.  He 
reminded  them  that  they  were 
the  sworn  protectors  of  the 
rights,  liberties,  and  privileges 
of  their  fellow-citizens,  which, 
in  this  instance,  had  been  violated 
by  a  most  outrageous  and  vindic- 
tive series  of  persecutions.  He 
conjured  them  to  remember  that 

it  was  for  them  to  interpose  between  the  tyrannical  and  arbitrary  violators 
of  the  law  and  their  intended  victim,  and  to  assert,  by  their  verdict,  in 
the  fullest  manner  the  freedom  of  speech  and  of  the  press,  and  of  the 
supremacy  of  the  people  over  their  wanton  and  powerful  oppressors. 


ANDKEW  HAMILTON   AT   MIDDLE   LIFE. 


*  Mr.  De  Lancey  exercised  much  arbitrary  power,  and  was  always  impatient  of  any 
opposition.  One  illustrative  instance  may  suffice.  James  Alexander  and  William  Smith 
were  leading  lawyers  in  the  province.  As  counsel  for  Zenger,  they  interposed  exceptions 
to  the  indictment  of  their  client  on  information  at  the  spring  term.  They  also  ques- 
tioned the  validity  of  the  commission  of  the  chief- justice.  They  made  a  motion  that  these 
exceptions  should  be  filed.  De  Lancey  refused  to  receive  the  exceptions.  "  You  thought 
to  have  gained  a  great  deal  of  applause  and  popularity  by  opposing  this  court,"  he  said  ; 
"  but  you  have  brought  it  to  this  point,  that  either  we  must  go  from  the  Bench  or  you 
must  go  from  the  Bar."  He  then  issued  an  order  excluding  them  from  any  further 
practice  in  that  court.  This  dissolving  Zeuger's  counsel  caused  his  friends  to  seek  the 
services  of  Andrew  Hamilton. 


146 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


"  Notwithstanding  the  charge  of  the  cliief- justice  was  wlioUy  adverse 
to  the  doctrines  of  tlie  great  advocate,  the  jury,  after  brief  deliberation, 


HAMILTON  AND  THE  PEOPLE. 


returned  a  verdict  of  '  Not  guilty. '     Then  a  shout  of  triumph  went  up 
from  the  iiinltitude,  and  Hamilton  was  borne  out  of  the  court-room  upon 


A  POPULAR  DEMONSTRATION.  147 

the  shoulders  of  the  people  to  a  grand  entertainment  which  had  been 
prepared  for  him.  On  the  following  day  a  public  dinner  was  given  him 
by  the  citizens.  At  the  close  of  September  following,  the  corporation  of 
the  city  of  New  York  presented  to  Mr.  Hamilton  the  Freedom  of  the 
City  and  their  thanks  in  a  gold  box  weighing  five  and  a  half  ounces, 
made  for  the  occasion.  In  this  document  they  cordially  thanked  him 
for  his  '  learned  and  generous  defence  of  the  rights  of  mankind  and  the 
liberties  of  the  press,'  and  for  his  signal  service  which  'he  cheerfully 
undertook,  under  great  indisposition  of  body,  and  generously  performed, 
refusing  fee  or  reward.' 

"  This  triumph  of  the  popular  cause,  this  vindication  of  tlie  freedom 
of  the  press,  this  evidence  of  a  determination  of  the  people  to  protect 
their  champions,  and  this  success  of  an  organization  in  its  infancy,  which 
appeared  in  power  thirty  years  later  under  the  same  name — '  Sons  of 
Liberty  ' — was  a  sure  prophecy  of  that  political  independence  of  the 
colonies  which  was  speedily  fulfilled.  Yet  the  stupid  governor,  stag- 
gered by  the  blow,  could  not  understand  the  meaning  of  the  prophecy, 
and  only  his  death,  a  few  months  after  this  trial,  put  an  end  to  his  vin- 
dictive proceedings."  * 

Governor  Cosby  died  on  March  10th,  1730. 

*  Lossing's  Our  Country,  I. ,  368-70.  Gouverneur  Morris,  it  is  reported,  said : 
"  Instead  of  dating  American  liberty  from  the  Stamp  Act,  I  trace  it  to  the  persecution  of 
Peter  Zenger,  because  that  event  revealed  the  philosophy  of  freedom  both  of  thought 
and  speech  as  an  inborn  human  right,  so  nobly  set  forth  in  Milton's  Treatise  on  Un- 
licensed Printing. ' ' 


148  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER  XL 

From  the  arrival  of  Governor  Cosby,  in  1Y32,  to  the  beginning  of  the 
Seven  Years'  War  between  France  and  England  (1Y55-62),  which  is 
known  in  America  as  the  "  French  and  Indian  War,"  the  history  of  the 
province  of  New  York  is  little  mofe  than  a  record  of  the  operations  of  a 
violent  party  spirit  engendered  by  selfish  men  struggling  for  power. 
Let  us  turn  for  a  moment  from  this  unpleasant  subject  to  take  a  brief 
glance,  through  the  optics  of  contemporary  writers,  at  the  character  of 
society  in  the  city  and  province  of  New  York  at  that  period. 

The  population  of  the  province  at  the  time  we  are  considering  did  not 
exceed  one  hundred  thousand.  There  were  many  discouragements  to 
settlements.  Tlie  dread  of  hostile  incursions  by  the  French  and  Indians 
on  the  north  ;  the  transportation  hither  from  Great  Britain  of  ship-loads 
of  felons  ;  the  oppressive  nature  of  navigation  laws  ;  the  avarice,  bigotry, 
and  tyranny  of  some  of  the  governors  who  had  been  sent  to  rule  the 
province,  and  the  lavish  grants  of  much  of  the  best  land  in  the  colony  to 
their  favorites  and  instruments,  were  special  hindrances  to  a  rapid  increase 
of  population.  The  holders  of  large  estates  rated  their  lands  so  high 
that  poorer  persons  could  neither  buy  nor  lease  farms.  Tlie  price  of 
labor  was  so  enormously  high,  because  of  the  sparse  population,  that  the 
importation  of  negroes  had  become  a  prime  industrial  necessity,  and  they 
were  then  very  numerous  in  the  province.  The  Dutch  language  was  yet 
so  generally  used  in  some  of  the  counties  that  sheriffs  found  it  difficult 
to  procure  persons  sufliciently  acquainted  with  the  English  tongue  to 
servTB  as  jurors  in  the  courts.  The  manners  of  the  people  were  simple 
and  various  according  to  locality  and  condition.  The  prevalence  of  the 
Dutch,  the  German,  the  English,  and  the  French  (Huguenots)  in  certain 
places  modified  manners. 

In  the  city  of  New  York,  where  there  was  constant  intercourse  with 
Europe,  particularly  with  Great  Britain,  the  London  fashions,  much 
modified  however,  were  followed  ;  yet  theise  were  sometimes  disused  in 
England  by  the  time  they  were  adopted  here.  Among  the  wealthier 
classes  considerable  luxury  in  table,  dress,  and  furniture  was  exhibited, 
yet  the  people  were  not  so  gay  as  in  Boston,  where  society  was  almost 
purely  English,  and  presented  greater  cultivation.     In  New  York  wealth 


STATE   OF   SOCIETY  AT  NEW  YORK. 


14^ 


was  more  equally  distributed.      There  was  an  aspect  of  comfort  tlirougli- 
out  society. 

New  York  City  was  more  social  in  its  character  than  any  other  place 
on  the  continent.  It  now  had  a  mixed  population,  sturdy  in  individual 
character  and  cosmopolitan  in  feeling.  Society  presented  an  almost 
even  surface  of  equality  and  independence.  It  consisted  chiefly  of  mer- 
chants,  shop-keepers,   and  tradesmen.     Their  recreations  were  simple. 


NEW  YORK   COSTUMES  AND  FURNITURE  IN   1740. 


The  men  enjoyed  themselves  at  a  weekly  evening  clab,  and  the  women 
frequented  musical  concerts  and  dancing  assemblies  M'ith  their  husbands 
and  brothers.  The  women  were  generally  comely  in  person,  dressed 
with  taste,  were  notable  housekeepers,  managed  their  households  with 
neatness  and  thrift,  and  made  happy  homes.  They  seldom  or  never 
engaged  in  gaming,  as  was  the  habit  of  fashionable  women  in  England 
at  that  time. 

Both  sexes  were  very  neglectful -of  intellectual  cultivation.      They  read 


150 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


■very  little.  The  schools  were  of  a  low  order.  "  The  instructore  want 
instruction,"  wrote  a  contemporary.  "  Through  long  and  shameful 
neglect  of  all  the  arts  and  sciences,  our  common  speech  is  extremely 
corrupt,  and  the  evidences  of  a  bad  taste,  both  as  to  thought  and  lan- 
guage, are  visible  in  all  our  proceedings,  private  and  public."  Virtue 
was  predominant.  The  women  were  modest,  sprightly,  and  good- 
humored  ;  and  there  was   diffused   throughout   society   an    uncommon 


c^.^-^^ 


y:r,^ 


MILKING-TIME  AT    ALBANY. 


degree  of  domestic  felicity,  both  in  the  city  and  province.  The  mer- 
chants and  traders  had  a  high  reputation  for  honesty  and  fair-dealing, 
and  the  people  everywhere,  in  town  and  country,  were  sober,  industrious, 
and  hospitable,  yet  eagerly  intent  upon  gain. 

The  people  were  generally  religioTis.  The  principal  church  organiza- 
tions were  the  Dutch  Reformed,  the  Lutheran,  the  English  Episcopal, 
and  the  Presbyterian.     There  was  much  latitudinarianism,  much  freedom 


STATE   OF   SOCIETY  AT   ALBANY.  151 

of  thought  and  action  among  the  people,  that  fostered  a  spirit  of  inde- 
pendence. They  were  not  bound  hand  and  foot  by  rigid  religious  and 
political  creeds,  as  were  the  people  of  New  England,  but  were  thor- 
oughly imbued  with  the  toleration  inherited  from  the  first  Dutch  settlers, 
and  theological  disputes  were  seldom  indulged  in. 

New  York  society  possessed  the  elements  of  "a,  noble  State.  These 
elements  entered  into  the  political  and  social  structure  of  the  common- 
wealth after  the  Declaration  of  Independence  with  the  grand  result  now 
manifested  to  the  world.* 

On  the  death  of  Governor  Cosby,  Rip  Van  Dam,  the  senior  councillor, 
again  prejDared  to  assume  the  functions  of  governor.  When  he  called 
for  the  seals  of  office,  etc.,  he  was  informed  that  Cosby  had  suspended 
him  from  the  Council  Board  several  months  before.     This  had  been 


*  Mrs.  Grant,  of  Laggan,  in  her  Memoirs  of  an  American  Lady,  has  left  us  some 
charming  pictures  of  social  life  at  Albany,  where  the  population  was  chiefly  of  Dutch 
descent,  and  the  habits  of  the  people  were  more  simple  than  at  New  York.  She  tarried 
among  them  awhile  at  the  time  we  are  considering.  She  says  the  houses  were  very  neat 
within  and  without,  and  were  built  chiefly  of  stone  or  brick.  The  streets  were  broad  and 
lined  with  shade  trees.  Each  house  had  its  garden,  and  before  each  door  a  tree  was 
planted  and  shaded  the  "  stoops"  or  porches,  which  were  furnished  with  spacious  seats 
on  which  domestic  groups  were  seated  on  summer  evenings.  Each  family  had  a  cow, 
fed  in  a  common  pasture  at  the  end  of  the  town.  At  evening  the  herd  returned  alto- 
gether of  their  own  accord,  with  their  tinkling  bells  hung  at  their  necks,  along  the 
wide  and  grassy  street,  to  their  wonted  sheltering  trees,  to  be  milked  at  their  masters' 
doors. 

On  pleasant  evenings  the  "  stoops"  were  filled  with  groups  of  old  and  young  of  both 
sexes  discussing  grave  questions  or  gayly  chatting  and  singing  together.  The  mischiev- 
ous gossip  was  unknown,  for  intercourse  was  so  free  and  friendship  so  real  that  there 
was  no  place  for  such  a  creature  ;  and  politicians  seldom  disturbed  these  social  gather- 
ings. A  peculiar  social  custom  arranged  the  young  people  in  congenial  companies,  com- 
posed of  an  equal  number  of  both  sexes,  quite  small  children  being  admitted,  and  the 
association  continued  until  maturity.  The  result  was  a  perfect  knowledge  of  each  other, 
and  happy  and  suitable  marriages  prevailed. 

The  summer  amusements  of  the  young  were  simple,  the  principal  one  being  what  we 
caW picnics,  often  held  upon  the  pretty  islands  near  Albany,  or  in  "  the  bush."  These 
were  days  of  pure  enjoyment,  for  everybody  was  unrestrained  by  conventionalities.  In 
winter  the  frozen  bosom  of  the  Hudson  would  be  alive  with  merry  skaters  of  both  sexes. 
Small  evening  parties  were  frequent,  and  were  generally  the  sequel  of  quilting  parties. 
The  young  men  sometimes  enjoyed  convivial  parties  at  taverns,  but  habitual  drunkenness 
was  extremely  rare. 

African  slavery  was  seen  at  Albany  and  vicinity  in  its  mildest  form.  It  was  softened 
by  gentleness  and  mutual  attachments.  It  appeared  patriarchal,  and  a  real  blessing  to 
the  negroes.  Master  and  slave  stood  in  the  relation  of  friends.  Immoralities  were  rare. 
There  was  no  hatred  engendered  by  neglect,  cruelty,  or  injustice  ;  and  such  excitements 
as  the  "  Negro  Plots"  of  1713  and  1741  in  New  York  City  were  impossible.  Industry 
and  frugality  ranked  amdng  the  cardinal  virtues  of  the  people. 


152 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


.-J:= 


done  secretly,  tliat  George  Clarke,  an  English  adventurer  and  one  of 
Cosby's  tools,  might  become  president  of  the  Council.  Clarke,  as  such, 
now  assumed  the  office  of  lieutenant-governor.  Yan  Dam  would  not 
yield,  and  the  "  rival  governors"  proceeded  to  act  independently  of  each 
other.  This  state  of  things  involved  the  Assembly  and  the  corporation 
of  New  York  City  in  fierce  contentions,  and  the  public  excitement 
became  so  intense  that  open  insurrection  was  threatened.  It  was  finally 
allayed  by  the  confinnation  of  Clarke's  claim  by  the  home  government. 
His  administration  was  marked  by  continual  contests  with  the  Assembly. 
It  terminated  in  September,  1743,  by  the  arrival  of  Sir  George  Clinton 
as  governor  of  the  province,*  a  younger  son  of  the  Earl  of  Lincoln  and 

the  father  of  Sir  Henry  Clin- 
ton, the  commander-in-chief 
of  the  British  forces  in  Amer- 
ica during  a  portion  of  the  old 
war  for  independence. 

The  most  conspicuous  event 
of  Clarke's  administration  was 
that  known  as  the  "  Negro 
Plot,"  in  1741.  Causes  sinn'- 
lar  to  those  which  made  the 
inhabitants  of  the  city  dread 
a  servile  insurrection  in  1712 
(see  page  138)  excited  them 
at  this  time.  As  before,  the 
tongue  of  rumor  sounded  an 
alarm  which  produced  a  panic. 
A  bold  robbery,  almost  si- 
multaneous fires  in  different 
parts  of  the  city  (though  in 
the  day-time),  idle  words  spoken  by  negroes,  and  the  grumbling  of  some 
black  people  who  had  been  brought  into  the  port  in  a  Spanish  prize-ship 
and  sold  into  slavery,  combined  in  suggesting  to  the  excited  minds  of  the 


T03BEMEM0RY0F  

SCfBCE  CLARKE:  orHYI££SC[VIE£ 
■WBDVffiS  FORMEKLY 

CJOVERNOROFHEWTrDRK 

BECAME  RESIDENTIN  THIS  CHr 
T3E  USED  3Sm?S:iSB^J4D0CCL 

ASrZD  J^SSXN  YSARS 
)  "WAS  IN.XKKUEU  JS  XEQS  CHAEEL 


CLARKE  S  MONUMENT  AT  CHESHIKE. 


*  Sir  George  Clarke  was  a  prominent  man  in  New  York  for  nearly  half  a  century.  He 
was  a  native  of  England,  was  a  lawyer,  married  Miss  Hyde,  a  relative  of  Governor 
Cornbury,  and  was  appointed  secretary  of  the  province  of  New  York  in  1703.  He  was 
a  shrewd,  thrifty  man,  and  left  America  with  a  large  fortune,  like  that  of  Cosbj'  mysteri- 
ously gathered.  He  sailed  for  England  in  1745.  On  his  pttssage  he  was  captured  by  a 
French  cruiser,  but  was  soon  released,  when  the  British  Government  indemnified  him 
for  his  los.ses.  Retiring  to  a  handsome  estate  near  Cheshire,  he  died  there  at  an  advanced 
age  in  1760.     His  wife,  a  woman  of  fine  accomplishments,  died  in  New  York. 


THE   NEGRO  PLOT.  153 

people  suspicions  of  a  conspiracy,  and  creating  a  fearful  panic.  Tlio 
people  were  deaf  to  reason.  Tlie  magistrates  and  lawyers  "  lost  their 
heads,"  and  by  their  acts  increased  the  public  alarm. 

False  accusers  charged  negroes  with  incendiarism,  robbery,  and  con- 
spiracy to  bum  the  city  and  murder  the  white  people.  Yery  soon  the 
jail  and  apartments  in  the  City  Hall  were  crowded  with  the  accused. 
The  keeper  of  a  low  tavern  and  brothel  (John  Ilughson),  his  wife,  and  a 
strumpet  who  lived  with  them  were  accused  by  an  indented  servant  girl 
of  sixteen  (Mary  Burton)  of  complicity,  with  negroes  named,  in  the 
robbery  and  in  a  conspiracy  to  burn  the  town  and  destroy  the  inhabitants. 
She  had  been  tempted  by  fear  and  selfishness,  by  threats,  and  by  prom- 
ises of  money  and  freedom  from  her  master  (Ilughson)  to  "  tell  all  she 
knew" — in  other  words,  to  make  false  accusations  and  to  bear  false  testi- 
mony. Slie  declared  that  her  master  and  mistress  received  and  concealed 
the  stolen  property  from  negroes  whom  she  named,  conferred  with  some 
of  the  slaves  about  burning  the  city  and  killing  the  inhabitants,  and  that 
her  master  threatened  to  poison  her  if  she  exposed  him  ;  while  the 
negroes  swore  they  would  burn  her  alive  if  she  revealed  their  secret. 
She  said  her  master  and  mistress  and  the  bawd  whom  they  harbored  were 
the  only  white  persons  present  at  the  plotting  with  the  negroes.  The 
excited  and  credulous  magistrates  received  this  absurd  story  and  others 
uttered  by  the  lying  servant  girl  as  truth. 

Without  the  semblance  of  justice  or  of  common  sense,  and  moved  by 
the  unsupported  assertions  of  Mary  Burton,  the  magistrates  committed 
persons  to  the  jail.  The  excited  lawyers  perplexed  and  terrified  the  poor 
prisoners,  and  the  half-dazed  jurors  found  the  tavern-keeper,  his  wife, 
and  their  wretched  boarder  guilty.  They  were  hanged.  Eighteen 
negroes  were  also  hung  in  a  green  vale,  the  site  of  the  modern  Five 
Points  ;  eleven  were  burned  alive,  and  fifty  were  sold  into  slavery  in  the 
West  Indies.  Three  of  the  colored  people  were  burnt  on  the  site  of  the 
(present)  City  Hall,  one  of  whom  was  a  woman.  All  who  suffered  at 
that  time  were  undoubtedly  innocent  victims  of  groundless  fright  created 
by  imaginary  danger.  This  "  reign  of  terror"  continued  about  six 
months,  when  a  day  was  set  aj)art  for  public  thanksgiving  for  the  "  great 
deliverance." 

The  "Negro  Plot"  may  be  classed  among  the  conspicuous  delusions 
of  modern  times.  It  is  a  counterpart  in  wickedness  and  absurdity  to  the 
"  Salem  Witchcraft"  delusion  in  the  preceding  century. 

There  was  another  and  a  peculiar  sufferer  at  this  time — a  victim  of 
false  accusations,  perjury,  and  bigotry.  His  name  was  John  Ury,  his 
j>rofession  a  schoolmaster  and  a  nonjuring  minister  of  the   Church  of 


154 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


England.  lie  was  cliarged  with  being  a  Jesuit  priest  in  disguise,  and 
was  accused  of  inciting  tlie  negroes  to  burn  the  governor's  l)ouse,  which 
was  the  first  of  the  almost  simultaneous  fires  already  alluded  to.  The 
only  witnesses  against  him  were  the  jjerjured  Mary  Burton  and  a 
daughter  of  the  tavern-keeper  just  hanged.  The  latter  was  brought  from 
a  felon's  cell  and  pardoned  on  the  condition  that  she  should  give  certain 
testimony  against  the  accused.  She  swore  that  Ury  liad  counselled 
negroes  to  burn  the  governor's  house  (which  the  governor  himself 
declared  had  been  accidentally  set  on  fire  through  the  carelessness  of 
a  plumber  while  soldering  a  tin  gutter)  ;  that  he  had  practised  the  rites  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  Church  among  the  negroes  in  her  presence  at  her 
father's  house,  and  that  he  received  confessions,  etc. 

Competent  testimony  of  respectable  citizens  to  the  contrary — that  he 
was  a  schoolmaster  and  a  clergyman  of   the  Church  of  England — was 

clearly     given,     but 
was  not  heeded.  The 
charge  of  the  chief- 
justice  (De  Lancey) 
and    the    speech    of 
tlie  attorney -general 
(Bradley)  were  large- 
ly      mere       tirades 
against    popery   and 
warnings  against  its  secret  emissaries.   The  mis- 
led jury  were  easily  persuaded  to  pronounce 
poor  Ury  guilty,  and  the  bigoted  court,  taking 
advantage   of  an  unrepealed   statute   against 
priests,  sentenced    him  to   be   lianged.     Ury 
protested  his  innocence  to  the  last  moment. 
The  chief  instrument   in   bringing    this   evi- 
dently innocent  man  to  tlie  scaffold  was  the 
disgraceful  statute  which  condenmed  to  death 
every   Roman    Catholic    priest    who    should 
voluntarily   come   into    the    province.      (See 
p.  126.) 
In  the  whole  of  the  wretched  business  of  the  "Negro  Plot"  not  a 
single  charge  of  conspiracy  was  proven  by  a  competent  witness. 
■  Sir  George  Clinton*  published  liis  commission  as  Governor  of  New 


SIGNATURE  AND    ARMS  OF 
GEORGE  CLINTON. 


*  Sir  George  Clinton  was  tlie  youngest  son  of  the  sixth  Earl  of  Lincoln,  and  rose  to 
distinction  in  the  British  navy.    He  was  commissioned  a  commodore,  and  made  Governor 


WAR  BETWEEN  FRANCE   AND   GREAT  BRITAIN.  155 

York  on  the  day  of  Lis  arrival,  September  20th,  1743.  He  held  the 
office  ten  years.  Clinton  was  wholly  unfitted  by  his  training  and  dispo- 
sition for  the  chief  magistracy  of  a  people  like  those  of  New  York — 
sturdy,  independent,  and  courageous  ;  free-thinkers  in  politics  and  irre- 
pressible aspirants  for  self-government. 

After  a  peace  between  France  and  Great  Britain  for  more  than  thirty' 
years,  during  which  time  the  American  colonists  enjoyed  comparative 
repose,  war  was  again  kindled.  It  was  declared  in  March,  1744.  The 
colonists  i3romptly  rose  in  their  might  and  donned  their  armor.  The 
struggle  that  ensued  continued  about  four  years,  and  is  known  in  Ameri- 
can history  as  King  George  s  War,  because  George  II.  of  England 
espoused  the  cause  of  tlie  Empress  of  Austria,  the  celebrated  Maria 
Theresa.  In  Europe  it  was  known  as  the  ^Var  of  the  Austrian  Succes- 
sion. 

This  war  was  not  distinguished  by  many  stirring  events  in  America. 
The  most  important  was  the  capture  of  Louisburg  and  its  strong  for- 
tress, on  the  island  of  Cape  Breton,  wliich  the  French  had  constructed 
after  the  treaty  of  Utrecht  at  a  cost  of  $5,500,000.  "William  Shirley,* 
a  good  soldier  and  energetic  statesman,  was  then  Governor  of  Massa- 
chusetts. He  perceived  the  importance  of  Louisburg  in  the  coming 
contest,  and  plans  for  its  capture  were  soon  perfected  by  the  Legislature 
of  Massachusetts.  He  asked  England  for  aid  in  the  enterprise,  and  Ad- 
nn'ral  Warren  was  ordered  to  Boston  from  the  West  Indies  with  a  fleet 
and  troops.  Rhode  Island,  Kew  Hampshire,  and  Connecticut  furnished 
their  proper  quota  of  men.  New  York  sent  artillery,  and  Pennsylvania 
sent  provisions.     Thus  common  danger  was  teaching  the  necessity  for  a 


of  Newfoundland  in  1732.  In  1743  he  was  appointed  Governor  of  New  York,  and  had 
a  tumultuous  administration  for  ten  years.  He  was  unlettered,  and  of  irritable  tem- 
perament. In  all  his  controversies  with  the  New  York  Assembl}"  he  was  ably  assisted 
by  the  mind  and  pen  of  Dr.  Cadwallader  Golden.  His  chief  opponent  was  Daniel  Hors- 
mandeu,  at  one  time  chief- justice  of  the  colony.  He  quan-elled  witli  all  the  political 
factions  in  the  colony,  and  returned  home  in  1753,  when  he  was  given  the  sinecure  of 
Governor  of  Greenwich  Hospital.  In  1745  he  was  appointed  vice-admiral  of  the  Red, 
and  in  1757  admiral  of  the  Fleet.  Again  Governor  of  Newfoundland,  he  died  there  in 
1761. 

*  William  Shirley  was  born  in  Sussex,  England,  in  1698,  and  died  at  Roxbury,  Mass., 
in  1771.  He  came  to  Boston  in  1734,  and  practised  the  profession  of  a  lawyer  there. 
Active  in  public  affairs,  he  was  appointed  Governor  of  Massachusetts  in  1741,  and 
became  a  skilful  military  leader  in  the  French  and  Indian  War.  He  was  also  a  skilful 
diplomatist.  For  a  while  he  was  commander-in-chief  of  the  British  forces  in  America. 
In  1759  he  was  commissioned  lieutenant-general  and  governor  of  one  of  the  Bahama 
Islands,  but  returned  to  Boston  in  1770.  He  built  a  fine  mansion  at  Roxbury,  but  never 
occupied  it. 


156  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

political  Tinion  of  the  English  American  colonies  fully  thirty  years  before 
such  union  was  effected. 

The  colonial  forces,  commanded  by  General  William  Pepperell,* 
thirty-two  hundred  strong,  sailed  from  Boston  in  the  spring  of  1745,  and 
were  joined  by  Warren  at  Canseau  with  ships  and  troops.  The  com- 
bined forces,  four  thousand  in  number,  landed  not  far  from  Louisburg  at 
the  close  of  Ajjril,  took  the  French  by  surprise,  and  speedily  began  a 
vigorous  siege  of  the  strong  fortress.  Finally  a  combined  attack  by  sea 
and  land,  at  the  close  of  June,  compelled  the  French  to  surrender  the 
fortress,  the  city  of  Louisburg,  and  the  island  of  Cape  Breton  to  the 
English.  The  mortified  French  ministry  sent  the  Duke  d'Anville  the 
next  year  with  a  powerful  naval  armament  to  recover  what  had  been 
lost,  and  to  desolate  the  English  settlements  along  the  New  England 
coasts.  Storms  wrecked  many  of  his  vessels,  and  disease  soon  wasted 
hundreds  of  his  men.  The  duke  was  compelled  to  abandon  the  enter- 
prise without  striking  a  blow.  The  !New  England  people  regarded  these 
misfortunes  of  the  enemy  as  a  providential  interference  in  their  favor. 

Meanwhile  New  York  had  been  vigilant  and  active.  Its  immense 
frontier  on  the  north  exposed  it  to  easy  inroads  of  the  common  enemy. 
The  Iroquois  formed  a  trustworthy  but  not  an  omnipotent  defence.  The 
garrisons  at  Albany,  Schenectady,  and  Oswego  were  strengthened,  and 
the  erection  of  block-houses  was  begun  on  the  upper  Hudson. 

Notwithstanding  these  precautions  five  hundred  French  Canadians  and 
Huron  Indians  and  a  few  disaffected  Iroquois  warriors  swept  down  the 
upper  valley  of  the  Hudson  late  in  the  fall  of  1745,  as  far  as  Saratoga,  leav- 
ing there  a  horrible  record,  and  spreading  the  wildest  alarm  among  the 
frontier  settlements  far  and  near.  The  invaders  were  commanded  by 
M.  Marin,  an  active  French  officer.  They  had  rendezvoused  at  Crown 
Point,  on  Lake  Champlain,  where,  at  the  suggestion  of  Father  Piquet, 
the  French  Prefect  Apostolique  to  Canada,  it  was  resolved  to  sweep 
down  toward  Albany  and  cut  off  the  advancing  English  settlements. 

Saratoga  was  a  scattered  village  on  the  flats  at  the  junction  of  the  Fish 
Creek  and  the  Hudson  Kiver,   near  (present)  Schuylerville.     It  com- 

*  William  Pepperell  was  born  in  Maine  in  1696,  and  died  there  in  1759.  His  father 
was  a  Welshman,  and  was  made  an  apprentice  to  a  fisherman  when  he  came  to  New 
England.  His  son  became  a  merchant.  Liking  military  life,  he  was  frequently  engaged 
in  fighting  Indians.  In  1727  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  king's  Council,  in  Massacliu- 
setts,  and  held  the  office  thirty-two  consecutive  years.  He  l)ocanie  an  eminent  jurist,  and 
was  made  chief- justice  of  the  Common  Pleas  in  1730.  After  his  successful  cxix-dition 
against  Louisburg  he  was  knighted  (1745),  and  was  apiwinted  colonel  in  the  royal 
army  ;  then  a  major-general,  and  lieutenant-general  iu  1759.  For  two  years  (1756-58) 
lie  was  Acting-Governor  of  Massachusetts. 


A  CONFERENCE  WITH  THE   SIX  NATIONS.  157 

prised  about  thirty  families,  many  of  them  tenants  of  Philip  Schuyler, 
brother  of  the  Mayor  of  Albany,  and  owner  of  all  the  lands  in  the  vicinity. 
The  invaders  murdered  Mr.  Schuyler,  plundered  and  burnt  the  village, 
and  carried  away  over  one  hundred  men,  women,  and  children,  including 
negroes,  as  captives.  Mr.  Schuyler's  house,  with  his.  body  in  it,  was 
burned.  On  the  following  morning  the  invaders,  after  chanting  the  Te 
Deum,  departed  for  Canada  with  their  plunder  and  prisoners. 

The  energetic  Governor  Shirley,  flushed  with  the  victory  in  the  east, 
contemplated  the  conquest  of  the  entire  French  dominions  in  America. 
His  general  plan  of  operations  was  similar  to  that  of  former  expeditions 
for  the  capture  of  Quebec  and  Montreal. 

Governor  Clinton  favored  the  project,  and  the  Assembly  voted  aid. 
The  erection  of  block-houses  on  the  northern  frontiers  was  authorized, 
also  a  new  emission  of  bills  of  credit.  Bounties  were  raised  for  vol- 
unteers, and  provision  was  made  for  supplies  of  all  kinds.  The  Six 
N^ations  were  invited  to  meet  the  governor  at  a  conference  at  Albany, 
at  which  appeared  representatives  of  other  colonies.  The  object  of  the 
conference  was  to  engage  the  Iroquois  to  fight  for  the  English  in  the 
conflict  supposed  to  be  impending.  This  conference  was  held  in  the 
summer  of  17-16. 

William  Johnson,  a  nephew  of  Admiral  Warren,  and  then  in  the 
prime  of  young  manhood,  had  been  appointed  Indian  commissioner  in 
place  of  Colonel  Schuyler,  who  had  long  performed  the  duties  of  that 
office  most  efficiently.  Johnson  had  made  great  efforts  to  arouse  the 
Mohawks,  among  whom  he  lived,  to  make  war  on  the  French.  At  the 
time  appointed  for  the  conference  he  appeared  on  the  hills  overlooking 
Albany  at  the  head  of  a  large  number  of  the  Iroquois  chiefs,  habited  and 
painted  like  the  barbarians.  Among  these  were  leaders  from  the  Dela- 
wares,  the  Susquehannas,  the  River  Indians,  and  the  Mohegans  of  Con- 
necticut, all  eager  to  raise  the  hatchet  against  the  French.  The  confer- 
ence was  satisfactory.  The  Indians  were  dismissed  Vith  presents,  and 
Johnson  was  furnished  with  arms  and  with  instructions  to  send  out 
war  parties  from  the  Mohawk  Yalley  to  annoy  their  enemies  on  the 
border. 

The  British  ministry  failed  to  send  promised  assistance  to  the  colonies, 
and  Shirley's  grand  project  was  abandoned.  From  this  time  no  actual 
hostilities  of  importance  occurred  within  the  province  of  New  York  or 
on  its  frontiers  in  several  years  ;  but  the  annals  of  New  Hampshire,  on 
its  eastern  border,  for  two  years  thereafter  present  a  long  and  mournful 
catalogue  of  plantations  laid  waste  and  colonists  slain  or  carried  into  cap- 
tivity by  the  French  and  Indians.     The  treaty  of  peace  concluded  at 


158 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


iayn\£d 


^c^ 


C2^0^ 


SIGNATURE   OF   JAMES   DE   LANCEY. 


Aix-la-Chapelle,   in  October,  1748,  ended  hostilities    between    France 
and  England  and  the  American  colonies  for  a  time. 

During  the  whole  administration  of  Governor  Clinton  rancorous  party 
spirit  cursed  tlie  province.  He  had  passed  a  greater  portion  of  his  life 
in  the  royal  navy,  and  had  learned  and  practised  its  imperious  ways. 
These  ways  were,   of  course,   often  offensive.     He  loved  his  ease  and 

good  cheer,  was  kind-liearted 
and  good-humored,  and  tried 
to  control  the  storms  of  pas- 
sion around  him.  Unfor- 
tunately, the  surviving  poli- 
ticians who  had  quarrelled 
throughout  the  administra- 
tions of  Cosby  and  Clarke  were  as  rancorous  and  active  as  ever.  He 
tried  to  propitiate  both  parties,  and  failed,  of  course.  The  Assembly 
persistently  refused  to  yield  an  iota  of  their  rights  and  privileges,  and 
their  independence  vexed  and  worried  Clinton. 

Unfortunately  for  the  governor  and  the  province,  Clinton  made  Chief- 
Justice  De  Lancey  his  conlidant  and  guide.  De  Lancey  was  a  politician 
of  exquisite  mould,  and  then  wielded  almost 
absolute  sway  over  the  Assembly  and  the 
people.  At  length  the  governor  and  the 
chief-justice  quarrelled  over  their  cups  at  a 
banquet.  The  latter  swore  he  would  be  re- 
venged ;  and  from  that  time  Clinton  found 
no  peace  in  public  life.  De  Lancey  was  im- 
placable. He  pursued  the  governor  as  a 
personal  and  political  enemy  with  the  tenacity 
of  a  hound,  and  stirred  up  opposition  to 
Clinton's  authority  and  his  measures  every- 
where. Wielding  power,  the  governor  dealt 
some  hard  blows  in  return.* 

An  open  rupture  between  the  governor  and  the  Assembly  occurred  in 
1749.     Under  instructions  from  the  king,  Clinton  demanded  from  the 


SEAL   OF   JAMES   DE   LANCEY. 


*  James  De  Lancey  was  born  in  New  York  City  in  1703,  and  died  there,  1760.  He 
was  educated  in  England,  studied  law  there,  and  soon  after  liis  return  (1729)  was  made  a 
justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  province.  He  became  chief -justice  in  1733.  He  was 
lieutenant-governor  and  acting-governor  of  the  province  for  several  years,  and  was  one 
of  the  mo,st  influential  men  in  the  province  in  politics  and  legislation.  Mr.  De  Lancey 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  King's  (now  Columbia)  College.  His  wife  was  Anne,  eldest 
daughter  of  Colonel  Caleb  Heathcote. 


SELF-DESTRUCTION  OF  A  GOVERNOR.  159 

Assembly  the  grant  of  a  permanent  rev^enue  for  five  years,  that  he  might 
be  independent  of  the  people.  As  in  times  past,  the  Assembly  refused 
to  grant  it.  The  governor  unwisely  told  them  that  their  authority  to 
act  at  all,  and  the  political  rights  and  privileges  which  they  enjoyed 
depended  upon  the  breath  of  the  monarch  whom  he  represented,  and  he 
threatened  to  punish  them  if  they  did  not  comply  with  his  wishes.  The 
Assembly  boldly  said  in  substance  : 

"  Your  conduct  is  arbitrary,  illegal,  and  in  violation  of  our  privileges, 
and  we  will  not  comply  with  your  demands." 

In  this  quarrel,  which  continued  until  the  end  of  Clinton's  administra- 
tion, the  unfortunate  governor  was  placed  in  a  delicate  and  even  a  false 
position.  lie  was  bound  to  obey  his  instructions  in  making  the  demand, 
at  the  same  time  he  felt  that  the  attitude  of  the  Assembly  was  essentially 
right,  and  he  urged  upon  the  home  government  the  propriety  of  making 
concessions  to  the  popular  leaders.  Strangely  enough,  at  about  this 
period  the  chief  leaders  of  the  aristocratic  faction,  led  by  the  chief- justice, 
became  the  popular  leaders  opposed  to  the  governor  and  the  crown. 

Wearied,  worried,  and  disgusted,  Governor  Clinton  resigned  his  office 
in  the  summer  of  1753,  and  on  September  Tth  he  gave  into  the  hands  of 
his  successor.  Sir  Dan  vers  Osborne,  the  great  seal  of  the  province. 
Chief-Justice  De  Lancey  had  been  appointed  lieutenant-governor. 

Osborne's  administration  was  exceedingly  short.  He  was  received 
w^itli  demonstrations  of  joy  by  the  people,  and  was  magnificently  enter- 
tained by  the  corporation  of  the  city  of  !N"ew  York.  But  he  bore  royal 
instructions  more  arbitrary  and  tyrannical  than  those  which,  attempted 
to  be  enforced,  had  made  his  predecessor  odious  to  the  people.  He 
learned  by  conversation  with  those  who  feasted  him  that  the  course  he 
was  instructed  to  pursue  would  be  highly  displeasing  to  the  people  and 
render  him  odious  in  their  estimation. 

Having  been  greatly  depressed  in  spirits  by  the  recent  death  of  his 
wife,  Sir  Danvers  was  made  more  melancholy  by  the  gloomy  prospects 
before  him — continual  disputes  with  the  representatives  of  the  people, 
the  sport  of  factions,  and  a  tarnished  reputation.  He  said  to  De  Lancey 
in  a  plaintive  voice  : 

"What  am  I  here  for  ?  I  shall  soon  leave  you  the  government.  I 
am  unable  to  bear  the  burden." 

Brooding  over  his  situation,  his  disturbed  reason  became  unseated,  and 
five  days  after  his  arrival  his  lifeless  body  was  found,  early  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  12th,  suspended  by  a  pocket-handkerchief  around  his  neck  to 
the  fence  of  the  garden  of  Mr.  Murray,  one  of  the  Council,  whose 
hospitality  he  was  enjoying. 


160  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

De  Lancey  again  became  acting  Governor  of  New  York.  He  was 
now  placed  in  a  delicate  situation,  but  lie  was  equal  to  the  occasion.  He 
had  recently  been  a  leader  of  the  opposition  in  the  Assembly  in  his  perse- 
cution of  Clinton  ;  now  he  was  compelled  to  wear  the  mask  of  Janus  and 
rebuke  the  Assembly  publicly  for  not  obeying  the  royal  instructions  in 
granting  supplies,  while  he  secretly  confederated  in  the  promotion  of 
measures  directly  opposed  to  the  expressed  will  of  the  crown.  The 
Assembly  were  equal  dissemblers.  They  lauded  De  Lancey,  boasted  of 
their  loyalty,  and  declared  that  nothing  should  be  wanting  to  promote 
the  king's  service.  At  the  same  time  they  firmly  resisted  taxation  with- 
out their  consent.  With  well-dissembled  zeal  De  Lancey  joined  the 
other  royal  governors  in  urging  the  British  Government  to  put  in  action 
a  scheme  of  general  taxation  in  America. 

De  Lancey  remained  the  political  head  of  the  province  two  years, 
when  Sir  Charles  Hardy,  a  captain  in  the  British  navy,  ignorant  of  the 
country,  the  people,  and  the  government  he  was  to  administer,  arrived 
at  New  York  (September,  1755)  bearing  the  commission  of  governor.* 
De  Lancey  really  continued  to  govern  the  province  for  about  five  years. 
Sir  Charles  was  a  plastic  instrument  in  De  Lancey's  hands. 

The  treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle  was,  practically,  only  a  contract  for  a 
truce.  The  traditional  enmity  between  France  and  England  only 
slumbered.  Tlie  Jesuits,  bearing  the  Cross  and  the  Lily,  had  discovered 
the  magnificent  country  around  the  great  lakes  and  in  the  Mississippi 
Valley,  and  revealed  its  riches  to  the  Frencli  court.  French  missionary 
stations  and  trading-posts  were  established  deep  in  the  wilderness,  but  these 
did  not  attract  the  serious  attention  of  the  English  until  after  the  capture  of 
Louisburg,  when  the  French  began  the  building  of  strong  vessels  at  Fort 
Frontenac  at  the  foot  of  Lake  Ontario,  and  the  erection  of  more  than 
sixty  forts  between  Montreal  and  the  site  of  New  Orleans.  In  1753  the 
Governor  of  Canada  sent  twelve  hundred  French  soldiers  to  occupy  the 
Ohio  Valley  to  the  exclusion  of  the  English. 

At  the  time  we  are  considering  the  French  in  America  were  not  over 
one  hundred  thousand  in  number,  and  were  scattered  in  trading  settle- 
ments for  almost  one  thousand  miles  along  the  St.  Lawrence  River  and 
our  immense  inland  seas  ;  also  at  points  on  the  Mississippi  River  and  its 

*  Sir  Charles  was  a  grandson  of  Sir  Thomas  Hardy,  a  distinguished  naval  commander 
in  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne.  •  He  was  himself  a  naval  commander.  After  leaving  New 
York,  he  was  appointed  (1757)  rear-admiral  of  the  Blue,  and  commanded  in  the  expedi- 
tion against  Louisburg.  He  was  promoted  to*  vice-admiral,  and  in  1764  was  a  member 
of  Parliament.  He  became  admii'al  in  1770,  and  commanded  a  large  squadron.  Sir 
Charles  died  in  England  in  1780,  aged  about  sixty-seven  years. 


AGGRESSIVE  MOVEMENTS   OF  THE  FRENCH.  161 

tributaries.  The  English  numbered  more  than  a  million,  and  occupied 
a  line  of  territory  more  than  a  thousand  miles  in  extent  along  the 
Atlantic  seaboard,  in  the  form  of  agricultural  conunumties.  The  French, 
through  the  influence  of  the  Jesuit  priests  and  kind  treatment,  had  won 
the  friendship  of  the  barbarians  around  them. 

The  French,  on  the  English  plea  of  discovery  and  priority  of  occupation, 
claimed  jurisdiction  over  the  region  of  the  Ohio  River  and  its  tributaries. 
The  King  of  England,  on  the  same  plea,  claimed  that  region,  and  granted 
to  a  company  of  London  merchants  and  Virginia  speculators  a  tract  of 
six  hundred  thousand  acres  of  land  there.  This  company  began  the 
establishment  of  trading-posts  on  this  domain.  The  French  regarded 
them  as  intruders.     The  Indians  properly  said  : 

'*  The  English  claim  all  the  land  on  one  side  of  the  river,  and  the 
French  claim  all  the  land  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  "Where  is  the 
Indian's  land  ?"  Echo  answered,  "Where?"  etc.  The  rightful  claim 
of  the  first  occupants  of  the  soil  was  not  considered  by  the  voracious 
European  robbers. 

Apprehending  the  loss  of  their  trade  and  their  dominion,  the  French 
built  a  fort  on  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Erie  ;  also  others  near  the 
domain  of  the  English  company.  The  Governor  of  Virginia  sent  a 
remonstrance  to  the  French  commander  in  that  region  (St.  Pierre).  The 
bearer  of  the  despatch  was  young  George  Washington,  then  less  than 
twenty-two  years  of  age.  He  made  the  perilous  journey  with  two  or 
three  attendants.  The  Indians  were  hostile  to  the  English,  and  the 
French  were  their  traditional  enemies  ;  but  the  dangerous  journey  was 
performed  in  safety,  and  the  mission  was  executed  with  skill  and  judg- 
ment. Washington  returned  in  January,  1754,  with  an  unsatisfactory 
response  to  the  message  he  had  delivered,  but  with  much  valuable  infor- 
mation. When  wine  was  in  and  wit  was  out  of  the  heads  of  the  French 
officers  at  their  commander's  table,  they  had  revealed  many  important 
secrets  to  their  sober  young  visitor. 

Satisfied  that  tlie  French  in  Canada  were  contemplating  aggressive 
war  upon  the  English  colonies,  the  latter  prepared  to  meet  the  blow. 
In  the  summer  of  1754  twenty-five  delegates,  representing  seven  English- 
American  colonies — New  Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  Con- 
necticut, ^ew  York,  Pennsylvania,  and  Maryland — met  in  convention 
at  Albany  to  renew  treaties  with  the  Six  Nations  and  to  consider  the 
important  subject  of  the  formation  of  a  colonial  confederacy.  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor De  Lancey  presided  over  the  convention.  The  treaty 
was  renewed,  and  in  July  Dr.  Franklin,  a  delegate  from  Pennsylvania, 
presented  to  the  convention  a  plan  of  union  having  many  of  the  features 


162  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

of  our  national  Constitution.  It  was  adopted,  and  copies  were  sent;  to 
the  several  colonial  Assemblies  and  to  the  imperial  Board  of  Trade  for 
ratification. 

The  hibtory  of  this  plan  is  singular.  The  Assemblies  refused  their 
assent  because  it  seemed  too  aristocratic — giving  tlie  governor  to  be 
appointed  by  the  king  too  much  power.  The  Board  of  Trade  rejected 
it  because  it  was  too  democratic — gave  too  much  power  to  the  people.* 

Meanwhile  war  had  actually  been  begun  near  the  upper  waters  of  the 
Ohio  River.  The  English  Land  Company  had  begun  the  erection  of  a 
fort  on  the  site  of  (present)  Pittsburg.  The  workmen  were  driven  away 
by  French  soldiers,  who  finished  the  work  and  named  it  Fort  Duquesne 
in  honor  of  the  Governor  of  Canada.  The  Governor  of  Virginia  (Din- 
widdie)  sent  six  hundred  troops  under  ColonelJoshua  Fry,  with  Washing- 
ton, commissioned  a  major,  as  his  lieutenant,  to  expel  the  French.  •  The 
advanced  corps  under  Major  Washington,  when  al>out  fifty  miles  from 
Fort  Duquesne,  was  compelled  to  halt  and  construct  a  stockade  (which 
was  called  Fort  Necessity)  and  prepare  for  resisting  a  detachment  of 
French  troops  which  had  been  sent  to  intercept  them.  Before  the  fort 
was  completed  a  party  was  sent  out  to  attack  the  approaching  foe.  This 
was  done  at  the '  dead  of  night.  The  commander  of  tlie  French 
(Jumonville)  was  slain,  and  only  fifteen  of  liis  fifty  men  escaped.  A 
larger  French  force  soon  invested  Fort  Necessity,  and  notwithstanding  it 
had  been  re-onforced  by  troops  from  New  York,  Washington  was  com- 
pelled to  surrender  on  the  morning  of  July  4tli  and  return  to  A^irginia. 
So  the  French  and  Indian  War  was  begun  in  the  colonies  about  two 
years  before  tlie  War  of  the  Austrian  Succession,  of  which  it  was  a  part, 
was  proclaimed  by  France  and  Great  Britain. 

The  British  Government,  though  it  perceived  that  a  conflict  in. 
America  was  impending  more  serious  than  any  which  had  yet  occurred, 
gave  a  very  small  amount  of  aid  to  the  English-American  colonies.  It 
contributed  only  $50,000  and  a  commission  for  Governor  Sharpe,  of 

*  It  proposed  a  general  government  to  be  administered  by  one  chief  magistrate 
appointed  by  the  crown  and  a  council  of  forty-eight  members  chosen  by  the  several 
legislatures.  This  council,  answering  to  our  Senate,  wjis  to  have  power  to  declare  war,  levy 
troops,  raise  money,  regulate  trade,  conclude  peace,  and  do  many  other  things  necessary 
for  the  general  good.  The  Board  of  Trade  had  proposed  a  plan  which  contained  all  the 
elements  of  a  system  for  the  utter  enslavement  and  dependence  of  tlie  Americans.  They 
proposed  a  generid  government  composed  of  the  governors  of  the  several  colonies  and 
certain  select  members  of  the  general  councils.  These  were  to  have  power  to  draw  on 
the  British  Treasury  for  money  to  carry  on  the  impending  war,  the  sum  to  be  reim- 
bursed by  taxes  imposed  by  Parliament  on  the  colonists.  The  latter  preferred  to  do 
their  own  fighting  and  levy  their  own  taxes  indejxindent  of  Great  Britain. 


MILITARY  EXPEDITIONS  PLANNED.  163 

Maryland,  as  commander-in-chief  of  tlie  colonial  forces.  Sharpe  did  not 
serve.  Shirley  put  forth  energetic  efforts  in  Massachusetts  ;  New  York 
voted  $25,000  for  military  purposes,  and  Maryland  voted  $30,000  for 
the  same  purpose. 

The  war  that  ensued  forms  an  important  part  of  the  history  of  our 
Republic,  but  the  plan  and  scope  of  this  work  precludes  the  possibility 
of  giving  an  account  of  even  important  events,  civil  and  military,  which 
have  occurred  outside  of  the  province  and  State  of  New  York,  excepting 
such  connected  with  its  history  as  may  be  necessary  to  elucidate  our 
subject. 

General  Edward  Braddock  was  sent  to  America  early  in  1755  as  com- 
mander-in-chief of  all  the  provincial  forces.  In  April  he  met  in  confer- 
ence, at  Alexandria,  Ya.,  six  colonial  governors — namely,  Shirley,  of 
Massachusetts  ;  Dinwiddie,  of  Yirginia  ;  De  Lancey,  of  New  York  ; 
Sharpe,  of  Maryland  ;  Morris,  of  Pennsylvania  ;  and  Dobbs,  of  North 
Carolina.  They  planned  three  expeditions — one  against  Fort  Duquesne, 
to  be  commanded  by  Braddock  ;  a  second  against  Forts  Niagara  and 
Frontenac  (Kingston,  IT.  C),  to  be  commanded  by  Governor  Shirley  ; 
and  a  third  against  Crown  Point,  on  Lake  Champlain,  to  be  led  by 
William  Johnson,  the  Indian  commissioner.  A  fourth  expedition  had 
already  been  arranged  by  Governor  Shirley,  of  Massachusetts,  and  Gov- 
ernor Lawrence,  of  Nova  Scotia,  for  the  purpose  of  driving  the  French 
Neutrals,  or  Acadians,  out  of  the  peninsula.  It  was  led  by  General 
Winslow,  of  Boston. 

The  expedition  against  the  Acadians  "was  successful,  but  the  cruel 
circumstances  and  the  result  of  their  expulsion  justly  places  it  among 
the  great  crimes  of  liistory.  The  expedition  against  Fort  Duquesne  was 
a  disastrous  failure.  Braddock  was  defeated  and  mortally  wounded  in 
the  battle  of  the  Monongahela  in  July.  Colonel  "Washington  was  the 
only  officer  of  his  staff  who  remained  unhurt,  and  he  saved  the  remnant 
of  the  army  from  annihilation  by  conducting  a  masterly  retreat.  The 
expeditions  of  Shirley  and  Johnson  within  the  State  of  New  York  will 
be  noticed  presently. 


164  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

WniLE  politicians  of  the  baser  sort,  in  and  out  of  tlie  New  York 
Assembly,  were  playing  disreputable  games  in  which  the  best  interests 
of  the  commonwealth  were  more  or  less  involved,  the  people  at  large, 
alarmed  by  the  evidences  that  a  war  was  a-kindling  at  their  very  doors, 
became  clamorous  for  the  adoption  of  measures  of  defence  against  their 
implacable  foe.  Heeding  these  clamors,  T)e  Lancey  convened  the 
Assembly  early  in  February  (1755),  and  in  his  message  to  them  he 
desired  that  body  to  make  proper  provisions  for  putting  the  province  in 
a  state  of  suitable  defence,  to  secure  Albany  against  the  French  and 
Indians,  and  to  authorize  the  building  of  a  strong  fortification  farther  up 
the  Hudson  Biver. 

The  Assembly  took  prompt  action.  Utterly  disregarding  the  royal 
instructions  which  prohibited  the  further  issue  of  paper  money  by  the 
colony  unless  authorized  to  do  so  by  the  crown,  they  ordered  the  emis- 
sion of  over  $100,000  in  bills  of  credit.  They  authorized  the  levy  of 
eight  hundred  men  and  the  impressment  of  artificers,  prohibited  the 
exportation  of  provisions  to  the  French  colonies,  and  provided  funds  for 
arming  the  troops  and  for  making  presents  to  the  Indians  to  secure  their 
co-operation. 

It  was  at  this  juncture  that  active  preparations  for  the  expeditions 
against  Forts  Niagara  and  Frontenac,  under  Shirley,  and  Crown  Point, 
imder  William  Johnson,  were  begun.  The  call  for  volunteers  and  levies 
was  cheerfully  responded  to.  The  troo]3S  destined  for  these  expeditions 
were  ordered  to  assemble  at  Albany,  and  were  gathered  there  at  the 
close  of  June.  Those  who  were  to  follow  Shirley  consisted  of  certain 
regiments  of  regulars  from  New  England,  New  York,  and  New  Jersey, 
and  a  band  of  Indian  auxiliaries.  Those  who  were  to  follow  Johnson 
were  chiefly  New  England  and  New  York  militia,  nearly  six  thousand  in 
number.  Ship-carpenters  were  sent  to  Oswego  to  prepare  vessels  to 
cope  with  the  French  on  Lake  Ontario.  The  first  armed  schooner, 
carrying  a  dozen  swivel-guns,  was  launched  there  at  the  close  of  June. 

Johnson's  second  in  command  was  Colonel  Lyman,  of  Connecticut,*  who 

*  Phineas  Lyman  was  born  at  Durham,  Conn.,  about  1716 ;  died  in  West  Florida  in 
1775.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  College,  and  was  a  tutor  there.  He  was  first  a  mer- 
chant  and  then  a  lawyer  in  Suffield,  where  he  was  a  magistrate  several  years.     He  was 


MILITARY   OPERATIONS   IX  NORTHERN  NEW  YORK.  165 

bore  the  commission  of  major-general  wlien  lie  arrived  at  Albany  at  the 
middle  of  June.  He  was  much  superior  in  military  ability  to  his  chief, 
and  should  have  held  his  jslace.  He  arranged  the  expedition  for  Johnson 
with  skill  and  energy,  and  then,  with  the  main  body  of  the  little  army, 
he  pressed  forward  during  the  hot  days  of  midsummer  to  the  "  great 
carrying-place"  between  the  Hudson  and  Lake  Cham  plain,  fifty  miles 
from  Albany.  He  was  accompanied  by  three  hundred  Mohawk  warriors 
under  the  famous  Mohawk  chief  King  Hendrick.*  While  waiting  for 
the  tardy  Johnson  to  arrive  with  artillery  and  stores,  Lyman  caused  his 
men  to  construct  a  strong  fortification  of  timber  and  earth,  which  was 
named  Fort  Lyman  ;  but  Johnson  afterward  ungenerously  changed  the 
name  to  Fort  Edward,  that  he  might  pay  successful  court  to  a  young 
scion  of  royalty. 

When  Johnson  arrived  at  Fort  Edward  he  took  command  of  the  army. 
News  of  Braddock's  defeat  dispirited  him,  and  he  would  have  abandoned 
the  expedition  had  not  Lyman  urged  him  to  go  forward.  It  was  deter- 
mined to  proceed  against  Crown  Point  by  way  of  Lake  St.  Sacrament, 

commander-in-chief  of  the  Connecticut  forces  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Frencli  and 
Indian  War,  and  performed  admirable  sOTvice  at  Lake  George  and  its  vicinity,  as  men- 
tioned in  the  text.  He  was  with  Lord  Howe  when  he  was  killed  in  1758  ;  was  at  the 
capture  of  Crown  Point  and  Montreal,  and  in  1762  he  led  troops  against  Havana,  Cuba. 
In  1763  General  Lyman  went  to  England  to  secure  prize-monej^  for  himself  and  soldiers, 
and  a  grant  of  land  near  Natchez,  on  the  Mississijopi.  The  region  "oas  called  West 
Florida,  and  there   he  died  soon  after  reaching  it. 

*  Hendrick  was  a  famous  ]\Iohawk  sachem  as  well  as  a  warrior,  and  was  sometimes 
called  ' '  King  Hendrick. ' '  When  Johnson  encamped  at  Lake  George  and  proposed  to  send 
out  a  small  party  to  meet  an  approaching  French  force,  Hendrick,  who  was  wise  and 
sagacious,  said,  "  If  they  are  to  fight,  they  are  too  few  ;  if  they  are  to  be  killed,  they 
are  too  many."  Johnson  deferred  to  Hendrick's  judgment,  and  sent  out  twelve  hundred 
men.  Hendrick  was  one  of  the  most  sagacious  Indian  statesmen  of  his  time,  but  Johnson 
outwitted  him  once.  Being  at  Johnson  Hall,  Hendrick  saw  and  coveted  a  richly  em- 
broidered scarlet  coat.  He  tarried  all  night  at  the  Hall.  The  next  morning  Hendrick 
said  to  Johnson,  "  Brother,  me  dream  last  night. "  "  Indeed, "  answered  Johnson.  "What 
did  my  red  brother  dream?"  "  Me  dream  that  coat  be  mine."  "  It  is  j'ours,"  said  the 
shrewd  Indian  agent.  Not  long  afterward  Johnson  visited  Hendrick,  and  said, 
"Brother,  I  dreamed  last  night."  "What  did  you  dream?"  asked  Hendrick.  "I 
dreamed  that  this  tract  of  land  was  mine,"  describing  a  boundary  which  included  nearly 
one  hundred  thousand  acres  of  land.  Hendrick  was  astounded,  but  would  not  be  out- 
done in  generosity.  Pondering  a  few  moments,  he  said,  "  Brother,  the  land  is  yours  ;  but 
you  must  not  dream  again."  The  title  was  conferred  by  the  British  Government,  and 
the  tract  was  called  ' '  The  Royal  Grant. ' '  The  portrait  on  page  166  is  copied  from  a  colored 
print  made  in  London  while  Hendrick  was  on  a  visit  there,  about  1750.  He  appears  in  a 
full  court  dress  presented  to  him  by  the  king.  His  signature  and  totem  may  be  seen 
among  totemic  signatures  on  page  6.  Hendrick  was  born  about  1680,  and  was  killed  in 
battle  near  Lake  George  in  1755. 


166 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


KING    HENDKICK. 


whicli  Johnson  now  named  Lake  George  in  lionor  of  his  king.  At  the 
head  of  that  lake  the  commander  established  an  open  camp,  utterly 
neglecting  to  intrench  it.  Suddenly  scouts  brought  the  alarming  intelli- 
gence that  the  forest  between  Fort 
Edward  and  the  head  of  Lake 
Cham  plain  Avas  swarming  with 
French  regulars,  Canadian  militia, 
and  Indians.  Johnson  immediately 
sent  out  Colonel  Ephraim  Williams 
(September  8th,  1755)  with  a 
thousand  provincials  and  two  hun- 
dred Mohawks  under  Ilendrick  to 
the  relief  of  Fort  Edward.  The 
foe  had  changed  their  destination, 
and  were  approaching  Johnson's 
camp.  The  detachment  fell  into 
an  ambuscade.  Williams  and 
Ilendrick  and  many  of  their  fol- 
loM'ers  were  slain.  The  remainder 
fled  back  to  the  camp  hotly  pur- 
sued by  the  victors,  tAvo  tliousand  strong,  led  by  General  the  Baron 
Dieskau. 

Johnson  was  apprised  of  this  disaster  before  tlie  arrival  of  the  fugitives, 
and  hastily  threw  up  a  breastwork  of  trees,  upon  which  he  planted  two 
cannons  received  the  day  before  from  Fort  Edward.  As  the  motley  foe 
rushed  upon  the  camp,  discharges  from  these  great  guns  terrified  the 
Indians,  and  they  fled  to  the  woods.  At  that  moment  Lyman,  who  had 
hastened  from  Fort  Edward  to  Johnson's  relief,  appeared,  when  the 
Canadian  militia  also  fled. 

Johnson  had  been  wounded  by  a  mnsket-ball  in  the  fleshy  part  of  the 
thigh  at  the  beginning  of  the  action,  and  Lyman  took  the  command. 
The  French  regulars  continued  the  fight  for  about  four  hours,  when, 
their  commander  being  fatally  wounded,  they  also  fled  and  hastened 
back  to  Crown  Point.  General  Lyman  had  won  the  victory  and  saved 
the  army. 

Learning  that  the  Frencli  were  strengthening  Crown  Point,  Johnson, 
contrary  to  the  opinions  and  wishes  of  his  officers  and  troops,  abandoned 
the  enterprise  and  lingered  long  in  his  camp — long  enough  to  build  a 
fort  at  the  head  of  the  lake,  which  he  named  "William  Henry.  Having 
garrisoned  it  and  Fort  Edward,  he  returned  to  Albany  with  the  remainder 
of  his  forces  in  October.     He  was  rev/arded  for  his  services  in  the  cam- 


PLAN  OF   CAMPAIGN  FOR   1756.  167 

paign  with  the  honors  of  knighthood  and  $25,000  to  support  the  dignity. 
This  honor  and  emohiment  properly  belonged  to  General  Phineas  Lyman.* 

The  expedition  of  Governor  Shirley  against  Forts  Niagara  and 
Frontenac  was  unsuccessful.  It  was  late  in  August  before  the  main 
body  of  his  troops  were  gathered  at  Oswego,  twenty-five  hundred  in 
number.  Storms  on  the  lake,  sickness  in  his  camp,  and  the  desertion  of 
his  Indian  allies  (warriors  of  the  Six  Nations)  compelled  Shirley  to 
abandon  the  expedition.  Leaving  a  sufficient  garrison  at  Oswego  under 
Colonel  Mercer,  the  remainder  of  the  troops  were  marched  back  to 
Albany  and  disbanded.     So  ended  the  campaign  of  1755. 

The  home  government  now  took  up  the  quarrel.  Great  Britain 
declared  war  against  France  in  May,  1756,  and  France  reciprocated  it  by 
a  similar  declaration  in  June.  The  plan  of  the  campaign  for  that  year 
submitted  by  Shirley,  the  successor  of  Braddock — a  splendid  theorist, 
but  with  little  practical  knowledge  of  military  matters — had  already  been 
adopted  at  a  convention  of  colonial  governors  held  at  Albany  in 
December,  1755.  It  was  arranged  that  ten  thousand  men  should  pro- 
ceed against  Crown  Point  ;  six  thousand  against  Niagara  ;  three  thou- 
sand against  Fort  Duquesne,  and  two  thousand  to  cross  the  wilderness 
between  the  Kennebec  and  Chaudiere  rivers  and  menace  Quebec  by 
attacking  the  Frencli  settlers  in  that  region  of  Canada. 

Lord  Loudoun, f  a  very  lazy  and  most  inefficient  man,  was  appointed 
Shirley's  successor  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  British  forces  in 
America.  lie  sent  his  lieutenant,  General  Abercrombie  (by  no  means  a 
brilliant  man),  to  America  in  the  spring  of  1756.     He  arrived  at  New 

*  After  the  victory  at  Lake  George  Lyman  vehemently  urged  Johnson  to  push  for- 
"wavd  immediately  and  take  possession  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  which  he  might 
easily  have  done  while  the  French  were  panic-stricken  by  their  defeat.  But  Johnson  had 
none  of  the  qualities  of  a  good  general,  not  even  sufficient  moral  courage,  and  did  know 
how  to  profit  by  success.  Shirley  and  others,  and  a  council  of  war  of  his  own  officers, 
urged  him  to  advance,  but  he  spent  weeks  in  his  camp  instead  in  building  Fort  William 
Henry.  Jealous  of  General  Lyman,  whose  superiority  he  felt,  and  with  meanness  only 
equalled  by  his  incapacity,  he  did  not  even  mention  Lyman's  name  in  his  report  of  the 
battle  to  the  Lords  of  Trade  ;  and  immediately  after  the  battle  he  changed  the  name  of 
Fort  Lyman  to  Fort  Edward,  as  we  have  observed.  The  influence  of  friends  at  court 
secured  to  Johnson  the  honors  and  emoluments  mentioned  in  the  text.  They  were  un- 
worthily bestowed  upon  an  avaricious  and  immoral  man  and  an  unskilful  general,  while 
a  noble,  pure,  and  brave  officer  was  suffered  to  go  unnoticed  either  by  his  commander  or 
the  king  whom  he  faithfully  served.     The  pen  of  history  will  not  neglect  him. 

f  John  Campbell,  fourth  Earl  of  Loudoun,  was  born  in  Scotland  in  1705.  He  was 
appointed  Governor  of  Virginia  in  1756,  but  leaving  the  province  in  charge  of  his  lieuten- 
ant, Dinwiddle,  he  engaged  in  military  affairs,  in  which  his  indolence  and  inefficiency 
worked  much  mischief.  He  was  recalled  from  the  colonies  in  1757,  and  was  made  lieu- 
tenant-general the  next  year.     He  was  created  general  in  1770,  and  died  in  1782. 


168  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

York  in  June  with  some  regular  soldiers,  and  after  loitering  awhile  near 
the  sea  he  ascended  the  Hudson  to  Albany,  where  he  found  General 
"VVinslow  at  the  head  of  seven  thousand  provincial  troops.  Winslow  had 
been  commissioned  by  Shirley  to  command  the  expedition  against  Crown 
Point.  These  troops  were  anxious  to  press  forward,  for  the  whole 
frontier  of  New  York  was  menaced  by  the  French  and  Indians.  The 
enthusiasm  and  patriotism  of  the  soldiers  were  repressed  by  Abercrombie, 
who  cast  a  firebrand  among  them  and  the  people  by  insisting  upon  the 
right  of  regular  officers  to  command  provincial  officers  of  the  same  rank, 
and  also  the  propriety  of  quartering  the  regular  officers  on  the  inhab- 
itants. These  assmnptions,  haughtily  presented,  caused  serious  disputes 
and  mutual  dislikes.  Van  Schaick,  Mayor  of  Albany,  disgusted  with 
the  superciliousness  of  the  regular  officers,  said  to  them  :  "  Go  back 
again  ;  go  back,  for  we  can  defend  our  frontiers  ourselves." 

But  Abercrombie  would  not  allow  the  troops  to  move  either  way.  He 
kept  at  least  ten  thousand  men,  regulars  and  provincials,  at  Albany  until 
near  the  close  of  summer  waiting  for  Loudoun,  wlien  the  French  had 
gained  advantages  that  disconcerted  the  whole  plan  of  tlie  campaign. 

An  energetic  provincial  officer — Colonel  John  Bradstreet — had  per- 
formed a  signal  service  in  the  interior  w4th  a  handful  of  men,  and 
rebuked  his  superiors  by  his  activity.  It  was  necessary  to  send  pro- 
visions to  the  garrison  at  Oswego.  Bradstreet  was  appointed  to  under- 
take the  perilous  task — perilous  because  it  was  known  that  the  French 
and  Indians  were  hovering  around  Oswego.  With  only  two  hundred 
provincials  Bradstreet  traversed  the  wilderness  by  way  of  the  Mohawk 
Kiver,  Wood  Creek,  and  Oneida  Lake,  and  passing  down  tlie  Oswego 
River,  put  into  the  forts  at  Oswego  provisions  for  five  thousand  men  for 
six  months.     lie  returned  in  safety  after  suffering  incredible  hardships. 

The  Marquis  de  Montcalm,  a  field-marshal  of  France,  had  succeeded 
the  Baron  Dieskau  in  command  of  the  French  troops  in  America. 
Profiting  by  the  delays  of  the  English  at  Albany,  and  aware  of  the  weak- 
ness of  tlie  British  commanders,  Montcalm  proceeded  to  attack  the  post 
at  Oswego.  He  gathered  jBve  thousand  Frenchmen,  Canadians,  and 
Indians  at  Fort  Frontenac  (Kingston),  crossed  Lake  Ontario,  and  on 
August  lltli  appeared  before  Fort  Ontario,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river 
at  Oswego,  and  demanded  tlie  surrender  of  the  garrison.  That  fort  had 
been  built  recently.  Colonel  Mercer,  in  command,  refused  compHance, 
when  the  French  began  a  regular  siege.  An  attack  at  midnight  was 
bravely  resisted,  when  Colonel  Mercer  spiked  his  guns  and  withdrew  the 
garrison  to  an  older  fort  (built  by  Governor  Burnet)  on  the  west  side  of 
the    river.     Montcalm    brought    his   cannon   to   bear   upon    this   fort. 


AN  INEFFICIENT   COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.  169 

Colonel  Mercer  was  killed,  and  on  the  14th  the  garrison,  sixteen  hundred 
strong,  surrendered.  The  forts  were  demolished,  Oswego  was  made 
desolate,  and  the  country  of  the  Six  Kations  was  laid  open  to  easy  incur- 
sions by  the  enemy. 

The  sluggish  Lord  Loudoun  had  just  arrived,  and  was  temporarily 
alarmed.  After  loitering  at  Albany  a  few  weeks  longer,  recalling  troops 
which  had  been  sent  toward  Ticonderoga,  and  making  wicked,  unjust, 
and  ungeiferous  complaints  against  the  provincials,  expecting  thereby  to 
conceal  his  own  imbecility,  he  dismissed  them  and  ordered  the  regulars 
into  winter  quarters.  He  took  a  thousand  of  the  latter  to  New  York  City 
and  haughtily  demanded  the  billeting  of  their  officers  upon  the  inhab- 
itants free  of  charge.  The  mayor,  in  behalf  of  the  people,  questioned  the 
righteousness  of  the  demand,  when  Loudoun,  uttering  a  coarse  oath,  said  : 

"  If  you  do  not  billet  my  officers  upon  free  quarters  this  day  I'll  order 
all  the  troops  in  Xorth  America  under  my  command,  and  billet  them 
myself  upon  the  city." 

Loudoun's  demand  was  sustained  by  an  Order  in  Council  *  passed  a 
few  months  before,  that  troops  might  be, kept  in  the  colonies  and  quar- 
tered on  the  people  without  the  consent  of  colonial  legislatures.  The 
authorities  at  New  York  yielded  to  Loudoun's  demand  under  a  silent  but 
most  solemn  protest.  This  was  the  earl's  only  victory  in  America. 
That  order,  virtually  authorizing  a  standing  army  in  the  colonies  to  be 
maintained,  in  a  great  measure,  by  the  people,  was  the  magnetic  touch 
that  gave  vitality  to  the  sentiment  of  resistance  whicli  soon  sounded  the 
tocsin  of  revolution. 

Military  operations  under  Loudoun's  command  were  quite  as  ineffi- 
cient elsewhere  as  in  the  province  of  New  York.  Colonel  Washington 
was  at  the  head  of  fifteen  hundred  volunteers  and  drafted  militia,  and 
was  anxious  to  act  against  Fort  Duquesne  ;  but  he  was  made  powerless 
by  official  interference  and  incapacity. 

Loudoun  called  a  military  council  at  Boston  in  January,  1757.  He 
proposed  to  confine  the  operations  of  that  year  to  an  expedition  against 
Louisburg  (which  had  been  restored  to  the  French  by  the  treaty  of  Aix- 
la-Chapelle),  and  to  a  defence  of  the  northern  frontiers.  The  colonists 
of  New  York  and  New  England  desired  to  expel  the  French  from  the 

*  The  British  Privy  Council  is  an  assembly  of  advisers  in  matters  of  State  appointed 
by  the  sovereign.  It  was  first  established  by  King  Alfred  in  895,  and  consisted  of  only 
twelve  members,  and  was  a  permanent  committee.  Now  it  is  composed  of  the  chief 
magnates  of  the  nation,  including  the  ministry.  A  Privy  Councillor  must  be  a  native 
of  Great  Britain.  The  authority  of  Parliament  is  delegated  to  this  body  in  the  regulation 
of  public  affairs.     "  Orders  in  council  "  have  the  force  of  constitutional  commands. 


170  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

region  south  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  to  recover  Oswego.  They  were 
grievously  disappointed  by  Loudoun's  perverseness  ;  yet  their  ardor  and 
patriotism  were  not  much  abated,  for  at  the  opening  of  summer  six 
thousand  provincials  were  under  arms.  Members  of  the  military  council 
had  mildly  remonstrated,  but  in  vain.  Loudoun  was  imperious,  and  had 
very  little  respect  for  the  opinions  of  provincials  ;  and  wiser  and  better 
men  than  he  were  compelled  to  acquiesce. 

Loudoun  determined  to  go  to  Louisburg  himself.  After  impressing 
into  the  British  service  four  hundred  men  at  New  York,  he  sailed  for 
Halifax  in  June,  where  he  found  himself  at  the  head  of  a  well-appointed 
army  of  ten  thousand  men  and  a  fleet  of  sixteen  ships  of  the  line  and 
several  frigates.  Instead  of  going  to  Cape  Breton  at  once  and  attacking 
the  strong  fortress  there,  Loudoun  employed  his  men  in  laying  out  a 
parade,  planting  a  vegetable  garden  for  their  use,  and  exercising  them 
in  sham  battles.  So  he  wasted  the  precious  summer-time.  At  last 
when,  in  August,  he  prepared  to  sail  for  Louisburg,  he  was  informed 
that  the  garrison  there  had  been  re-enforced,  and  that  tlie  French  had 
one  more  ship  than  he.  Alarmed,  this  absurd  leader,  who  was  always 
in  a  hurry  but  always  unready — "like  St.  George  on  a  tavern  sign, 
always  on  horseback  but  never  going  forward  " — abandoned  the  enter- 
prise and  sailed  for  New  York  to  hear  of  military  disasters  in  that  prov- 
ince.    These  will  be  noticed  presently. 

For  more  than  a  year  the  English  in  America  had  acted  so  much 
"  like  women"  that  the  Indians  were  disgusted,  while  the  activity  of 
the  French  won  their  admiration  and  alliance.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
summer  of  1757  warriors  from  "  more  than  thirty  nat'ons"  were  at 
Montreal.  Governor  Vaudreuil  told  them  of  glory  and  plunder  surely 
to  be  obtained  by  alliance  with  the  French.  Montcalm  danced  their 
wild  war-dances  with  them  and  sung  their  fierce  war-songs  with  them 
until  their  affection  for  him  and  enthusiasm  for  the  French  cause  became 
intense.  They  went  in  a  wild,  tumultuous  march  for  St.  John's,  on  the 
Sorel  (the  outlet  of  Lake  Champlain),  accompanied  by  priests  who 
chanted  hymns  and  anthems  in  almost  every  Indian  dialect.  In  canoes 
and  bateaux  the  French  and  their  dusky  allies  went  up  Lake  Champlain 
and  landed  at  Ticonderoga  in  hot  July.  Thence  Montcalm  sent  maraud- 
ing parties  almost  to  Fort  Edward  under  Marin,  who  had  destroyed  the 
hamlet  of  Saratoga  more  than  a  dozen  years  before. 

Very  soon  Montcalm*  appeared  on  Lake  George  with  eight  tliousand 

*  The  Marquis  de  Montcalm  was  born  in  France  in  1712,  and  was  of  noble  descent. 
He  entered  the  army  while  he  was  yet  a  lad,  and  soon  distinguished  himself.     In  1756  he 


THE   FRENCH   CAPTURE   FORT   WILLIAM  HENRY.  171 

men  (two  thousand  of  them  Indians)  and  a  train  of  artillery,  and  laid 
siege  (August  2d)  to  Fort  William  Henry.*  then  garrisoned  by  less  than 
five  hundred  men  under  Colonel  Munro,  supported  by  almost  ten  thou- 
sand provincials  in  an  entrenched  camp  upon  a  gentle  rocky  eminence, 
■where  may  now  be  seen  the  dim  ruins  of  the  citadel  of  Fort  George.  A 
little  more  than  a  dozen  miles  distant  was  Fort  Edward,  where  lay  the 
timid  General  Webb  with  about  four  thousand  troops. 
( -  Munro  was  surprised.  General  AVebb  had  learned  from  scouts  of  the 
approach  of  the  foe,  but  more  willing  to  have  them  fall  upon  Fort  William 
Henry  than  upon  Fort  Edward,  he  concealed  the  fact  from  Munro. 
When  Montcalm  appeared  the  latter  sent  an  express  to  Webb  imploring 
succor.  Not  doubting  it  would  be  sent,  he  promptly  refused  compliance 
■with  ^lontcalm's  summons  to  surrender  the  fort,  and  bravely  sustained  a 
siege  for  several  days,  continually  expecting  aid  from  Fort  Edward  in 
response  to  several  expresses  sent  to  Webb.  But  no  succor  came. 
Webb  would  not  spare  a  man.  He  finally  sent  a  letter  to  Munro  filled 
with  exaggerations,  and  advising  him  to  surrender.  The  letter  fell  into 
the  handS'  of  Montcalm  at  a  moment  when  he  was  about  to  abandon  the 
siege  and  retire.  The  French  leader  immediately  made  a  peremptory 
demand  for  a  surrender.  Despairing  of  succor,  Munro  yielded,  and  on 
the  morning  of  August  9th  (1757)  the  garrison  marched  out  to  the 
intrenched  camp  under  a  promise  of  protection  and  other  honorable  con- 
ditions. They  were  promised  that  they  should  proceed  in  safety  to  Fort 
Edward  on  parole. 

Montcalm  had  kept  intoxicating  liquors  from  his  Indians,  but  the  Eng- 
lish settlers  supplied  them  with  rum.  After  a  night's  carousal  the  bar- 
barians, inflamed  with  intoxication  and  a  desire  for  plunder,  were  ready 
for  any  mischief,  and  when  the  prisoners  left  the  camp  for  Fort  Edward 

■vras  sent  to  Canada,  -with  the  rank  of  major-general,  to  take  the  chief  military  command 
there.  After  serving  with  skill  and  bravery  in  America  for  about  three  years,  he  was 
killed  in  battle  at  Quebec  in  September,  1759. 

*  During  the  previous  winter  fifteen  hundred  French  regulars  and  Canadian  militia 
went  down  from  the  St.  Lawrence  to  Lake  George,  travelling  mucli  of  the  way  with 
snow-shoes,  and  attempted  to  take  Fort  William  Henry  by  surprise.  Their  provisions 
were  carried  on  small  sledges  drawn  by  dogs,  and  their  beds  were  bear-skins  spread  on 
the  snow.  Stealthily  they  went  over  the  frozen  lake  and  appeared  before  the  fort  at 
midnight  (Marcli  16tli,  1757).  The  garrison  were  on  the  alert.  The  invaders  set  fire  to 
three  vessels  frozen  in  the  ice  there,  a  storehouse,  and  some  huts,  and  escaped  by  the  light 
of  the  conflagration.  Rogers's  Rangers  were  at  the  fort,  and  were  noted  for  tlieir 
aggressive  movements  that  winter.  One  of  their  bravest  men  was  Lieutenant  Stark 
(afterward  the  hero  of  Bennington),  who  commanded  the  Rangers  in  the  absence  of 
Rogers.  Under  Stark  they  were  often  found  attacking  parties  of  the  foe  in  the  vicinity 
of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point. 


172  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

the  crazed  Indians,  defying  Montcalm's  efforts  to  restrain  them,  fell 
upon  the  defenceless  captives,  when  a  fearful  scene  of  slaughter,  plunder, 
and  devastation  ensued.  The  fort  and  its  appendages  were  laid  in  ruins, 
and  for  nearly  one  hundred  years  nothing  marked  its  site  but  some  half- 
concealed  mounds.  Xow  a  large  summer  hotel  stands  upon  its  site. 
This  sad  event  was  the  closing  one  of  the  campaign  of  1757,  and,  happily, 
ended  the  leadership  of  the  Earl  of  Loudoun  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic. 

Montcalm  did  not  attempt  further  conquests  at  that  time,  but  returned 
to  Ticonderoga,  strengthened  the  works  there,  and  sent  out  scouting 
parties  to  annoy  the  British  and  capture  their  foragers.  These  enter- 
prises were  fruitful  of  exciting  scenes.* 

The  position  of  affairs  in  America  now  alarmed  the  English  people. 
The  Americans  were  brave  and  high-spirited,  and  recent  events  had 
manifested  strength  and  their  ability  to  support  themselves.  With  a 
sense  of  their  independence  of  Great  Britain  there  was  danger  of  their 
alienation.  Some  of  the  royal  governors  were  rapacious;  others  were 
incompetent  ;  all  were,  as  a  rule,  haughty  in  their  demeanor.  The 
arrogant  assumption  of  superiority  by  the  British  military  officers  dis- 
gusted the  provincial  troops  and  often  cooled  the  ardor  of  whole  regi- 
ments. 

Perceiving  the  incompetency  of  the  government  of  the  aristocracy, 
the  people  of  Great  Britain  yearned  for  a  change  in  the  administration 
of  public  affairs.  The  popular  will  prevailed.  William  Pitt  was  called 
to  the  premiership  in  June,  1757.  "  Give  me  your  confidence,"  said 
the  great  commoner  to  the  king,  "  and  1  will  deserve  it."  "Deserve 
}ny  confidence,"  tlie  king  replied,  "  and  you  shall  have  it." 

Pitt  would  not  listen  to  the  pernicious  twaddle  about  enforcing  royal 
authority  in  America  that  fell  from  the  lips  of  the  Lords  of  Trade. 
"  We  want  the  co-operation  of  the  Americans,"  he  said,  "  and  to  have 
it  we  must  be  just  and  allow  them  freedom."     These  words  ran  like  an 

*  These  scouting  parties  Avere  watched  by  Major  Rogers  and  his  Rangers  of  New 
Hami3sliire.  The  afterward  famous  Israel  Putnam  was  his  lieutenant.  On  one  occasion 
a  party  of  French  and  Indians  led  by  Captain  Molang  captured  a  convoy  of  English 
wagoners.  Rogers  and  Putnam  attempted  to  intercept  the  French  on  their  return,  but 
fell  into  an  ambush,  and  Putnam  and  a  few  followers,  separated  from  the  rest,  were 
captured.  His  comrades  were  killed  and  scalped,  but  he  was  reserved  for  torture.  He 
passed  the  night  bound  to  a  tree,  where  his  clothes  were  riddled  with  bullets  by  the  cross 
tiring  of  the  combatants.  lie  was  taken  deeper  into  the  forest,  fast  bound  to  a  tree,  and 
a  fire  was  built  around  him,  when  a  sudden  thunder-.shower  nearly  extinguished  the 
flames.  They  soon  began  to  blaze  fiercely  again,  when  Molang,  who  had  heard  of  these 
proceedings,  rushed  through  the  band  of  Indians,  released  Putnam,  and  carried  him  to 
Ticonderoga. 


PLAN   OF   CAMPAIGN  FOR   1758.  173 

electric  thrill  tlirougli  the  hearts  of  the  colonists,  and  men  and  money 
were  freely  offered  for  the  cause.  The  French  in  Canada  were  growing 
weaker,  for  they  received  scanty  aid  from  France.  "  The  king  relies  on 
your  zeal  and  obstinacy  of  courage,"  wrote  the  French  Minister  to 
Montcalm  in  1758.  ''  Without  unexpected  good  fortune  or  blunders  on 
^he  part  of  the  English,"  the  candid  general  replied,  "  Canada  must  be 
lost  this  campaign,  or  certainly  the  next." 

Pitt  soon  diffused  his  own  energy  and  wisdom  into  eveiy  department 
of  the  government.  lie  did  not  demand  anything  of  the  colonies,  but 
ashed  them  to  raise  and  clothe  twenty  thousand  men,  promising  them,  in 
the  name  of  Parliament,  to  furnish  arms,  tents,  and  provisions  for  such 
levies,  and  also  to  reimburse  the  several  colonies  all  the  money  they 
should  expend  in  raising  and  clothing  these  troops.  A  large  naval  arma- 
ment for  American  waters  was  placed  under  the  command  of  Admiral 
Boscawen,  and  twelve  thousand  British  troops  were  allotted  for  service  in 
America.  This  liberal  policy  had  a  magical  effect.  New  England  alone 
raised  fifteen  thousand  of  the  required  levies  ;  New  York  furnished  about 
three  thousand  ;  New  Jersey,  one  thousand  ;  Pennsylvania,  three 
thousand,  and  Virginia  two  thousand. 

The  scheme  for  the  campaign  of  1758  was  extensive  in  its  intended 
operations.  Shirley's  plan  of  1756  was  revived  and  its  general  outlines 
were  adopted.  The  chief  points  of  assault  were  designated — Louisburg, 
Ticonderoga,  and  Duquesne.  Twelve  thousand  men  under  General 
Amherst  were  to  attack  Louisburg,  and  possibly  Quebec.  Another 
army  was  to  be  led  from  Albany  by  Abercrombie  and  young  Lord 
Howe  to  attack  Ticonderoga,  and  General  Joseph  Forbes  was  ap- 
pointed to  lead  another  army  over  the  Alleghany  Mountains  to  attack 
Fort  Duquesne. 

Louisburg  received  the  first  blow.  Boscawen  with  forty  armed  vessels, 
bearing  Amherst  with  a  land  force  of  twelve  thousand  men,  and  having 
General  Wolfe  as  his  lieutenant,  left  Halifax  at  near  the  close  of  May, 
and  on  June  8th  the  troops  landed  near  Louisburg.  The  French,  after 
a  vigorous  resistance  of  about  fifty  days,  surrendered  the  fort  and  city 
and  the  islands  of  Cape  Breton  and  Prince  Edward  to  the  British. 
When  Louisburg  fell  the  French  dominion  in  America  began  to  wane, 
and  from  that  time  its  decline  was  rapid. 

While  Amherst  and  Wolfe  were  conquering  in  the  east,  Abercrombie 
and  young  Lord  Howe  were  leading  seven  thousand  regulars,  nine  thou- 
sand provincials,  and  a  large  train  of  artillery  against  Ticonderoga,  then 
occupied  by  Montcalm  with  about  four  thousand  soldiers.  Howe  was 
*' the  soul  of  the  expedition."     He  was  a  "  Lycurgus  of  the  camp," 


174  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

introducing  stern  rules  and  radical  reforms,  and  adapting  everything  to 
the  absolute  needs  of  the  service. 

Through  the  activity  of  Colonel  John  Bradstreet,*  ably  assisted  by 
Major  Pliilip  Schuyler,  bateaux  for  carrying  troops  over  Lake  George 
were  ready  by  the  time  the  necessary  stores  arrived  from  England,  and 
before  the  end  of  June  Howe  led  tlie  first  division  of  the  troops  to  the 
head  of  the  lake.  Abercrombie  arrived  there  with  the  remainder  at  the 
beginning  of  July.  The  provincial  troops  were  chiefly  from  New  Eng- 
land and  New  York.  Among  the  officers  were  Captains  Stark,  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  Putnam,  of  Connecticut. 

The  whole  armament  went  down  the  lake  on  a  beautiful  Sabbath  after- 
noon (July  5th,  1758),  led  by  Lord  Howe  in  a  large  boat,  and  landed  at 


SIGNATURE   OF   JOHN   BRADSTKEET. 


dawn  the  next  morning  at  its  northern  extremity  between  four  and  five 
miles  from  Fort  Ticonderoga.  The  occupants  of  a  French  outpost  there 
fled.  The  first  intimation  they  had  of  the  proximity  of  an  enemy  was 
the  blaze  of  the  scarlet  uniforms  of  the  British  in  the  morning  sun. 

The  country  between  the  lake  and  Ticonderoga  was  covered  with  a 
dense  forest  and  tangled  morasses.  The  British  immediately  pressed 
forward.  Lord  Howe  leading  the  advanced  guard.  Following  incom- 
petent guides,  they  became  bewildered,  and  while  in  that  condition  they 
suddenly  encountered  a  French  scouting  party.  A  sharp  skirmish 
ensued,  and  the  French  troops  were  defeated  ;  but  Lord  Howe  was  slain 
in  the  first  fire.     He  was  pierced  by  a  bullet  and  expired  inmiediately. 

*  John  Bradstreet  was  born  in  1711  ;  died  in  the  city  of  New  York  September  25th, 
1774.  He  was  a  lieutenant-colonel  of  Pepperell's  provincial  regiment  at  the  siege  of 
Louisburg  in  1745,  and  in  the  autumn  was  commissioned  captain  in  a  regular  regiment. 
In  1746  he  was  appointed  Lieutenant-Governor  of  St.  John's,  Newfoundhuid.  He  was 
General  Shirley's  adjutant  at  Oswego  in  1755,  and  in  1756  conveyed  supplies  to  that  post 
through  great  jierils.  He  was  quartermaster-general  of  the  provincial  forces  under 
General  Abercrombie,  and  after  the  repulse  at  Ticonderoga  led  a  successful  exjx^lition 
against  Fort  Frontenac.  He  was  an  efficient  officer  under  Amherst  in  1759,  was  commis- 
sioned colonel  in  1762,  major-general  in  1764,  and  commanded  an  expedition  against  tlie 
Western  Indians,  and  negotiated  a  treaty  of  peace. 


ATTACK  AND  REPULSE  AT  TICONDEROGA. 


175 


His  followers,  dismayed,  retreated  in  wild  confusion  to  the  landing-place 
and  bivouacked  for  the  night.* 

Abercrombie  advanced  about  half  way  to  Ticonderoga  the  next  day, 
and  sent  his  chief  eno-ineer,  with 
some  rangers  under  Captain  Stark, 
to  reconnoitre  the  French  works. 
The  engineer  reported  the  works 
very  weak.^  Stark,  instructed  by  his 
practised  eye,  declared  they  were 
very  strong.  Abercrombie,  with  his 
usual  contempt  for  provincials,  re- 
jected Stark's  testimony,  and  on  the 
morning  of  the  8th,  having  been  , 
joined  by  Sir  William  Johnson  with 
more  than  four  hundred  Indians,  he 
ordered  his  men  forward  to  scale  the 
breastworks  of  the  French  lines, 
while  he,  like  a  coward,  remained 
behind. 

The  assailants  soon  found  that 
Stark  was  right.  The  breastworks  were  strong,  and  after  a  most 
sanguinary  struggle  for  about  four  hours  the  British  were  repulsed  with 
fearful  loss.  They  fled  with  precipitation  back  to  Lake  George,  leaving 
almost  two  thousand  of  their  comrades  dead  or  wounded  in  the  forest. 
Abercrombie  had  preceded  them  in  their  flight,  in  "  extremest  fright  ;" 
and  all  hurried  to  their  old  camp  at  the  head  of  the  lake.  Abercrombie 
felt  safer  when  he  had  put  that  little  sea,  thirty-eight  miles  in  length, 
between  himself  and  Montcalm. 

Colonel  Bradstreet,  burning  with  indignation  because  of  the  shameful 
defeat,  urged  upon  a  council  of  war  held  at  the  head  of  the  lake  the 
importance  of  capturing  Fort  Frontenac,  and  offered  to  lead  an  expe- 
dition against  it.  After  much  hesitation  Abercrombie  commissioned 
him  to  undertake  the  enterprise  with  three  thousand  men.  Bradstreet 
hastened  with  them  to  Albany,  where  he  was  joined  by  Major  Philip 


LORD  HOWE. 


*  George,  Lord- Viscount  Howe,  was  the  eldest  son  of  Sir  E.  Scrope,  second  Viscount 
Howe  of  Ireland.  He  commanded  five  thousand  British  troops  who  arrived  at  Halifax 
in  1757,  and  tlie  next  year,  as  we  have  observed  in  the  text,  he  accompanied  Abercrombie 
on  his  expedition  against  Ticonderoga.  He  was  the  idol  of  his  soldiers.  Mante 
observes  :  "  With  him  the  soul  of  the  army  seemed  to  expire."  He  was  thirty-four  years 
of  age  at  bis  deatli.  The  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  Bay  appropriated  $1250  for  the 
erection  of  a  monument  to  his  memory  in  Westminster  Abbey. 


176 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


Schuyler,  and  then  "  almost  flew"  up  the  vallej  of  the  Mohawk  and  on 
to  Oswego.  Schuyler  and  some  men  had  reached  that  post  earlier  and 
prepared  vessels  wherewith  to  cross  the  lake  with  men,  cannons,  and 
stores.  The  expedition  landed  near  Frontenac  on  the  evening  of  August 
25th.  The  French  were  taken  completely  by  surprise.  The  fort 
mounted  sixty  cannons,  but  the  garrison  was  very  small.  The  com- 
mander sent  to  Montreal  for  aid,  but  before  it  could  reach  him  he  was 
compelled  to  surrender  the  fort  and  its  dependencies,  with  immense 
spoil,  particularly  in  stores  destined  for  Fort  Duquesne  ;  also  nine  armed 
vessels  carrying  from  eight  to  eighteen  guns  each. 

The  capture  of  Frontenac,  the  re- 
sult of  a  brilhant  expedition,  was 
one  of  the  most  important  events  of 
the  war.  It  facilitated  the  fall  of 
Duquesne,  discouraged  the  French, 
gave  joy  to  the  English,  and  re- 
flected honor  on  the  provincials. 
It  raised  a  cry  for  peace  throughout 
Canada,  the  resources  of  which  were 
almost  exhausted.  "I  am  not 
discouraged,"  wrote  Montcalm,  in 
evident  disappointment,  "  nor  are 
my  troops.  We  are  resolved  to 
find  our  graves  under  the  ruins  of 
the  colony. ' '  * 

The     expedition     against     Fort 

Duquesne,  led  by  General  Forbes, 

was   finally   successful  in  spite  of 

him.     He  set  out  with  about   six 

thousand    men  in  July.     He  was 

a  Scotchman  and    a    "regular"    British  ofiicer  ;   perverse  in  will  and 

judgment,  and  indecisive  in   action.     Sickness   and   inefficiency  and  a 

persistence  in  constructing  a  new  military  road  over  the  mountains  pro- 

*  Bradstreet  lost  only  four  or  five  men  before  the  capture  of  Frontenac.  Then  a  fearful 
sickness — dysentery — broke  out  among  his  troops,  and  five  hundred  of  them  were  swept 
away.  With  the  remainder  he  slowly  retraced  liis  steps,  and  on  the  Mohawk  River,  at 
the  site  of  the  (present)  village  of  Rome,  his  troops  assisted  in  building  Fort  Stanwix 
under  the  direction  of  General  Stanwix. 

f  The  pen-and-ink  sketch  above  given  was  made  from  a  photograph  of  the  original 
study  made  by  Charles  Willson  Peale  for  his  three-quarter  length  jwrtrait  of  "Washington 
in  the  uniform  of  a  Virginia  colonel.  It  was  made  at  Mount  Vernon  in  1772,  when 
Colonel  Washington  was  forty  years  of  age. 


COLONEL   GEORGK  WASHINGTON.! 


FORT  DUQUESNE  TAKEN  BY  THE  ENGLISH.         177 

duced  such  almost  interminable  delays  that  on  November  1st  the  army 
■was  fifty  miles  from  Fort  Duquesne.  At  length  the  impatient  Colonel 
"Washington  was  sent  forward  with  a  detachment  of  Virginians,  and  very 
soon  accomplished  the  object  of  the  expedition.  Indian  scouts  employed 
by  the  French  discovered  "Washington's  approach,  and  their  report  so 
greatly  exaggerated  the  number  of  his  men  that  the  frightened  garrison, 
five  hundred  strong,  set  lire  to  the  fort  in  the  evening  (November  24th, 
1T58)  and  fled  in  confusion  down  the  Ohio  in  boats  by  the  light  of  the 
flames,  leaving  everything  behind  them.  The  Virginians  took  possession 
of  the  fort  the  next  day,  and  the  name  of  Fort  Duquesne  was  changed 
to  Fort  Pitt  in  lionor  of  the  British  Prime-Minister. 

With  the  close  of  this  expedition  ended  the  campaign  of  1758.  It  had, 
on  the  whole,  resulted  favorably  to  Great  Britain,  and  Pitt  made  vast 
preparations  for  the  campaign  of  the  next  year.  The  attachment  of 
some  of  the  Indian  allies  of  the  French  had  been  much  weakened,  and 
at  a  great  council  held  at  Easton,  in  Pennsylvania,  in  the  summer  of 
1758,  six  tribes  had,  with  the  Six  Nations,  made  treaties  of  friendship 
and  neutrality  with  the  English. 


178  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  final  struggle  between  the  Frencli  and  English  for  mastery  in 
North  America  was  now  at  hand.  Pitt,  with  wonderful  sagacity  and 
with  as  wonderful  knowledge  of  the  theatre  of  conflict  in  America,  con- 
ceived a  magnificent  plan  for  the  conquest  of  Canada  and  the  destruction, 
at  one  blow,  of  the  Frencli  dominion  beyond  the  Atlantic.  That 
dominion  now  did  not  really  extend  beyond  the  region  of  the  St.  Law- 
rence, for  tlie  settlements  or  stations  in  the  far  west  and  south  were  like 
distant,  isolated,  and  weak  colonies  cut  off  from  the  parent  country. 
The  French  in  America  were  then  comparatively  few  in  number  and 
weak  in  supplies  of  every  kind.  Montcalm  was  then  chief  military  com- 
mander ;  but  in  all  Canada  he  could  not  muster  seven  thousand  men  into 
active  service,  and  very  few  Indians. 

Pitt  had  the  rare  good  fortune  to  possess  the  confidence  of  Parliament 
and  the  English-  American  colonies.  The  former  were  dazzled  by  his 
greatness,  the  latter  were  impressed  with  his  justice.  He  had  promptly 
reimbursed  the  expenses  of  the  colonists  in  raising  and  clothing  troops,  a 
sum  amounting  to  at  least  $1,000,000  ;  and  they  cordially  seconded  his 
scheme  of  conquest,  which  had  been  communicated  to  their  chief  men 
under  an  oath  of  secrecy.  The  Parliament  voted  $60,000,000  for  the 
American  service,  and  forces  by  land  and  sea  such  as  had  never  before 
been  known  in  England.  "  This  is  Pitt's  work,"  said  the  Earl  of 
Chesterfield,  "  and  it  is  marvellous  in  our  eyes  !' '  The  ineflScient  Aber- 
crombie  w^as  superseded  in  the  chief  command  in  America  by  Sir 
Jeffrey  Amherst,*  with  General  James  Wolfe  as  his  lieutenant. 

The  plan  of  operations  was  simple.     General   Wolfe,  with  a  strong 

*  Sir  Jeffrey  Amherst  was  born  in  Kent,  England,  January  29th,  1717  ;  died  August 
3d,  1797.  He  entered  the  royal  army  as  ensign  in  1731,  and  was  aide  to  Lord  Ligonier 
and  the  Duke  of  Cumberland.  He  was  promoted  to  major-general  in  1756,  and  was  in 
chief  command  of  the  English  forces  sent  against  Louisburg  in  1758.  In  September 
that  year  he  was  appointed  commander-in-chief  of  the  British  forces  in  America,  and  led 
the  troops  that  drove  the  French  from  Lake  Champlain  in  1759.  The  next  year  he 
captured  Montreal  and  completed  the  conquest  of  Canada.  For  these  acts  he  was 
rewarded  with  thanks  and  knighthood.  In  1763  he  was  appointed  Governor  of  Virginia. 
In  1771  he  was  Governor  of  Guernsey,  and  was  created  a  baron  in  1776.  He  was  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  British  forces  from  1778  until  1795,  and  was  created  a  field-mai-shal 
in  1796. 


MILITARY  PREPARATIONS. 


179 


SIR  JEFFREY  AMHERST. 


land  force   and  a  well-manned  fleet  under  Admiral  Saunders,   was  to 
ascend   the    St.    Lawrence   Kiver  and  attack  Quebec.     Another   force 
under  General  Amherst  was  to  drive  the  French  from  Lake  Champlain, 
seize  Montreal,  and  join  Wolfe  at 
Quebec  ;  while  a  tliird  expedition, 
led  by  General  Prideaux,   was  to. 
attempt  the  capture  of  Fort  Niag- 
ara, and,  if  successful,  to  go  down 
Lake  Ontario  and  the  St.  Lawrence 
to  Montreal. 

When,  at  the  close  of  summer 
(1758),  Amherst,  at  Cape  Breton, 
heard  of  the  disaster  at  Ticon- 
deroga  he  sailed  for  Boston  with 
four  regiments  and  a  battalion,  and 
made  a  forced  march  across  New 
England  to  Albany  to  re-enforce 
the  defeated  Abercrombie.  He 
arrived  at  Lake  George  early  in 
October,  but  too  late  for  further 
action    in   the   field    that   season. 

He  went  to  New  York,  and  in  November  he  received  his  commission  as 
commander-in-chief.  He  spent  the  winter  in  New  York  City  making 
preparations  for  the  next  campaign.  In  the  spring  he  made  his  head- 
quarters at  Albany  ;  appointed  Colonel  Bradstreet  quartermaster-general 
of  his  army  ;  collected  his  forces,  and  at  the  close  of  May  found  himself 
at  the  head  of  twelve  thousand  men,  chiefly  of  New  York  and  New 
England.  The  Assembly  of  New  York  had  authorized  the  emission  of 
half  a  million  dollars  in  bills  of  credit,  and  a  loan  to  the  crown  of  a  large 
sum,  to  be  reimbursed  before  the  close  of  the  year. 

Prideaux  collected  his  forces,  chiefly  provincials,  at  Oswego.  From^ 
that  point,  accompanied  by  Sir  William  Johnson  and  some  Mohawks,  he 
sailed  for  Niagara,  and  landed  there  without  much  opposition  on  July 
15th.  A  siege  was  immediately  begun,  and  on  the  same  day  Prideaux 
was  killed  by  the  bursting  of  one  of  his  cannons,  when  Johnson  assumed 
the  chief  command.  He  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  fort.  The  com- 
mander was  in  hourly  expectation  of  re-enforcements  and  refused  com- 
pliance, and  for  several  days  the  garrison  made  a  brave  resistance. 

On  the  24:tli  about  fifteen  hundred  French  regulars  and  many  Creek 
and  Cherokee  warriors,  drawn  from  Detroit  and  elsewhere,  appeared, 
commanded  by  Colonel  D'Aubrey,  when  a  sharp  battle  ensued.     The 


180  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

French  and  their  allies  were  soon  effectually  routed  and  dispersed.  The 
next  day  (July  25tli)  the  fort  and  its  dependencies  were  surrendered  to 
the  British.  The  French  dominion  in  that  region  was  fairly  annihilated, 
and  the  connecting  link  of  military  power  between  Canada  and  Louisiana 
was  broken  never  to  be  restored.  Lieutenant-Governor  De  Lancey 
wrote  to  the  Lords  of  Trade  :  "  Ilis  Majesty  is  now  in  possession  of  the 
most  important  pass  in  all  the  Indian  countries." 

Johnson  was  so  encumbered  with  prisoners  that  he  could  not  provide 
a  sufficiency  of  vessels  to  convey  him  and  his  troops,  with  the  captives, 
to  Montreal,  so  he  garrisoned  Fort  Niagara  and  returned  to  Albany, 

Late  in  June  Amlierst  was  at  the  head  of  Lake  George  with  about 
twelve  thousand  troops,  regulars  and  provincials  in  equal  numbers  ;  and 
on  July  22d  he  appeared  before  the  lines  at  Ticonderoga  with  about 
eleven  thousand  men.  The  French,  conscious  of  their  own  weakness 
and  peril,  fled  down  the  lake  to  Crown  Point,  and  almost  immediately 
abandoned  that  post  also  and  took  a  longer  flight,  halting  at  Isle  aux 
Noix,  at  the  foot  of  the  lake,  or  rather  in  the  Sorel  River,  its  outlet. 
Amherst  took  possession  of  Crown  Point  without  opposition,  and  was 
about  to  follow  the  French  with  a  detachment  of  his  army,  when  he  was 
informed  that  the  allies  were  three  thousand  strong  and  that  the  lake  was 
guarded  by  four  vessels  carrying  heavy  guns  numerously  manned,  under 
the  command  of  a  skilful  French  naval  officer. 

Amherst  paused,  and  ordered  the  construction  of  several  vessels  of  war 
at  Crown  Point.  Upon  these  he  embarked  his  whole  army  at  the  middle 
of  October,  for  the  purpose  of  driving  the  French  beyond  the  St.  Law- 
rence. Heavy  tempests  drove  him  back  to  Crown  Point,  where  he  went 
into  winter  quarters,  and  then  set  his  troops  at  work  in  the  construction 
of  a  strong  and  costly  fort,  the  picturesque  ruins  of  which  are  seen  by 
tourists  on  Lake  Champlain.  The  fort  and  its  appurtenances  cost  the 
British  Government  several  million  dollars.  It  remained  in  their  pos- 
session until  1775. 

Meanwhile  a  more  successful  expedition  was  consummated.  The  fleet 
of  Admiral  Saunders,  consisting  of  twenty-two  line-of -battle  ships,  many 
frigates  and  smaller  vessels,  bore  General  Wolfe  and  eight  thousand 
troops  up  the  St.  Lawrence  River  in  June  (1759).  These  landed  on  the 
Island  of  Orleans,  a  few  miles  below  Quebec,  on  the  27th. 

Quebec,  then  as  now,  consisted  of  an  Upper  and  Lower  Town,  the 
former  being  surrounded  by  a  strongly  fortified  wall  pierced  by  five 
gates.  An  elevated  plateau  three  hundred  feet  above  the  river  and 
extending  from  the  rear  of  the  city  some  distance  up  the  St.  Lawrence 
is  called  the  Plains  of  Abraliam,  a  locality  made  famous  in  history  by 


THE   ENGLISH   BESIEGE   QUEBEC.  181 

the  events  of  this  expedition.  At  the  junction  of  the  St.  Charles  River 
with  the  St.  Lawrence,  at  the  foot  of  the  rocky  promontory  on  which 
lies  the  Upper  Town,  tlie  Frencli  had  armed  vessels  and  floating  hat- 
teries.  The  city  was  strongly  garrisoned  by  French  regulars,  and  along 
phe  river  from  Quebec  to  the  Montmorenci  River,  a  distance  of  seven 
[miles,  lay  the  army  of  Montcalm,  consisting  chiefly  of  Canadians  and 
Xndians,  in  an  intrenched  camp.* 

With  amazing  skill  and  vigor  Wolfe  prepared  for  the  siege  of  Quebec. 
He  took  possession  of  Point  Levi,  nearly  opposite  the  city,  a  mile 
distant,  on  July  30th,  where  lie  erected  batteries  and  whence  he  hurled 
blazing  bombshells  upon  the  Lower  Town,  setting  on  fire  fifty  houses  in 
one  night.  The  citadel  was  beyond  their  reach.  The  French  sent  down 
fire-rafts  to  burn  the  British  fleet  anchored  below,  but  without  success. 

"SYolfe,  eager  to  gain  a  victory  speedily,  had  landed  a  large  force 
(July  10th,  1759)  under  Generals  Townshend  and  Murray  below  the 
Montmorenci,  and  formed  a  camp  there.  Wolfe  was  in  possession  of  the 
river,  but  the  large  fleet  could  do  little  more  than  reconnoitre,  trans- 
port troops,  and  guard  the  channels.  It  seemed  impossible  to  force 
a  passage  across  the  Montmorenci  above  the  cataract.  The  only  way  was 
to  cross  it  at  its  mouth  at  low  tide. 

Finally,  at  near  the  close  of  July,  General  Monckton,  with  grenadiers 
and  other  troops,  was  sent  over  from  Point  Levi,  and  landed  on  the 
beach  above  the  mouth  of  the  Montmorenci.  Without  waiting  for  troops 
from  the  British  camp  below  to  join  him,  Monckton,  with  his  grenadiers, 
rushed  up  the  steep  acclivity  to  attack  Montcalm's  lines,  when  they  were 
driven  back  to  the  beach,  while  a  fierce  thunder-storm  was  raging.  Dark- 
ness came  on.  The  roar  of  the  rising  tide  admonished  them  to  take  to 
their  boats,  which  they  did,  but  with  a  loss  of  nearly  five  hundred  of 
their  comrades,  who  had  perished. 

Wolfe  sent  Murray  above  the  town  with  twelve  hundred  men  to  de- 
stroy French  ships  there,  and  to  open  the  way  for  Amherst.  But  alas  ! 
Amherst  did  not  come.  Murray  heard  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Niagara  and 
of  the  expedition  of  the  French  from  Lake  Champlain,  but  received  no 
direct  tidings  from  Amherst. 

Two  months  had  passed  away  since  the  landing  on  Orleans,  and  yet 
no  imijortant  advance  had  been  made.  In  vain  Wolfe  listened  for  the 
drums  of  Amherst.  Not  even  a  message  came  from  him,  for  reasons 
already  given.     Exposure,  anxiety,  and  fatigue  prostrated  the  commander 


*  Montcalm  had  his  headquarters  in  a  stone  building  not  far  from  Beauport  Mills.    It 
commanded  a  view  of  Quebec  and  its  immediate  vicinity. 


182  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

early  in  September.  He  called  a  council  of  war  at  his  bedside,  when  it 
was  determined  to  scale  the  Heights  of  Abraham  and  assail  the  city  in 
the  rear.  Feeble  as  he  was,  Wolfe  resolved  to  lead  the  attack  in  person. 
The  camp  at  the  Montmorenci  was  broken  up  (September  8th),  and  the 
iittention  of  Montcalm  was  diverted  from  the  real  designs  of  the  British 
by  seeming  preparations  to  attack  his  lines.  The  affair  was  managed  so 
secretly  and  skilfully  that  even  De  Bougainville,  a  French  officer  with 
fifteen  hundred  men  who  had  been  sent  up  the  river  to  watch  the 
movements  of  the  British,  did  not  suspect  their  design. 

On  the  evening  of  the  12tli  the  whole  army  destined  for  the  assault 
moved  up  the  river  from  Point  Levi  in  transports,  several  leagues 
above  the  chosen  landing-place.  At  midnight  they  left  the  ship^,  and 
embarking  in  flat-boats,  floated  noiselessly  down  the  stream  with  the  ebb- 
ing tide.*  Black  clouds  obscured  the  sky,  but  the  voyagers  reached 
their  destination  in  good  order,  and  landed  without  being  discovered. 
The  place  where  they  disembarked  is  still  knov/n  as  Wolfe's  Cove. 
They  at  once  clambered  up  the  tangled  ravine  that  led  to  the  Plains  of 
Abraham,  and  at  dawn  on  the  13th  about  five  thousand  British  troops 
stood  upon  the  heights,  a  fearful  apparition  to  the  French  sentinels  and 
the  sergeants'  guard  at  the  brow  of  the  acclivity,  who,  in  hot  haste, 
carried  the  alarming  news  first  to  the  garrison  in  Quebec  and  then  to 
Montcalm  at  Beauport,  beyond  the  St.  Charles  River.  "  It  can  only  be 
a  small  party  come  to  burn  a  few  houses  and  return,"  said  the  incredu- 
lous commander. 

Montcalm  was  soon  undeceived.  He  immediately  sent  orders  for  De 
Levi  and  De  Bougainville  to  return  with  their  troops.  Abandoning  his  in- 
trenchments,  he  led  a  greater  portion  of  his  army  across  the  St.  Charles, 
and  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  they  stood  in  battle  array  on  the  Plains 

*  Wolfe  appeared  to  be  in  good  spirits,  yet  there  was  evidently  a  brooding  shadow  of 
a  presentiment  of  evil.     A.t  the  evening  mess  he  sang  the  little  campaign  song  beginning, 

"  Why,  soldiers,  why 

Should  we  be  melancholy  boys  ? 

Why,  soldiers,  why. 
Whose  business  'tis  to  die,"  etc. 

And  as  he  sat  among  his  officers  and  floated  softly  down  the  river  in  the  gloom,  he  re- 
peated, in  his  musing  tones,  that  stanza  from  Gray's  "Elegy  in  a  Country  Church- 
yard"—   . 

"  The  boast  of  heraldry,  the  pomp  of  power, 
And  all  that  beauty,  all  that  wealth  e'er  gave, 
Await  alike  th'  inevitable  hour — 
The  path  of  glory  leads  but  to  the  grave." 

At  the  close  he  said,  "  Now,  gentlemen,  I  would  prefer  being  tiie  author  of  that  ixjem 
to  the  glory  of  beating  the  French  to-morrow. " 


DEATH  OF  WOLFE  AND  MONTCALM.  183 

of  Abraham,  near  the  town.  Both  parties  lacked  heavy  guns.  The 
French  had  three  field -pieces,  the  English  only  one  —  a  light  six- 
pounder  which  some  sailors  had  dragged  uj)  the  ravine.  The  two  com- 
manders, at  the  head  of  their  respective  troops,  faced  each  other. 

A  general,  fierce,  and  sanguinary  battle  now  ensued.  The  British 
miiskets  were  dduble-shotted,  and  the  soldiers  reserved  their  fire  until 
within  forty  yards  of  their  foes,  when  they  poured  npon  the  French 
such  destructive  volleys  that  the  latter  were  thrown  into  utter  confusion. 
The  terrible  English  bayonet  completed  the  work  and  secured  the  vic- 
tory. Wolfe  and  Montcalm  had  both  been  mortally  wounded.  Wolfe, 
leaning  on  the  shoulder  of  an  officer,  was  borne  to  the  rear.  His  ear 
caught  the  exclamation,  "  See  !  they  run  !  they  run  !" 

"  Who  runs  ?"  asked  the  dying  hero  in  a  whisper. 

"The  enemy,  sir;  they  give  way  everywhere!"  was  the  reply. 
Wolfe  then  gave  an  order  to  cut  off  their  retreat,  and  then  said,  in  an 
almost  inaudible  whisper  : 

"  Now,  God  be  praised,  I  die  happy  !"  and  expired. 

Montcalm's  surgeon  said  to  his  wounded  general,  "  Death  is  certain." 

"  I  am  glad  of  it,"  said  the  marquis.     '*  How  long  have  I  to  live  ?" 

"  Ten  or  twelve  hours  ;  perhaps  less." 

"  So  much  the  better  ;  I  shall  not  live  to  see  the  surrender  of  Quebec  !" 

About  seventy  years  after  this  event  an  English  governor  of  Canada 
caused  a  modest  granite  column  to  be  erected  on  the  spot  where  Wolfe  fell, 
with  the  inscription,  "  Here  died  Wolfe,  victorious  September  13th, 
1Y59. "  In  its  place  now  stands  a  beautiful  Doric  column  of  granite  dedi- 
cated to  the  memory  of  both  Wolfe  and  Montcalm.  It  also  bears  the  former 
inscription.     It  was  erected  by  the  British  army  in  Canada  in  1849. 

General  Townshend  assumed  the  command  of  the  British  army,  and 
five  days  after  the  battle  he  received  the  formal  surrender  of  the  city  of 
Quebec.  The  remainder  of  Montcalm's  army,  under  De  Levi,  fled  to 
Montreal.  So,  brilliantly  for  the  English,  ended  the  campaign  of  1759. 
Yet  Canada  was  not  conquered.  Five  thousand  troops  under  General 
Murray  took  possession  of  the  great  prize.  The  fleet,  with  French 
prisoners,  sailed  for  Halifax. 

The  final  struggle  for  the  mastery  in  Canada  was  begun  early  in  the 
spring  of  1760,  when  Yaudreuil,  the  governor-general,  sent  De  Levi, 
with  ten  thousand  regulars,  Canadians,  and  Indians  in  six  frigates  to 
attempt  the  recovery  of  Quebec.  De  Levi  appeared  before  the  city  at 
the  close  of  March,  when  the  brave  Murray  went  out  with  his  whole 
force — less  than  tliree  thousand — to  attack  him.  At  Sillery,  three  miles 
above  Quebec,  one  of  the  most  sanguinary  battles  of  the  war  was  fought. 


184  THE   EMPIRE   STATE. 

Murray  was  defeated.  He  lost  all  Lis  artillery  and  a  thoneand  men, 
but  managed  to  get  back  into  the  city  with  the  remainder.  De  Levi 
then  began  a  siege,  and  Murray's  condition  was  becoming  desperate 
when  a  British  squadron,  with  re-enforceracnts  and  supplies,  appeared. 
Supposing  it  to  be  the  whole  British  fleet,  De  Levi  withdrew  and  fled 
to  Montreal,  after  losing  most  of  his  shipping.  Vaudreuil  gathered  all 
his  forces  at  Montreal,  the  last  stronghold  of  French  dominion  in 
America.  Amherst  spent  the  whole  summer  in  preparations  for  an 
attack  upon  that  city.  His  movements  were  slow  but  sure.  With 
almost  ten  thousand  men  and  one  thousand  Indians  under  Sir  William 
Johnson  he  proceeded  to  Oswego,  crossed  Lake  Ontario,  went  down 
the  St.  Lawrence,  and  appeared  before  Montreal  on  September  6th. 
lie  had  captured  Fort  Presentation,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Oswegatchie 
River  (now  Ogdensburg),  on  his  way.  Murray  arriv^ed  from  Quebec  at 
noon  the  same  day  with  four  thousand  troops,  and  before  night  Colonel 
Haviland,  who  had  proceeded  from  Crown  Point  and  had  driven  the 
French  from  Isle  aux  Noix,  arrived  there  with  three  thousand  men. 

Surrounded  by  almost  seventeen  thousand  foes,  Vaudreuil  at  once 
capitulated,  and  on  the  8th  Montreal  and  all  Canada  passed  into 
the  possession  of  the  British  crown.  General  Gage  was  appointed 
governor-general  at  Montreal,  and  Murray,  viath  his  four  thousand 
troops,  garrisoned  Quebec.  Fort  Detroit  was  yet  in  possession  of 
the    French.      Major   Robert    Rogers*   was    sent   with    some    rangers 

*  Robert  Rogers,  a  famous  partisan  soldier  in  the  French  and  Indii^n  Ww,  was  born  at 
Dumbarton,  N.  H.,  about  1730,  and  died  in  England  in  1780.  Hiss  father  was  from 
Ireland,  and  an  early  settler  of  Dumbarton.  Robert  was  in  command  of  a  corps  of 
rangers  during  the  French  and  Indian  War,  and  did  gallant  service.  In  1758  he  fought 
a  bloody  battle  with  the  French  and  their  Indian  allies  in  Northern  New  York.  He  had 
170  men  ;  the  French,  700,  including  600  Indians.  After  losing  150  men  he  retreated, 
leaving  150  of  his  enemies  dead  on  the  Held.  In  1759  General  Amherst  sent  him  to  de- 
stroy the  Indian  village  of  St.  Francis,  which  he  did,  killing  200  of  the  barbarians.  In 
1760  he  was  sent  to  take  possession  of  Detroit  and  other  Western  forts  ceded  to  Great 
Britain.  It  was  done.  Then  he  went  to  England,  and  in  1765  was  appointed  governor 
of  Mackinaw.  Accused  of  treasonable  designs,  he  was  sent  to  Montreal  in  irons,  tried 
by  a  court-martial,  and  was  acquitted.  In  1769  he  again  went  to  England,  and  was 
graciously  received  by  the  king.  Becoming  financially  embarrassed,  he  went  to  Algiers, 
where  he  fouglit  two  battles  for  the  Dey.  He  returned  to  America,  and  at  the  opening 
of  the  w^ar  for  independence  his  course  was  so  suspicious  tliat  lie  was  arrested  by  order  of 
Congress,  and  released  on  parole.  In  1776  Washington,  suspecting  him  of  Iwing  a  spy, 
arrested  him.  Congress  soon  released  him,  when  he  openly  took  up  arms  for  the  crown, 
and  raised  a  corp  of  Loyalists,  which  he  called  the  "  Queen's  Rangers."  He  soon  went 
to  England,  leaving  them  in  command  of  Liexitenant-Colonel  Simcoe,  imder  whom  they 
became  a  famous  partisan  corps.  In  1776  Major  Rogers  published,  in  London,  "  Joiu-nals 
of  the  French  War." 


WORK   OF   THE   ENGLISH-AMERICAN  COLONISTS. 


185 


to  take  possession  of  it,  wliich  was  accomplished  at  the  close  of 
November. 

This  conquest  and  the  treaty  signed  at  Paris  early  in  1763  deprived 
France  of  all  her  territorial  posses- 
sions in  North  America.  Great  Britain 
soon  became  the  sole  possessor  of  the 
Continent  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
to  the  Arctic  seas  and  from  ocean  to 
ocean,  but  at  a  cost  during  her  sev- 
eral struggles  of  fully  $500,000,000 
and  many  thousand  precious  lives. 

During  many  long  and  gloomy 
years  the  colonists  had  struggled  up, 
unaided  and  alone,  from  feebleness  to 
strength.  They  had  erected  forts, 
raised  armies,  and  fought  battles  cheer- 
fully for  England's  glory  and  their 
own  'preservation  without  England's 
aid  and  often  without  her  sympathy.* 
During  the  French  and  Indian  War, 
the  turmoil  of  which  in  America 
was  now  ended,  did  they  cheerfully 
tax  themselves  and  contribute  men, 
money,  and  provisions.  They  lost 
during  that  war  25,000  robust  men  on 
land,  and  many  seamen.  That  war 
cost  the  colonists,  in  the  aggregate, 
fully  $20,000,000,  besides  the  flower 

of  their  youtiis  ;  and  in  return  Parliament  granted  them,  at  different 
times  during  the  contest,  only  about  $5,500,000.  And  yet  the  British 
Ministry,  in  1760,  while  the  colonists  were  so  generously  supporting 
the  power  and  dignity  of  the  realm,  regarded  them  as  mere  servile  sub- 
jects to  the  king,  and  imposed  a  tax  upon  them  to  replenish  the  exhausted 
British  Treasury. 

A  dangerous  movement,  known  as  "  Pontiac's  Conspiracy,"  inimedi- 
atelv  followed  the  war — a  conspiracy  planned  by  Pontiac,  a  powerful, 


MAJOR  ROBERT   ROGERS. 

(From  a  print  published  iu  Loudou  iu  1776.) 


*  When,  on  the  floor  of  the  British  House  of  Commons,  Charles  Townsliend,  speaking 
of  the  English- American  colonists,  said  :  "  They  have  been  planted  by  our  care,  nourished 
by  our  indulgence,  and  protected  by  our  arms,"  Colonel  Barre  retorted  :  "  No  ;  your 
oppression  planted  them  in  America  ;  they  grew  by  your  neglect ;  and  they  have  nobly 
taken  up  arms  in  your  cUfence." 


186  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

sagacious,  and  ambitious  Ottowa  chief,  wlio  succeeded  in  confederating 
several  Algonquin  tribes  for  the  purpose  of  crushing  the  newly-acquired 
British  power  westward  of  the  Niagara  River.*  It  was  an  echo  of  the 
French  and  Indian  War.  It  was  ripe  before  its  growth  was  even  sus- 
pected. Within  a  fortnight,  in  the  summer  of  1763,  all  military  posts  in 
possession  of  the  British  west  of  Oswegq  to  Lake  Michigan  fell  into  the 
possession  of  Pontiac  by  treachery  or  surprise,  excepting  Forts  Niagara, 
Pitt,  and  Detroit.  The  conspiracy  was  soon  subdued,  and  the  power  of 
the  hostile  tribes  was  broken.  Pontiac  would  not  yield,  but  took  refuge 
in  the  country  of  the  Illinois,  where  he  was  treacherously  murdered  by 
one  of  liis  own  race. 

Lieutenant-Governor  DeLancey  managed  the  civil  affairs  of  the  province 
of  New  York  with  wisdom  and  energy  from  the  death  of  Sir  Danvers 
Osborne,  in  1753,  until  his  own  sudden  death  from  apoplexy  in  the 
summer  of  1760, f  a  period  of  about  seven  years.  As  we  have  observed, 
Sir  Charles  Hardy,  a  naval  officer,  came  to  New  York  as  governor  in 
1755,  but,  more  incompetent  than  Clinton  as  a  civil  ruler,  he  was  com- 
pletely dominated  by  De  Lancey.  He  received  his  salary,  and  allowed  the 
lieutenant-governor  to  hold  the  helm  of  the  ship  of  State.  Sir  Charles 
left  the  province  in  the  summer  of  1757,  when  he  hoisted  his  flag  over 
a  naval  vessel  in  the  harbor  of  New  York  as  Rear-Admiral  of  the  Blue, 
and  took  command  iti  the  expedition  against  Louisburg.  He  never  re- 
turned to  the  executive  chair. 

During  the  administration  of  De  Lancey  important  social  movements 
had  occurred  in  the  city  of  New  York.     Allusion  has  been  made  to  the 

*  In  April,  1763,  Pontiac  called  a  council  near  Detroit  of  representatives  of  many 
North- Western  tribes,  and  the  Senecas  of  Western  New  York.  That  council  presented  a 
gay  scene.  The  chiefs  were  attended  by  their  families,  dressed  in  their  gaudiest  apparel. 
They  gathered  in  groups  to  feast,  smoke,  gamble,  and  tell  stories  ;  many  of  them  were 
Ijedizened  with  feathers,  beads,  and  other  tokens  of  pride — "young  maidens,"  says 
Parkman,  "  radiant  with  bear's  oil  and  ruddy  with  vermilion,  and  versed  in  all  the  ails 
of  forest  coquetry. "  The  grave  men  were  seated  on  the  ground  in  coiuicil  in  consecutive 
rows,  and  after  the  pipe  had  gone  round  from  hand  to  hand,  Pontiac,  painted  and 
])lumed,  arose  and  delivered  an  impassioned  speech.  He  displayed  in  one  liand  a  broad 
belt  of  wampum,  and  assured  his  hearers  that  it  came  from  the  French,  who  would  soon 
come  with  ships  and  armies  to  reconquer  Canada. 

f  De  Lancey  was  found  by  one  of  his  children,  on  the  morning  of  July  30th,  1760, 
dying,  in  his  chair,  in  his  study,  in  which  he  had  probably  sat  all  night,  a.s  he  frequently 
did,  on  account  of  chronic  asthma.  He  had  dined  the  day  before,  with  a  number  of  lead- 
ing men  of  the  province,  on  Staten  Island,  where  lie  indulged,  as  was  common  on  such 
occasions,  in  excessive  eating  and  drinking.  He  returned  to  his  home  in  the  Bowery  in 
the  evening  and  retired  to  liis  study,  from  which  he  never  emerged  alive.  There  was  an 
ostentatious  funeral.  His  body  was  buried  lieneath  the  middle  aisle  of  Trinity  Churcli, 
the  Rev.  ]VIr.  Barclay  conducting  the  funeral  services. 


SOCIAL  MOVEMENTS   IN  NEW  YORK. 


187 


CADWALLADEK  COLDEN. 


neglect  of  intellectual   cultivation  in  the  province.     Leading  men  had 

long  deplored  this  state  of  things,  and  perceived  the  danger  to  society 

which  might  he  evolved  by  such 

neglect  as  population  and  wealth 

increased.     Finally,  in  1754,  Dr. 

Cadwallader   Golden,*  James    de 

Lancey,  Philip  Livingston,   Peter 

Schuyler,    Abraham    de    Peyster, 

Frederick        Philipse,        William 

Smith,    and    others   founded   the 

New  York  Society  Library,  now 

one  of  the  noblest  of  the  literary 

institutions  of  the  city.      A  neg- 
lected germ  of  such  an  institution 

had  existed  about  fifty  years.   The 

chaplain  of    Governor  Bellomont 

(Jacob  Sharp)  gave  to  the  city,  in 

1700,  a  collection  of  books  to  which 

was  afterward  added  many  more 

by  the  Rev.    John  Millington,  of 

England.     It   formed  the    Gorporation  Library  ;    but    the    books   were 

neglected  and  nearly  forgotten.     When  the  Society  Library  was  formed, 

these  books  were  added  to  it. 

At  the  same  period  an  effectual  movement  was  made  for  the  foun- 
dation of  a  college  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  There 
were  then  few  collegians 
in  the  province.  For 
many  years  Mr.  De  Lan- 
cey and  AVilliam  Smith, 
the   elder,  were    the    only 

"academics,"    excepting   those   in  holy  orders;    and   at   the    time    in 

question  there  were  only  thirteen  others,  the  youngest  of  whom  had  his 

*  Cadwallader  Colden  was  a  physiciau  and  a  native  of  Scotland,  where  he  was  born 
in  1688.  He  emigrated  to  Pennsylvania  in  1708,  returned  to  Scotland,  and  came  back  to 
America  in  1716.  Two  years  later  he  made  the  province  of  New  York  his  residence  at 
the  request  of  Governor  Hunter,  and  was  appointed  surveyor-general  of  the  colony.  In 
1720  he  becaine  a  member  of  Governor  Burnet's  Council,  and  made  his  residence  "in 
Orange  County.  He  became  lieutenant-governor  of  the  province  in  1761,  which  position 
he  occupied  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  on  Long  Island  in  1776.  Through- 
out the  troublous  times  preceding  the  Revolution,  he  managed  public  affairs  with  great 
sagacitv. 


'^^. 


SIGNATUKE  OF  C.\DWAI.LAUER  COLDEN. 


188  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

bachelor^ 8  degree  at  the  age  of  seventeen.*  In  1746  the  Assembly 
autliorized  a  lottery  to  raise  funds  for  the  establishment  of  a  college. 
Nearly  $6000  were  thus  raised.  It  was  increased  in  1754,  and  King's 
(now  Columbia)  College  was  founded  and  chartered. 

At  that  time  sectarianism  was  rampant  in  the  province,  and  there  was 
a  bitter  strife  between  the  Episcopalians,  or  those  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, and  the  Presbyterians,  for  the  control  of  the  college.  The  aristoc- 
racy were  generally  members  of  tlie  Episcopal  Church,  and  in  the  contest 
for  the  control  of  the  college  they  were  victorious.  Trinity  Church 
offered  a  site  for  the  college  building  on  the  condition  that  the  president 
should  always  be  an  Episcopalian,  and  that  the  prayers  of  the  Church 
should  always  be  used  in  it.  Governor  De  Lancey  gave  it  a  charter  on 
these  conditions  in  1754,  but  there  was  a  liberal  distrii)ution  of  the  trustee- 
ship among  other  denominations.  Hev.  William  Samuel  Johnson,  D.D., 
was  appointed  the  first  president. f 

New  York  City  at  that  time  had  a  population  of  about  fourteen  thou- 
sand, and  contained  an  Episcopal,  a  Presbyterian,  and  a  French  church, 
two  German  Lutheran  churches,  a  Quaker  aiid  an  Anabaptist  meeting- 
house, a  Jewish  synagogue,  and  a  Moravian  congregation.  The  Jews 
were  disfranchised,  and  the  Moravians  were  persecuted  as  Jesuits  in  dis- 
guise. 

The  sectarian  controversy  at  that  time  was  a  consequence  of  a  discov- 
ered scheme  of  Dr.  Seeker,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  for  the  estal)lish- 
ment  of  Episcopacy  in  the  colonies,  largely  for  the  purpose  of  curbing  the 
Puritan  spirit  in  political  and  religious  affairs.  The  throne  and  the 
hierarchy  were,  in  a  sense,  mutually  dependent,  and  Dr.  -Seeker's  propo- 
sition was  warmly  supported  by  the  British  Cabinet.  It  was  as  warmly 
opposed  by  the  Dissenters  and    all  independent  thinkers  in  the  colonics. 

*  These  collegians  were  Peter  van  Brugli  Livingston,  John  Livingston,  Philip  Living- 
ston, William  Livingston,  William  Nicoll,  Benjamin  Nicoll,  Henry  Hansen,  William 
Peartree  Smith,  Benjamin  Woolsey,  William  Smith,  Jr.  (the  historian),  John  McEvers, 
and  Jolin  van  Horner. 

f  William  Samuel  Johnson,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Guilford,  Conn.,  in  1C96,  and  was  sixty 
years  of  age  when  he  became  jiresident  of  King's  College.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Yale 
in  1714,  and  was  a  tutor  there  for  a  while.  In  1720  ho  became  a  preacher  at  West  Haven, 
and  w(!nt  to  England  in  1723  to  receive  Episcopal  ordination.  He  returned  in  1723  with 
the  honor  of  the  degree  of  M.  A.,  conferred  at  Oxford.  He  settled  in  Stratford,  but  was  per- 
secuted by  the  other  sects  there.  He  left  tlie  place,  and  was  absent  several  years  ;  engaged 
much  in  literary  pursuits,  preparing,  among  other  \iseful  works,  a  System  of  Morality, 
Avhich  Dr.  Franklin  published  as  a  text-book  for  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  Dr. 
Johnson  was  a  man  of  great  learning.  He  resigned  in  1763,  and  returned  to  Stratford 
the  same  year.  There,  resuming  the  charge  of  his  old  parish,  he  lived  until  his  death  in 
January,  1772. 


AN   ARBITRARY  ACT   OF  THE  HOME   GOVERNMENT.  189 

The  latter  regarded  the  scheme  as  a  weapon  of  contemplated  tyranny. 
Tlien  was  kindled  the  flame  of  desire  in  the  hearts  of  a  vast  number  of 
English-Americans  to  have 

\~* — ^       "  A  Cliurcli  without  a  Bishop, 
A  Throne  without  a  King, ' ' 

wdiich  burned  so  fiercely  a  few  years  later,* 

Dr.  Golden,  the  President  of  the  Council,  and  then  seventy-three 
years  of  age,  became  acting  governor  on  the  death  of  De  Lancey,  and  soon 
received  the  appointment  of  lieutenant-governor.  He  was  continued  in 
that  office  about  sixteen  years,  and,  in  consequence  of  the  frequent  ab- 
sence of  the  governors,  was  repeatedly  at  the  head  of  public  affairs. 

On  the  death  of  De  Lancey  the  office  of  chief-justice  became  vacant. 
Golden  was  urged  to  appoint  an  incumbent  at  once.  Wishing  to  com- 
pliment the  Earl  of  Halifax,  the  Secretary  of  State  for  the  colonies, 
Golden  asked  him  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  chief-justice.  To  the 
amazement  and  indignation  of  the  New  York  Assembly  and  the  people, 
instead  of  a  nomination  there  came  an  appointment  to  the  office  by  the 
king  of  a  Boston  lawyer  named  Pratt.  He  was  not  appointed,  as  formerly, 
to  hold  the  office  "  during  good  behavior,"  but  "  at  the  pleasure  of  the 
king."  This  was  one  of  the  first  of  the  arbitrary  acts  of  young  George 
III,,  who  had  just  ascended  the  throne,  which  drove  the  colonies  to  re- 
bellion. Indeed,  the  New  York  Assembly  rebelled  at  that  time.  They 
resolved  that  while  judges  held  office  by  such  a  tenure,  and  were  mere 
instruments  of  the  royal  will,  they  would  grant  them  no  salaries.  Golden 
found  himself  in  trouble  at  the  very  beginning. 

The  authorities  of  New  York  had  a  long  and  serious  quarrel  with  the 
inhabitants  of  the  territory  of  the  (present)  State  of  Vermont  at  this 
period.  After  the  settlement  of  the  boundary-line  between  New  York 
and  Gonnecticut  mentioned  in  a  former  chapter,  the  boundary  be- 
tween New  York  and  Massachusetts  was  tacitly  fixed  on  a  line  parallel 
to  that  of  the  former,  and  permanently  so  in  1764.  Governor  Penning 
Wentworth  assumed  that  a  line  parallel  to  that  of  the  western  boundary 
of   Gonnecticut  was   the  true  boundary  of  his  own  province.     Having 

*  The  chief  controversialist  on  the  side  of  the  Dissenters  was  William  Livingston, 
afterwai-d  Governor  of  New  Jersey,  and  then  a  young  lawyer  of  much  repute.  He  dealt 
heavy  blows  against  Episcopacy  and  in  favor  of  Presbyterianism  in  a  weekly  publication 
called  the  Independent  Reflector.,  first  issued  late  in  1752.  He  began  his  assaults  on  Epis- 
copacy in  1753  behind  the  veil  of  anonymity.  His  language  was  bold  and  defiant,  but 
dignified  and  unexceptionable.  The  influence  of  the  civil  authority,  the  Episcopal 
clergy,  and  the  aristocracy  at  length  induced  the  printer  to  cease  printing  the  Reflector, 
and  with  its  fifty-.second  number  (November,  1753)  it  was  discontinued. 


190  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

aiitliority  to  issue  grants  of  unoccupied  lands  witliin  his  province,  he  gave 
many  patents  to  settlers  west  of  the  Connecticut  River. 

The  New  York  authorities,  who  had  acquiesced  in  the  boundaries  of 
Connecticut  and  Massachusetts,  now  claimed  territorial  jurisdiction  north 
of  Massachusetts,  eastward  to  the  Connecticut  River,  by  virtue  of  the 
original  grant  given  to.  the  Duke  of  York.  Regardless  of  this  claim, 
Wentworth  issued  a  patent  for  a  township  six  miles  square,  which  was 
named  Bennington.  This  brought  the  question  of  jurisdiction  to  an 
issue.  New  York  vehemently  asserted  its  claim  ;  Wentworth  paid  no 
attention  to  it ;  and  when  the  Frencli  and  Indian  War  broke  out,  he  had 
issued  patents  for  fourteen  townships  west  of  the  Connecticut  River. 

The  dispute  was  renewed  after  the  war,  and  when,  in  1763,  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor Colden  sent  a  proclamation  among  the  people  in  tliat 
region  declaring  the  Connecticut  River  to  be  the  eastern  boundary  of 
the  province  of  New  York,  Wentworth  had  created  one  hundred  and 
thirty-eight  townships  the  size  of  Bennington  west  .of  the  Connecticut. 
They  occupied  a  greater  portion  of  the  area  of  the  (present)  State  of  Ver- 
mont, and  were  called  "  The  New  Plampshire  Grants"  from  that  time. 

The  autliorities  of  New  York,  inspired  by  grasping  land  speculators, 
not  content  with  asserting  territorial  jurisdiction,  claimed  the  right  of 
property  in  the  soil  of  that  territory,  and  declared  Wentworth's  patents 
to  settlers  invalid.  The  crown  confirmed  these  claims,  and  orders  were 
issued  for  the  survey  and  sale  of  farms  in  the  possession  of  settlers  who 
had  paid  for  and  improved  them.  This  act  of  oppression  was  like  sow- 
ing dragons'  teeth  to  see  them  produce  a  crop  of  armed  men.  The  set- 
tlers cared  not  who  were  their  political  masters  so  long  as  their  private 
rights  were  respected.  But  this  act  of  injustice  converted  them  into 
rebellious  foes,  determined  and  defiant.  There  appeared  at  once  an  op- 
position not  only  of  words,  but  of  sinews  and  muskets,  supported  by 
indomitable  courage  and  inflexible  wills — the  spirit  of  true  English  lib- 
erty coming  down  to  them  through  their  Puritan  ancestors.  Foremost 
among  those  who  took  a  firm  stand  in  opposition  to  the  oppressors  was 
Ethan  Allen,  the  boldest  of  the  bold. 

Finally  the  governor  and  Council  of  New  York  summoned  all  the 
claimants  under  the  grants  of  New  Hampshire  to  appear  before  them  at 
Albany,  with  their  deeds,  on  a  certain  day.  No  attention  was  paid  to  the 
summons.  Writs  were  issued  for  the  ejectment  of  the  settlers  from 
their  estates,  and  surveyors  were  sent  to  resurvey  the  lands.  This  move- 
ment brought  on  a  crisis,  and  for  several  years  the  New  Hampshire 
grants  formed  a  theatre  where  all  the  elements  of  civil  war  excepting 
actual  carnage,  were  in  exercise.     Magistrates,  police,  and  armed  citi- 


THE   XEW   HAMPSHIRE   GRANTS.  191 

zens  were  constantly  vigilant,  and  when  an  officer  of  the  Government  or 
of  the  land  speculators  of  New  York  appeared  he  was  seized  and  pun- 
ished by  whipping  or  other  severity,  and  was  driven  out  of  the  domain. 
No  legal  process  could  be  served,  nor  the  sentence  of  any  court  estab- 
lished there  by  New  York  be  carried  out.  The  settlers  effectively 
spurned  the  bribes  and  the  threats  of  the  New  Yorkers. 

The  settlers  sent  an  agent  to  London  to  lay  their  case  before  the 
crown.     He  returned  in  1767  with  a  royal  order  directing  the  govern- 
ment of  New  York  to  suspend  all  proceedings  against  the  j^eople  of  the 
-4'  Grants  ;"  but  very  little  attention  was  paid  to  the  royal  mandate.     In 

1770  the  settlers  appointed  a  Committee  of  Safety  to  manage  pubhc 
affairs.     They  commissioned  Ethan  Allen  colonel  commandant,  and  in 

1771  tiiey  passed  a  resolution  that  no  officer  from  New  York  should  be 
allowed  to  exercise  any  jurisdiction  over  the  people  of  the  "  Grants"  in 
any  capacity  without  permission  from  the  committee. 

In  1772  Governor  Tryon  attempted  conciliation,  but  failed.  The 
Legislature  of  New  York  passed  a  law  that  any  offender  against  its 
authority  on  the  "  Grants"  who  should  not  surrender  on  the  order  of 
the  governor  within  a  specified  time  should  be  deemed  guilty  of  a 
felony  and  punished  with  death,  "without  benefit  of  clergy,"  such 
culprit  to  be  tried  for  the  crime  in  the  county  of  Albany.  A  reward 
was  offered  for  the  apprehension  of  Allen  and  other  leaders. 

This  harsh  legislation  did  not  alarm  the  settlers,  and  the  struggle  con- 
tinued sharply  until  the  beginning  of  the  old  war  for  independence.  It 
was  kept  up  in  a  mild  form  during  that  war,  and  afterward  until  the 
admission  of  Vermont  into  the  Union,  in  1791,  a  period  of  forty  years. 
The  defenders  of  the  rights  of  the  people  of  the  "  Grants"  acquired  the 
name  of  "  Green  Mountain  Boys."  *  Allen  and  other  leaders,  as  well 
as  the  "  rank  and  file,"  played  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  war  for  inde- 
pendence. 

The  story  of  the  conflict  between  the  government  of  a  powerful  prov- 
ince against  a  few  settlers  on  disputed  territory  forms  one  of  the  most 
interesting  chapters  in  our  national  history. 

*  On  account  of  the  loftiest  hills  in  that  region  being  covered  with  verdure,  the  name 
of  Vert  Mont — Green  Mountain — was  given  to  it.  In  the  conflicts  with  the  "  Yorkers," 
some  of  the  settlers  were  driven  from  the  Champlain  slope  into  the  mountains,  from 
which  they  issued  for  purposes  of  resistance,  and  were  called  "  Green  Mountain  Boys." 


19» 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


On  the  morning  of  October  25tli,  1760,  Prince  George,  heir-apparent 
to  the  throne  of  Great  Britain,  and  then  about  twenty-three  years  of 
age,  was  riding  on  horseback  near  Kew  Palace  with  his  tutor  the  Earl 

of  Bute,  when  a  messenger  infonned  him  that 
his  grandfather,  King  George  11. ,  had  been 
found  dead  in  a  closet.  Pitt  called  upon  him 
the  next  day  at  the  palace  of  St.  James  and 
presented  him  with  a  copy  of  an  address  to  be 
read  to  the  Privy  Comicil.  The  minister  was 
politely  informed  that  a  speech  had  already 
been  prepared  and  every  preliminary  arranged. 
Pitt  perceived  that  the  courtier,  Bute,  had 
made  the  arrangements,  and  he  withdrew. 
This  circumstance  had  an  important  relation  to 
the  future  destiny  of  the  English- American 
colonies,  and  particularly  of  that  of  New  York,  as  we  shall  observe 
presently. 

Robert  Monckton,  son  of  Yiscount  Gal  way  and  a  major-general  in  the 
British  army,  was  appointed  Governor  of  New  York,  but  did  not  occupy 
the  chair  long.  He  arrived  in  November,  1701,  and  in  February  follow- 
ing he  took  command  of  an  expedition  destined  for  the  capture  of  the 


SEAL  OF  GOV.    MONCKTON. 


SIGNATUUE   OF   GOVEKNOU   MONCKTON. 


island  of  Martinique.  He  sailed  from  New  York  with  twelve  thousand 
men,  was  successful,  returned  to  New  York  the  next  June,  and  "  began 
his  administration,"  says  Smith,  "  with  a  splendor  and  magnificence 
equal  to  his  birth." 


THE  YOUNG  MONARCH'S   GREAT  MISTAKE. 


193 


SEAL   OF   GOVERNOR  MOORE. 


I 


General  Monckton  remained  in  Xew  York  -  awhile,  and  then  left  the 
government  to  Golden.  Monckton  was  succeeded  in  office  early  in  1764: 
by  Sir  Henry  Moore,  a  gay,  affable,  good-natured,  and  well-bred  gentle- 
man. Moore's  administration  did  not  begin  until  late  in  1765.  It 
covered  a  large  portion  of  a  stormy  period  in  the  history  of  N"ew  York. 
Sir  Henry  left  the  province  in  1769,  when 
Golden  again  asaumed  the  reins  of  govern- 
ment. 

The    3^oung   king    on    his    accession    had 
jjarted  with  Pitt  as  his  chief  adviser,  and, 
as  we  have  just  observed,  made  the  Earl  of 
Bute,    a    Scotch   adventurer   and    a   special 
favorite   of  the  sovereign's  mother,   prime- 
minister   of   the   realm.     Bute  proposed  to 
bring   the  American  colonies   into  absolute 
subjection  to  the  crown  and  Parliament.    To 
do  this  effectually  it  was  resolved,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  recommendation  of  tJie  Board  of  Trade  and  Plantations, 
to  annul  the  American  charter,  to  reduce  all  the  American  provinces  to 
royal  governments,   and  to  gain  a  revenue  by  collecting   duties  to  be 
imposed  upon  goods  imported  into  the  colonies. 

Among  the  first  movements  toward  this  end  was  making  the  judiciary 
of  Xew  York  dependent  upon  the  crown,  to  which  allusion  has  been 
made.  As  wo  have  observed,  this  act  created  much  alarm  and  indigna- 
tion in  the  public  mind.  "  To  make 
the  king's  will  the  tenure  of  office," 
said  a  reiDresentative  of  the  people,  "is 
to  make  the  bench  of  judges  the  in- 
strument of  the  royal  prerogative." 
William  Livingston,  John  Morin  Scott, 
and  William  Smith,  three  eminent  law- 
yers of  New  York,  expressed  their 
opinions  freely  and  protested  boldly  in 
the  newspapers  against  the  measure  ;  and  the  New  York  Assembly 
resolutely  refused  to  grant  a  salary  to  Chief-Justice  Pratt,  who  finally 
received  it  from  the  crown.  Governor  Moore  disapproved  the  ob- 
noxious measure,  and  even  Governor  Golden  advised  against  it  ;  but 
it  was  persisted  in,  and  the  crown  continued  to  appoint  judges,  paying 
their  salaries  and  making  them  independent  of  the  people. 

Another  cause  of  popular  irritation  and  resistance  was  the  practical 
assertion  of  Parliament  of  its  right  to  tax  the  colonists  without  their  con- 


SIGNATURE   OP  GOVERNOR   MOORE. 


194  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

sent.  Duties  were  imposed  upon  goods  imported  into  the  colonies,  and 
collectors  of  customs  were  sent  to  enforce  the  revenue  laws.  These  laws 
were  frequently  resisted  or  evaded,  especially  at  Boston.  The  Superior 
Court  of  Massachusetts  gave  the  collectors  warrants,  called  "  Writs  of 
Assistance,"  which  authorized  the  holders  to  search  for  smuggled  goods 
when  and  where  they  pleased,  and  to  demand  assistance  from  others. 
"  The  meanest  deputy  of  a  deputy's  deputy"  might  enter  the  house  of  a 
citizen  unchallenged.  The  people  regarded  the  matter  as  a  violation  of 
their  liberties — a  violation  of  the  English  maxim,  "  Every  man's  house 
is  his  castle."  A  solemn  protest  produced  an  argument  before  a  crowded 
meeting  of  citizens  in  Boston,  when  the  fiery  James  Otis  vehemently 
denounced  the  writs,  and  said  : 

"  I  have  determined  to  sacrifice  estate,  ease,  health,  applause,  and  even 
my  life  to  the  sacred  call  of  my  country  in  opposition  to  a  kind  of  power, 
the  exercise  of  which  cost  one  king  his  head  and  another  his  throne." 
"  On  that  day,"  said  a  contemporary,  "  the  trumpet  of  the  Revolution 
was  sounded." 

Then  followed  the  fearful  popular  agitation  in  the  colonies  caused  by 
the  famous  Stamp  Act,  in  which  New  York  appeared  conspicuous — an 
act  which  declared  that  no  legal  instrument  used  in  the  colonies  should 
be  valid,  after  a  prescribed  date,  unless  it  bore  a  government  stamp,  for 
each  of  which  a  prescribed  sum  of  money,  varying  in  amount  from  three 
cents  to  thirty  dollars,  was  demanded.  With  greater  boldness  or  reck- 
lessness than  any  former  minister  had  exhibited,  George  Grenville,  at 
the  head  of  the  Treasury  and  the  ablest  man  in  the  House  of  Commons, 
submitted  a  bill  authorizing  stamp  duties  early  in  1764.  Even  the  great 
minister,  Walpole,  had  said,  many  years  before,  "  I  will  leave  the  tax- 
ation of  America  to  some  of  my  successors  who  have  more  courage  than 
I  have;"  and  the  greater  Pitt  said,  in  1759,  "I  will  never  burn  my 
fingers  with  an  American  Stamp  Act." 

This  proposed  measure  caused  universal  excitement  in  the  colonies. 
The  people  were  divided.  The  old  English  titles  of  "  Whig"  and 
"  Tory"  now  first  came  into  use  in  America.  The  great  question  was 
freely  discussed  at  public  gatherings.  The  pulpit  sometimes  sounded  an 
alarm.  The  newspaper  press  spoke  out  boldly.  "  If  the  colonist  is 
taxed  without  his  consent,  he  will,  perhaps,  seek  a  change,"  said  Holt's 
New  York  Gazette^  significantly. 

Nowhere  did  the  flame  of  resentment  burn  more  fiercely  than  in  New 
York,  and  nowhere  were  its  manifestations  more  emphatic.  Colden, 
the  acting  governor,  then  seventy-seven  years  of  age,  true  to  his  sover- 
eign, endeavored  to  suppress  all  opposition  to  the  acts  of  the  imperial 


THE   STAMP  ACT   OPPOSED. 


195 


legislature  ;  but  his  efforts  were  like  a  breath  against  a  gale.  The  as- 
sociation of  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  whicli  had  appeared  thirty  years 
before,  was  revived  with  great  vigor,*  and  a  Committee  of  Correspond- 
ence to  communicate  with  the  agent  of  the  colony  in  England  and  with 


FOUT   GKOKGE,    BATTEUY,    AND   BOWLING   GKKEN.f 


the  several  colonial  assemblies  on  the  subject  of  the  oppressive  measures 
of  Parliament  was  appointed. 

When,  in  the  spring  of  1765,  the  Stamp  Act  became  a  law,  words  of 
defiance  were  uttered  everywhere  in  the  colonies.  Energetic  action  soon 
followed.     Public  sentiment  took  a  more  dignified  form  than  popular 

*  The  principal  members  of  the  Association  in  the  province  of  New  York  at  that  time 
were  Isaac  Sears,  John  Lamb,  Alexander  MacDougal,  Marinus  Willett,  William  Wiley, 
Edward  Laight,  Thomas  Robinson,  Hugh  Hughes,  Floris  Bancker,  Charles  Nicoll, 
Joseph  AUcock,  and  Gershom  Mott,  of  New  York  City  ;  Jeremiah  van  Rensselaer, 
Myndert  Rosenbaum,  Robert  Henry,  Volkert  P.  Douw,  Jelles  Fonda,  and  Thomas  Young, 
of  Albany  and  Tryon  counties  ;  John  Sloss  Hobart,  Gilbert  Potter,  Thomas  Brush,  Cor- 
nelius Conklin,  and  Nathan  Williams,  of  Huntington,  L.  I.  ;  George  Townsend,  Baruk 
Sneething,  Benjamin  Townsend,  George  and  Michael  Weekes,  and  Rowland  Chambers, 
of  Oyster  Bay,  L.  I. 

f  From  an  engraving  by  Tiebout  ia  1792.  Within  the  Bowling  Green  is  seen  the 
pedestal  on  which  stood  the  equestrian  statue  of  King  George  HI.  The  spear-heads  of 
the  pickets,  as  may  now  (1887)  be  seen,  were  all  broken  off.  On  the  right  is  No.  1  Broad- 
way, the  headquarters  of  General  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  On  the  left  is  seen  a  point  of  Gov- 
ernor's Island  ;  on  the  right,  in  the  distance,  is  Staten  Island,  and  in  the  extreme  distance 
the  Narrows,  the  open  gateway  from  the  harbor  to  the  ocean. 


19G  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

liarangues  and  heated  discussions.  At  the  suggestion  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Assembly  a  colonial  convention  of  delegates  assembled  at  the  city 
of  !N"ew  York  on  October  7th,  1705.  Nine  colonies  were  represented 
by  twenty-seven  delegates.  Those  of  New  York  were  Robert  R.  Living- 
ston, John  Cruger,  Philip  Livingston,  William  Bayard,  and  Leonard 
Lispenard.  Timothy  Ruggles,  of  Massachusetts,  presided.  They  were 
in  session  fourteen  days,  and  sent  forth  three  able  State  papers — namely, 
a  "  Declaration  of  Rights,"  written  by  John  Cruger,  of  New  York  ;  a 
"  Memorial  to  both  Houses  of  Parliament,"  by  Robert  R.  Livingston, 
also  of  New  York  ;  and  a  "  Petition  to  the  King,"  written  by  James 
Otis,  of  Massachusetts.  The  proceedings  of  this  Stamp  Act  Congress 
were  approved  and  signed  by  all  the  members  excepting  Timothy 
Ruggles,  of  Massachusetts,  and  Robert  Ogden,  of  New  Jersey,  who 
espoused  the  cause  of  the  crown  in  the  great  struggle  that  ensued. 

The.  first  day  of  November  (1765)  was  the  time  appointed  for  the 
Stamp  Act  to  go  into  operation.  Stamp-distributors  for  their  sale  were 
appointed.     James  McEvers  had  been  chosen  the  agent  for  New  York. 

The  Sons  of  Liberty  demanded  his  resignation.  Colden  jjromised  him 
protection  ;  but  when  the  stamps  arrived,  late  in  November,  McEvers 
was  so  alarmed  by  the  manifestations  of  opposition  that  he  refused  to 
receive  them,  and  they  were  taken  into  the  fort  for  safety,  where  the 
venerable  Colden  resided.  The  people  were  exasperated,  and  appearing 
in  large  numbers  before  the  fort,  demanded  the  delivery  of  the  stamps 
to  them.  A  refusal  was  answered  by  defiant  shouts  by  the  Sons  of 
Liberty,  who  were  not  dismayed  by  the  presence  of  British  ships  of  war 
in  the  harbor  and  the  pointing  of  the  cannons  of  the  fort  upon  them  and 
upon  the  town. 

An  orderly  procession  was  formed.  It  soon  became  a  roaring  mob. 
IlaJf  an  hour  after  the  governor's  refusal  he  was  hung  in  efln.gy  on  the 
spot  where  Leisler,  the  democrat,  was  executed  seventy-live  years  before. 
Then  the  mob  went  back  to  the  fort,  dragged  Colden's  fine  coach  *  to 
the  open  space  in  front  of  it,  and  tearing  down  the  wooden  railing  that 
surrounded  the  Bowling  Green,  piled  it  upon  the  vehicle  and  made  a 
bonfire   of  the  whole.     After  committing   some  other  excesses,t    the 


*  Colden's  coacli-Uouse  and  stable  were  outside  the  fort  and  easy  of  acceas.  There 
■were  only  three  or  four  coaches  in  the  city  at  that  time,  and  as  they  belonged  to  wealthy 
friends  of  Government,  they  were  considered  by  the  people  as  evidences  of  aristocratic 
pride. 

■f  The  mob  rushed  out  to  tlie  beautiful  seat  of  Major  James,  at  the  intersection  of 
(present)  Wortli  Street  and  West  Broadway,  where  tliey  destroyed  his  fine  library,  works 
of  art  and  rich  furniture,  and  desolated  liis  charming  garden.      Ilis  seat  was  named 


NON-IMPORTATIOX  AGREEMENTS.  197 

excited  populace  paraded  the  streets  with  the  Stamp  Act  printed  on 
large  sheets  and  raised  upon  poles,  with  the  words,  "  England's  Folly 
AND  America's  Ruin.  " 

Golden,  clearly  perceiving  that  further  resistance  to  the  popular  will 
would  be  futile,  ordered  the  stamps  to  be  delivered  to  the  mayor 
(Cruger)  and  the  Common  Council,  on  condition  that  any  that  should 
be  destroyed  or  lost  should  be  paid  for.  Quiet  was  restored.  Soon 
afterward  a  brig  brought  to  New  York  ten  boxes  of  stamps.  They  were 
seized  by  some  citizens  and  burnt  at  the  shipyard  at  the  foot  of  (present) 
Catharine  Street. 

The  first  of  jSTovember  ^vas  Friday — a  truly  "black  Friday"  in 
America.  It  was  ushered  in  by  the  tolling  of  bells  and  the  display  of 
flags  at  half-mast,  as  if  a  national  calamity  had  occurred.  Minute-guns 
were  fired.  There  were  orations  and  sermons  adapted  to  the  occasion. 
As  none  but  stamped  paper  could  be  legally  used,  and  as  the  people  were 
determined  not  to  use  it,  all  business  was  suspended.  The  courts  were 
closed,  marriages  ceased,  and  social  and  commercial  operations  in 
America  were  paralyzed.  Yet  the  people  did  not  despair,  nor  even 
despond.  They  felt  conscious  of  rectitude  and  of  inherent  strength. 
They  held  in  their  own  hands  a  remedy,  and  very  soon  applied  it 
effectually. 

On  the  day  before  the  Stamp  Act  was  to  take  effect  many  merchants 
in  New  York  City,  at  a  meeting  held  there,  entered  into  a  solemn  agree- 
ment not  to  import  from  England  certain  enumerated  articles  after  the 
first  of  January  next  ensuing.  The  chairman  of  an  active  committee  of 
correspondence  (John  Lamb)  addressed  a  circular  letter  to  the  merchants 
in  other  cities,  inviting  their  co-operation  in  the  non-importation  policy. 
It  was  cheerfully  acceded  to,  and  merchants  great  and  small  followed 
the  example  of  New  York  traders.  The  patriotic  people  co-operated 
w^ith  the  merchants,  and  began  domestic  manufactures.  The  wealthiest 
vied  with  the  middling  classes  in  wearing  clothing  of  their  own  manu- 
facture. That  wool  might  not  become  scarce,  the  use  of  sheep  flesh  for 
food  was  discouraged. 

The  mighty  forces  for  defence  against  oppression,  which  for  years 
worked  so  potentially  in  favor  of  liberty  in  America,  thus  put  in  motion 
in  New  York,  hurled  back  upon  England  with  great  power  the  commer- 
cial miseries  which  she  had  inflicted  upon  her  colonies.  The  most  sensi- 
tive nerve  of  her  political  and  social  organism  was  so  rudely  touched  that 

Ranelagh.  A  few  months  afterward  it  was  converted  into  a  place  of  public  resort,  and 
called  the  Ranelagh  Garden.  James  was  a  British  officer  who  had  become  obnoxious  to 
the  people. 


198 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


the  British  merchants  and  manufacturers  earnestly  joined  the  Americans 
in  efforts  to  compel  the  Government  to  repeal  the  obnoxious  act.  Tliey 
were  successful.  The  Stamp  Act  was  repealed  early  in  1766,  having 
■existed  in  a  helpless  state  one  year.  In  the  words  of  a  couplet  upon  the 
tombstone  of  a  little  baby,  it  might  have  asked, 

"  If  I  so  soon  am  done  for, 
I  wonder  what  I  was  begun  for  ?" 

To  New  York  merchants  is  due  the  honor  of  having  invented  those 
two  powerful  engines  of   resistance  to  obnoxious  acts  of  the  British 


BURNS'S  COFFEE-HOUSE.* 


Parliament,  and  which  worked  with  so  much  potency  at  the  beginning 
of  the  old  war  for  independence — namely,  the  Committee  of  Corre- 
spondence and  the  Non-im])ortation  League.  Tho  repeal  of  the  Stamp 
Act  caused  great  rejoicings  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic.  The  city 
of  New  York  was  filled  with  delight  on  the  beautiful  May  day  when 


*  This  was  a  famous  place  of  resort  for  the  Sons  of  Liberty  in  New  York  for  sev- 
eral years  before  the  old  war  for  independence.  It  was  a  coffeehouse  kept  by  George 
Burns,  at  No.  9  Broadway.  There  the  first  non-importation  league  of  the  merchants  of 
New  York  was  formed,  on  October  31st,  1765 — a  consequence  of  the  obnoxious  Stamp 
Act.  The  league  was  signed  by  more  than  two  hundred  merchants.  The  above  engrav- 
ing shows  the  liouse  as  it  appeared  at  the  time  of  that  occurrence.  It  remained  a  place 
of  public  resort  until  about  1860.     Broadway  slopes  a  little  at  that  point. 


REJOICINGS  AND   LOYALTY, 


199 


the  glad  tidings  arrived.  Cannons  thundered  a  royal  salute,  bells  rang 
out  nierrj  peals,  and  the  Sons  of  Liberty  feasted  together.  A  month 
later,  on  the  king's  birthday  (June  4:th),  there  was  another  public  cel- 
ebration, given  under  the  auspices  of  Governor  Moore,  when  royal 
salutes  were  again  fired.  There  was  a  banquet  at  the  King's  Arms 
Tavern,  near  the  Bowling  Green,  in  which  all  the  magnates  of  the  city 
participate^.  Again  the  Sons  of  Liberty  feasted  together  ;  and  in 
the  Fields  (now  the  City  Hall  Park)  an  ox  was  roasted  whole,  and 
twenty-live  barrels  of  beer  and 
a  hogshead  of  rum  were  pro- 
vided for  the  people.  The 
town  was  illuminated  in  the 
evening,  and  bonfires  blazed, 
while  the  heavens  were  made 
brilliant  with  fireworks.  The 
people  erected  a  tall  mast  and 
unfurled  a  banner,  upon  it  in- 
scribed, "  The  King,  Pirr,  and 
Liberty,  ' '  and  called  it  Liberty 
Pole. 

Pitt,  who  had  been  the  chief 
instrument  in  Parliament  in 
securing  the  repeal,  was  idol- 
ized by  the  people.  At  a 
meeting  of  citizens  (June  23d) 
a  petition  was  unanimously 
signed  praying  the  Provincial 
Assembly  to  erect  a  statue  in 
honor  of  the  "  Great  Com- 
moner" in  the  city  of  New 
York.  The  Assembly  complied, 
and  at  the  same  time  voted  an 

equestrian  statue  of  the  king.  Both  were  set  up  in  1770,  that  of  Pitt 
being  of  marble,  and  that  of  the  king  lead.  Pitt's  statue  was  erected  at 
the  junction  of  Wall  and  William  (then  Smith)  streets  ;  the  king's  was  set 
up  in  the  centre  of  the  Bowling  Green.*  Six  years  afterward  the  statue 
of  the  king  was  pulled  down  by  an  indignant  populace,  and  a  little  later 
British  soldiers  mutilated  the  statue  of  Pitt. 

*  By  a  singular  oversight  the  artist  omitted  to  give  the  king's  saddle  stirrups,  as  will 
be  seen  in  the  sketch.  The  "Whigs  of  New  York  said,  in  1776,  "  Good  enough  for  him  ; 
he  ought  to  ride  a  hard-trotting  horse  without  stirrups." 


EQUESTRIAN    STATUE   OF    GEOKGE   III. 


200  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

Popular  discontent  soon  followed  the  hallelujahs  of  joy,  for  the  repeal 
act  was  accompanied  by  another  which  declared  that  the  British  Parlia- 
ment had  the  right  to  "bind  the  colonies  in  all  cases  whatsoever." 
Sagacious  men  clearly  saw  in  this  declaratory  act  an  egg  of  tyranny  con- 
cealed, out  of  which  might  proceed  untold  evils.  Events  soon  justitied 
their  forecast.     The  incubation  was  not  protracted. 

Almost  at  the  moment  when  the  people  were  celebrating  the  king's 
birthday  in  a  spirit  of  hearty  loyalty.  Governor  Moore  informed  the 
Kew  York  Assembly,  then  in  session,  that  he  hourly  expected  troops 
from  England  to  garrison  the  fort  there,  and  desired  them  to  make 
immediate  provision  for  them,  in  accordance  with  the  requirements  of 
the  British  Mutiny  Act,  which  commanded  citizens  to  billet  troops  upon 
themselves  when  necessity  called  for  the  measure.  The  Assembly 
declared  that  the  power  of  the  act  did  not  extend  to  the  colonies,  and 
that  there  M-^as  no  necessity  for  more  troops  at  New  York.  The  gov- 
ernor persisted,  but  the  Assembly  were  firm  in  their  refusal  to  comply 
wath  his  requisition. 

The  troops  came  with  authority  to  break  into  houses  in  searching  for 
deserters,  and  to  do  other  arbitrary  things.  The  people  were  indignant. 
The  Sons  of  Liberty  were  aroused  to  vigorous  action.  They  rallied 
around  the  Liberty  Pole  which  they  had  erected  under  the  inspiration  of 
true  loyalty  to  their  sovereign.  The  insolent  soldiers  cut  down  the 
symbol  of  liberty,  and  when,  the  next  day,  the  citizens  were  setting  it 
up  again  they  were  attacked  by  the  troops.  Still  another  pole  was 
erected,  and  Governor  Moore  forbade  the  soldiers  to  touch  it. 

In  January,  1770,  soldiers  went  out  from  the  barracks  at  midnight, 
prostrated  the  Liberty  Pole,  sawed  it  into  pieces,  and  piled  them  before 
the  headquarters  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty.  The  bells  of  St.  George's 
Chapel  in  Beekman  Street  rang  an  alarm,  and  very  soon  fully  three 
thousand  indignant  citizens  stood  around  the  mutilated  flag-staii.  The 
city  was  fearfully  agitated  for  several  days,  and  affrays  between  the  citizens 
and  soldiers  occurred.  Finally  they  had  a  severe  encounter  on  Golden 
Hill  (between  Cliff  and  AVilliam,  John  and  Fulton  streets),  in  which  the 
soldiers  were  worsted  and  several  of  them  were  disarmed.  The  citizens 
were  armed  with  various  missiles.  The  conflict  on  Golden  Hill  in  New 
York  City  may  be  regarded  as  the  initial  battle  of  the  old  war  for  inde- 
pendence. 

The  New  York  Assembly  steadily  refused  to  comply  with  the  require- 
ments of  the  Mutiny  Act.  The  press  spoke  out  boldly.  William 
Livingston  wrote  prophetically  in  a  New  York  newspaper  : 

"  Courage,   Americans  !     Liberty,   religion,   and  science  are  on  the 


ENSLAVEMENT   OF  THE   COLONIES  ATTEMPTED.  201 

wing  to  these  shores.  The  finger  of  God  points  out  a  mighty  empire  to 
your  sons.  The  savages  of  the  wilderness  were  never  expelled  to  make 
room  for  idolaters  and  slaves.  The  land  we  possess  is  the  gift  of  Heaven 
to  our  fathers,  and  Divine  Providence  seems  to  have  decreed  it  to  our 
latest  posterity.  The  day  dawns  in  which  the  foundation  of  this  mighty 
empire^is  to  be  laid,  by  the  establishment  of  a  regular  American  Consti- 
tution. All  that  has  hitherto  b6en  done  seems  little  beside  the  collection 
of  materials  for  this  glorious  fabric.  'Tis  time  to  put  them  together. 
The  transfer  of  the  European  family  is  so  vast,  and  our  growth  so  swift, 
that  before  seven  years  will  roll  over  our  heads  the  first  stone  must  be  laid." 

Seven  years  afterward  the  first  Continental  Congress  assembled  at 
Philadelphia. 

The  rebellious  spirit  manifested  by  the  xTew  Yorkers  amazed  and 
incensed  the  British  Ministry,  and  they  resolved  to  bring  the  refractory 
Assembly  into  humble  obedience.  Parliament  forbade  (1767)  the  "  gov- 
ernor, Council,  and  Assembly  of  New  York  passing  any  legislative  act 
for  any  purpose  whatever' '  until  they  should  comply  with  the  require- 
ments of  the  Mutiny  Act.  Parliament  levied  duties  upon  certain  neces- 
sary articles  imported  into  the  colonies  with  the  avowed  purpose  of 
drawing  a  revenue  from  them,  and  authorized  the  establishment  of  a 
Board  of  Trade,  or  Commissioners  of  Customs,  to  regulate  and  collect 
the  revenue  thus  ordered.  They  also  attempted  to  suppress  free  discus- 
sion in  the  colonies  by  means  of  Committees  of  Correspondence. 

This  last  act  aroused  the  free  spirit  of  the  people  to  instant  resistance. 
When  Governor  Moore  transmitted  to  the  New  York  Assembly  instruc- 
tions from  Lord  Hillsborough  against  "  holding  seditious  correspondence 
with  other  colonies,"  and  called  upon  the  Legislature  to  yield  obedience, 
they  boldly  remonstrated  against  this  ministerial  interference  with  the 
inalienable  right  of  a  subject,  and  refused  to  obey. 

On  the  death  of  Governor  Moore,  in  September,  1769,  Colden  again 
became  acting  governor,  when  he  coalesced  politically  with  the  De 
Lancey  party.  Very  soon  a  gradual  change  in  the  political  complexion 
of  the  Provincial  Assembly  was  apparent.  The  leaven  of  aristocracy 
had  begun  a  transformation,  and  a  game  for  political  power,  based  upon 
a  proposed  financial  scheme,  was  begun.*  It  was  a  scheme  which 
menaced  the  liberties  of  the  people. 

*  This  was  issuing  bills  of  credit,  on  the  security  of  the  province,  to  the  amount  of 
$300,000,  to  be  loaned  to  the  people,  the  interest  to  be  applied  to  defraying  the  expenses 
of  the  colonial  government.  It  was  really  a  proposition  for  a  monster  bank  without 
checks,  and  intended  to  cheat  the  people  into  a  compliance  with  the  requirements  of  the 
Mutiny  Act  by  the  indirect  method  of  applying  the  profits  to  that  purpose. 


202  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

The  popular  leaders,  discerning  the  danger,  sounded  the  alarm.  An 
incendiary  hand-bill,  signed  "  A  Son  of  Liberty,"  was  posted  through- 
out the  city,  calling  a  meeting  of  the  "  betrayed  inhabitants"  in  the 
Fields.  It  denounced  the  nioney  scheme  and  tlie  Assembly,  and 
pointed  to  the  political  coalition  as  an  omen  of  danger.  Obedient  to 
the  call,  a  very  large  concourse  of  citizens  gathered  around  the  Liberty 
Pole  on  a  cold  December  day,  M^ho,  after  a  harangue  l)y  John  Lamb, 
by  unanimous  vote  condemned  the  proceedings  of  the  Assembly. 
Another  hand-bill  from  the  same  pen  appeared  the  next  day,  and  more 
severely  denounced  the  Assembly  in  terms  which  were  deemed  libel- 
lous. A  reward  was  offered  for  the  name  of  the  author.  He  was 
soon  found  to  be  Alexander  McDougal,  a  seaman,  who  was  afterward 
a  major-general  in  the  Continental  x\rmy.  He  was  arrested,  and  re- 
fusing to  plead  or  give  bail,  was  sent  to  prison.  On  his  way  to  jail  he 
said  : 

"  1  rejoice  that  I  am  the  first  to  suffer  for  liberty  since  the  commence- 
ment of  our  glorious  struggle." 

Being  a  sailor,  McDougal  was  regarded  as  the  "  true  type  of  impris- 
oned commerce  ;"  also  as  a  martyr  to  the  cause  of  liberty.  His  prison 
was  daily  the  scene  of  a  public  reception.  The  most  respectable  citizens 
visited  him.  He  was  toasted  at  a  banquet  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  who 
went  in  a  procession  to  the  jail  to  visit  him.  Ladies  of  distinction  daily 
thronged  there.  Popular  songs  were  written  and  sung  below  his  prison- 
bars,  and  emblematic  swords  were  worn.  He  was  finally  released  on 
bail,  and  he  was  never  tried. 

Open  rebellion  in  the  colonies  now  seemed  imminent.  British  soldiers 
were  stationed  in  New  York  and  Boston  to  overawe  the  peoj)le.  Their 
insolence  in  words  and  manner  ]3roduced  continual  irritation.  There 
was  a  collision  in  Boston  on  March  5th  (1770)  between  the  citizens  and 
soldiers,  which  aroused  the  indignation  of  all  the  colonies.  Three 
l^ersons  were  killed  by  the  soldiers,  and  five  were  dangerously  wounded. 
This  event  is  known  in  history  as  the  Boston  Massacre. 

On  the  day  of  the  massacre  the  British  prime-minister  (Lord  North) 
introduced  into  Parliament  his  famous  Tea  Act,  which  repealed 
all  duties  im2)osed  upon  articles  imported  into  the  American  colonies, 
excepting  upon  tea.  This  one  article  was  excepted  as  a  practical  asser- 
tion that  Parliament  had  a  right  to  tax  the  Americans  without  their  con- 
sent. But  this  was  the  substance  of  the  vital  principle  involved  in  the 
dispute,  and  the  grand  political  postulate,  "  Taxation  without  representa- 
tion is  tyranny,"  was  vehemently  asserted.  The  non-importation  power 
was  set  in  motion,  and  the  people  warmly  co-operated  by  refusing  to 


THE   POLITICAL   ASPECT   OF   NEW  YORK. 


20c 


SEAL  OF  GOVERNOR  DUNMORE. 


use  tea.*  The  stubborn  king  and  the  stupid  ministry  could  not  compre- 
hend the  idea  involved,  that  a  tax  upon  a  single  article,  however  small, 
was  as  much  a  violation  of  the  spirit  and  letter  of  the  postulate  as  if  laid, 
in  oppressive  measure,  upon  a  dozen  articles. 

Meanwhile  the  leaven  of  Toryism  in  the  Assembly  had  extended  its 
influence  among  the  people.  The  Sons  of  Liberty  in  New  York  had 
formed  a  General  Committee  of  One  Hun- 
dred and  a  Yigilance  Committee  of  Fifty, 
charged  with  the  duty  of  watching  the 
movements  of  the  Whigs  and  Tories,  and 
preventing,  if  possible,  violations  of  the  non- 
importation agreement.  The  Committee 
of  One  Hundred  became  widely  disaffected 
by  Toryism.  The  Yigilance  Committee, 
more  radical,  denounced  them,  and  the 
patriotic  citizens  of  New  England  uttered 
indignant  protests,  but  in  vain.  The  New 
York  merchants  at  large  became  disaffected, 
and  at  midsummer,  1770,  the  Committee 

of  One  Hundred,  composed  largely  of  merchants,  resolved  upon  a 
resumption  of  importations  of  everything  but  tea.  They  issued  a 
circular  letter  justifying  their  course.  It  was  indignantly  torn  and  scat- 
tered to  the  winds  in  Boston.  The  merchants  of  Philadelphia  received 
it  with  scorn,   and  the  sturdier   patriots  of  that  city  said  :  "  The  old 

Liberty  Pole  of  New  York  ought  to  be 
transferred  to  this  city,  as  it  is  no  longer 
a  rallying-point  for  the  votaries  of  free- 
dom at  home."  The  students  at  Prince- 
ton College,  with  Jajues  Madison  at  their 
head,  burned  the  letter  on  the  cam- 
pus. 

In   October  (1770)  John  Murray,  Earl 

of  Dunmore,  succeeded  Sir  Henry  Moore 

as  Governor  of  New  York.    He  remained 

such  for  only  about  nine  months,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Sir  William 

Tryon,  an  Irish  baronet,  who  had  misruled  North  Carolina  and  stirred  up 

a  rebellion  there.     The  Assembly,  now  thoroughly  imbued  with  Tory- 


m^p2ftr^ 


SIGNATURE   OF   GOV.    DUNMORE. 


*  In  Boston  the  mistresses  of  three  hundred  families  subscribed  their  names  to  a  league, 
binding  themselves  not  to  drink  any  tea  until  the  Revenue  Act  was  repealed.  Three 
days  afterward  the  young  women  followed  their  example.  It  was  imitated  in  New  York 
and  Philadelphia. 


204 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


SEAL   OF   GOVKKNOK   TKYON. 


ism,  complimented  the  retiring  governor,  wlio  was  transferred  to  Vir- 
ginia, and  in  a  most  cringing  address,  written  by  Captain  Oliver  de 
Lancey,  replied  to  Tryon's  opening  message,  at  the  beginning  of  1772. 

The  state  of  political  society  in  Xew  York 
at  this  time  was  peculiar.  Social  differences 
had  produced  two  distinct  parties  among  the 
professed  republicans,  which  were  designated 
respectively  Patricians  and  Tribunes.  The 
former  consisted  chiefly  of  the  merchants  and 
gentry,  and  the  latter  were  mostly  mechanics. 
The  latter  were  radicals,  the  former  were 
conservatives,  and  joined  the  Loyalists  or 
Tories,  who  were  trying  to  check  the  influ- 
ence of  the  more  zealous  democrats. 

Comparative  quiet  had  prevailed  in  Xew 
York  for  nearly  three  years,  when  an  attempt  to  enforce  North's  Tea 
Act  set  the  colonies  in  a  blaze  again.*     The  East  India  Companv,  who 
had  the  monopoly  of  the  tea  trade, 
having  lost  their  valuable  custom- 
ers in  America  by  the  operations 
of  the  non-importation  measures, 
asked  Parliament  to  take  off  three 
pence  a  pound  levied  upon  its  im- 
portation into  America,  and  agreed 
to  pay  the  Government  more  thau 
an  equal  amount  in  export  duty, 

in  case  the  change  should  be  made.  Here  was  an  excellent  opportunity  for 
the  Government  to  act  justly  and  wisely  and  to  produce  a  reconciliation  ; 


SIGNATtJKE   OF   GOVERNOR   TRYON. 


*  An  event  occurred  in  Narraganset  Bay  in  the  summer  of  1772  whicli  produced  wide- 
spread excitement  and  widened  the  breach  between  the  mother  country  and  the  colonies. 
Tlie  armed  schooner  Gaspe  was  stationed  in  the  bay  to  enforce  the  revenue  laws.  Her 
commander  haughtily  ordered  every  American  vessel  when  passing  his  schooner  to  lower 
its  colors,  in  token  of  obedience.  The  master  of  a  Providence  sloop  refused  to  bow  to 
this  nautical  Gcsler's  cap,  and  was  fired  at  and  chased  by  the  Oaspe.  The  latter 
grounded  upon  a  sand-bar.  That  night  Abraham  Wliipple  (who  was  a  naval  commander 
during  the  Revolution),  with  sixty  armed  men,  went  down  the  bay  in  boats,  capturetl  the 
people  on  the  schooner  and  burned  her.  Although  a  large  reward  was  offered  for  the 
apprehension  of  the  perpetrators  tliey  were  not  betrayed.  Four  years  afterward,  when 
Captain  Wallace,  a  British  naval  commander  near  Newport,  heard  that  Whipple  was  the 
leader  of  the  offenders,  he  wrote  to  him,  saying  : 

"  On  June  9th,  1773,  you  burned  His  Majesty's  vessel  the  Gaspi,  and  I  will  hang  you  at 
the  yard-arm  !" 

To  tliis  Whipple  instantly  replied  :  "  Sir,  always  catch  a  man  before  you  hang  him  !" 


EXCITEMENT   CONCERNING  TEA. 


205 


but  the  stupid  ministry,  fearing  it  might  be  considered  a  submission  to 
"rebellious  subjects,''  refused  this  olive  branch.  They  allowed  the 
company  to  send  their  tea  free  of  export  duty,  but  retained  the  import 
duty, 

Tikis  concession  to  a  great  commercial  monopoly,  while  spurning  the 
appeals  of  subjects  governed  by  a  great  principle,  created  indignation 
and  contempt  throughout  the  colo- 
nies. As  this  would  make  tea 
cheaper  in  America  than  in  Eng- 
land, the  Government  and  the  East 
India  Company  unwisely  concluded 
that  the  Americans  would  not  ob- 
ject to  paying  the  small  duty.  They 
were  mistaken,  as  they  very  soon 
learned.  Assured  that  Governor 
Tryon  at  New  York  would  enforce 
the  law,  the  company  sent  several 
ships  laden  with  tea  to  that  and 
other  American  ports  early  in  1773. 

Already  the  Americans  had  re- 
solved not  to  allow  a  pound  of  tea 
to  be  landed  in  any  of  the  seaports. 
At  a  meeting  held  at  jS^ew  York  on 


JOHN  LAMB. 


that  the  tea  consignees  and  stamp 
The  consignees,  alarmed,  j^rom- 


October  2()th  (1773),  it  was  declared 
distributors  were  equally  obnoxious, 
ised  not  to  receive  the  tea,  notwithstanding  Governor  Tryon  had  prom- 
ised them  ample  protection.  The  governor  declared  the  tea  should  be 
delivered  to  the  consignees,  even  if  it  should  be  "  sprinkled  with  blood." 

John  Lamb  (afterward  a  commander 
of  artillery  in  the  war  for  indepen- 
dence, and  one  of  the  foremost  of  the 
Sons  of  Liberty)  said  to  his  informer 
of  these  words  :  "  Tell  Tryon,  for 
me,  that  the  tea  shall  not  be  landed  ; 
and  if  force  is  attempted  to  eifect  it, 
his  blood  will  be  the  first  shed  in  the  conflict.  The  people  of  the  city 
are  finnly  resolved  on  that  head."     Tryon  took  counsel  of  prudence. 

At  the  middle  of  December  the  famous  Boston  Tea  Party  occurred, 
when  three  hundred  and  forty-three  chests  of  tea  were  taken  from  ships 
moored  at  the  wharves,  broken  open,  and  their  contents  cast  into  the 
waters  of  the  harbor  in  the  space  of  two  hours,  by  men  disguised  as 


SIGNATURE   OF   JOHN   LAMH. 


206  THE   EMPIRE   STATE. 

Indians.  Tlie  next  day  a  meeting  was  held  in  the  Fields  at  Xew 
York,  which  was  addressed  by  John  Lamb.*  Strong  resolutions  in 
favor  of  resistance  were  passed  ;  a  Committee  of  Fifteen  to  carry  on 
correspondence  with  the  Sons  of  Liberty  elsewhere  was  appointed,  and 
the  meeting  was  adjourned  "  till  the  arrival  of  the  tea  ships." 

The  ships  did  not  arrive  until  April  following,  when  the  Nancy, 
Captain  Lockyer,  appeared  at  Sandy  Hook  with  a  cargo  of  tea.  Apprised 
of  the  state  of  feeling  in  the  city,  and  heeding  the  advice  of  the  con- 
signee, Lockyer  prudently  concluded  to  return  to  England  with  his 
cargo.  A  merchant  vessel  arrived  at  about  the  same  time  with  several 
chests  of  tea  concealed  among  her  cargo.  They  were  discovered,  seized, 
and  their  contents  were  thrown  into  the  waters  of  New  York  Harbor. 
The  captain  took  refuge  from  the  hands  of  the  indignant  people  on 
board  the  Nancy,  and  sailed  away  in  her. 

At  about  this  time  a  new  Committee  of  One  Hundred,  also  a  Vigil- 
ance Committee,  composed  of  the  most  substantial  citizens,  who  were  wise, 
watchful,  and  active,  was  created.  The  governor  and  a  majority  of  the 
Assembly,  being  in  political  accord,  needed  watching  ;  hence  the  forma- 
tion of  these  two  committees. 

A  misfortune  befell  the  governor  at  this  juncture  which  won  for  him 
public  sympathy.  At  near  the  close  of  1773  his  house,  with  all  his 
personal  property,  was  accidentally  burned.  The  Assembly  voted  him 
$20,000  in  consideration  of  his  loss,  and  with  this  money  he  left  the 
province  in  charge  of  Dr.  Colden,  and  went  to  England  in  the  spring 
of  1774. 

The  destruction  of  tea  in  Boston  Harbor  created  intense  excitonent  in 
Great  Britain.  The  exasperated  ministry  conceived  several  retaliatory 
measures,  which  were  authorized  by  Parliament,  the  most  conspicuous 
of  which  was  an  order  for  the  closing  of  the  port  of  Boston  against  all 
commercial  transactions  wliatever,  and  the  removal  of  all  public  offices 
thence  to  Salem.  This  prostration  of  all  kinds  of  business  occasioned 
widespread  distress  and  created  more  widespread  sympathy.     Even  the 

*  John  Lamb,  an  artillery  officer  of  the  Revolution,  was  born  in  New  York  City 
Jnnuary  1st,  1735  ;  died  tliere  May  31st,  1800.  He  was  one  of  the  most  active  Sons  of 
Liberty,  and  when  the  old  war  for  independence  began  he  entered  the  military  service. 
He  was  in  command  of  the  artillery  under  General  Montgomery  at  the  siege  of  Quebec, 
where  he  was  wounded  and  made  prisoner.  With  the  rank  of  major  he  served  in  the 
regiment  of  Colonel  Knox  the  next  summer,  and  on  January  1st,  1777,  he  was  commis- 
sioned a  colonel  of  New  York  artillery.  Lamb  performed  good  service  throughout  the 
war,  and  ended  his  military  career  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown.  He  afterward  became  a 
member  of  the  New  York  Assembly.  President  Washington  appointed  him  (1789) 
collector  of  the  customs  at  the  port  of  New  York. 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  ARMED  RESISTANCE.  207 

city  of  London,  in  its  corporate  capacity,  sent  aid  to  the  sufferers  at 
Boston  of  the  money  vahie  of  fully  $150,000.  Another  measure  levelled 
a  deadly  blow  at  the  charter  of  Massachusetts  ;  another  provided  for  the 
trial,  in  England,  of  all  persons  charged  in  the  colonies  with  murder 
coi^mitted  in  support  of  the  Government,  giving,  as  Colonel  Barre  said 
on  the  floor  of  Parliament,  "  encouragement  to  military  insolence  already 
insupportable."  A  fourth  provided  for  the  quartering  of  troops  at  the 
expense  of  the  colonies.  The  port  of  Boston  was  to  be  closed  in  June, 
and  in  May  General  Gage  was  sent  to  enforce  the  measure. 

The  people  were  intensely  excited  by  these  cruel  measures.  They 
despaired  of  justice  at  the  hands  of  the  British  ministry.  They  began 
to  feel  that  war  was  inevitable,  and  proceeded  to  arm  and  discipline 
themselves,  and  to  manufacture  guns  and  gunpowder.  Every  man 
capable  of  bearing  arms  enrolled  himself  in  a  company  pledged  to  be 
ready  to  take  the  field  at  a  minute's  warning.  So  w^as  created  the  vast 
army  of  Minute  Men.  Its  headquarters  was  under  every  roof.  It 
bivouacked  in  every  church  and  household  ;  and  mothers,  wives,  sisters, 
and  sweethearts  made  cartridges  for  its  muskets  and  supplied  its  com- 
missariat. 

A  crowded  meeting  in  Faneuil  Hall,  in  Boston,  resolved  to  resume 
the  non-importation  measures  with  all  their  stringency.  They  sent  Paul 
Revere  with  their  resolutions  to  the  Sons  of  Liberty  in  New  York, 
whom  the  Loyalists  called  "  Presbyterian  Jesuits."  The  Committee  of 
Fifty-One  did  not  approve  the  resolutions,  but  favored  the  assembling  of 
a  general  congress  of  deputies.  In  their  reply  to  the  communication 
from  Boston  they  said  : 

"  The  cause  is  general,  and  concerns  a  whole  continent,  who  are 
equally  interested  with  you  and  us  ;  and  we  foresee  that  no  remedy  can 
be  qf  avail  unless  it  proceeds  from  their  joint  acts  and  approbation. 
From  a  virtuous  and  spirited  union  much  may  be  expected,  while  the 
feeble  efforts  of  a  few  will  only  be  attended  with  mischief  and  disap- 
pointment to  themselves,  and  triumph  to  the  adversaries  of  liberty. 
Upon  these  reasons  we  conclude  that  a  Congress  of  Deputies  from  the 
COLONIES  IN  GENERAL  is  of  the  utmost  importance  ;  that  it  ought  to  be 
assembled  without  delay,  and  some  unanimous  resolutions  formed  in  this 
fatal  emergency,  not  only  respecting  your  deplorable  circumstances  [the 
destruction  of  all  commercial  business  by  the  closing  of  the  port],  but 
for  the  security  of  our  common  rights." 

This  recommendation  for  a  General  Congress,  written,  it  is  believed, 
by  John  Jay,  found  a  hearty  response  everywhere.  While  the  Bostonians 
approved  the  measure  and  suggested  the  time  for  holding  the  Congress, 


208  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

they  adopted  stringent  non-importation  measures.  The  people  in  other 
colonies  did  the  same,  and  New  York  stood  almost  alone  in  refusing 
to  acquiesce.  At  this  the  Loyalists  rejoiced,  and  Rivington,  the 
King's  Printer,  published  the  following  lines  in  his  Gazetteer : 

"  And  so,  my  good  masters,  I  find  it  no  joke. 

For  York  has  stepped  forward  and  thrown  off  the  yoke 
Of  Congress,  committees,  and  even  King  Sears.* 
Wlio  shows  you  liood-nature  by  sliowing  liis  eai-s. " 

At  this  time  there  were  two  prominent  political  committees  in  New 
York — namely,  the  old  Vigilance  Committee  of  Fifty  and  a  newly- 
organized  Committee  of  Fifty-One.  The  former  was  composed  of 
radicals,  Sons  of  Liberty,  led  by  McDougall,  Sears,  and  Lamb,  and 
favored  non-importation  measures  ;  the  latter  consisted  of  conservatives, 
and  favored  a  General  Congress  rather  than  non-importation  measures. 

Adherents  of  the  former  called 

y^  y^  a  meeting  in  the  Fields  on  July 

yr        ^^  ^^^^^vv?^^"^         ^^^  (1774),   which,   on  account 

^_y^OC^t/C<y         *--^    ^^^^^>  of  its  numbers,  was  known  as 

"The    Great   Meeting."      On 
SIGNATURE  OF  ISAAC  SEARS.  x\\^^  occasiou  a  studcut  of  King's 

(now  Columbia)  College,  known 
as  the  "  Young  West  Indian,"  a  delicate  boy,  girl-like  in  personal  grace 
and  stature,  only  seventeen  years  of  age,  made  a  speech,  and  astonished 
the  multitude  by  his  eloquence  and  logic.  He  was  Alexander  Hamilton, 
from  the  island  of  Nevis,  who  was  destined  to  play  an  important  part  iu 
the  drama  of  our  national  history. 

The  Great  Meeting  denounced  the  Boston  Port  Bill  and  declared 
that  an  attack  upon  the  liberties  of  one  colony  concerned  the  whole. 
The  meeting  pledged  New  York  to  join  with  others  iii  a  non-importation 
league,  and  to  be  governed  by  the  action  of  the  contemplated  General 
Congress.     The  Committee  of  Fifty-One  denounced  these  proceedings 

*  Isaac  Sears  was  one  of  the  most  active  and  energetic  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty.  He  was 
a  native  of  Norwalk,  Conn.,  where  he  was  born  in  1729  ;  \m  died  in  Canton,  China,  in 
1786.  He  was  a  successful  mercliant  in  New  York,  engaged  in  the  European  and  West 
India  trade.  Having  commanded  a  merchant  vessel,  he  was  generally  known  as  Captain 
Sears,  and  because  of  his  valiant  leadership  in  opposition  to  the  Government  he  was 
called  "  King  Sears."  He  was  thoroughly  hated,  maligned,  caricatured,  and  satirized 
by  his  political  enemies.  Rivington,  the  King's  Printer,  abused  him  shamefully,  and 
in  retaliation  Sears  entered  the  city  in  1775  with  some  Connecticut  light  horsemen  and 
destroyed  his  maligner's  printing  establishment.  At  the  end  of  the  war  his  business  and 
fortune  w^re  gone.  In  1785  he  went,  as  supercai'go,  to  China,  and  died  soon  after  his 
arrival  at  Canton. 


DELEGATES   TO  A  GENERAL  CONGRESS.  209 

as  "  seditious  and  incendiary."  This  offended  a  dozen  of  their  members, 
who  withdrew  from  the  committee.  But  these  feuds  were  soon  healed 
by  the  exigencies  of  the  occasion,  and  the  patriots  of  New  York,  early 
in  July-(1T74),  chose  delegates  to  represent  the  province  in  the  General 
Congress  to  be  convened  at  Philadelphia  on  the  5th  day  of  September, 
They  chose  as  representatives  of  the  city  of  T^ew  York  :  Philip  Living- 
ston, John  Alsop,  Isaac  Low,  James  Duane,  and  John  Jay.  Suffolk 
County,  on  Long  Island,  elected  William  Floyd  ;  Orange  County,  Henry 
Wisner  and  John  Herring  ;  and  King's  County,  Simon  Boerum. 
Duchess  and  "Westchester  counties  adopted  the  New  York  City  delegates 
as  their  representatives  ;  so  also  did  the  city  and  county  of  Albany.* 

*  The  people  of  Albany  County  were  anxious  to  send  Colonel  Philip  Schuyler  as  their 
deputy,  but  he  was  too  severely  afflicted  with  rheumatism  and  hereditary  gout  to  allow 
him  to  serve  them.  Toward  the  close  of  July  his  friend,  Councillor  William  Smith, 
wrote  to  him  from  New  York  :  "  The  colonies  are  preparing  for  the  grand  Wittena- 
gemote  [Great  Assembly]  with  great  spirit.  At  Philadelphia  a  plan  is  digesting  for  an 
American  Constitution.  I  know  not  the  outlines  of  it.  I  hope  it  is  for  a  Parliament  to 
meet  annually.  Our  people  will  be  the  last  of  all  in  the  appointment  of  delegates.  I 
wish  your  county  would  assist  in  the  choice.  Expresses  will  be  sent  through  the  whole 
colony  to  call  upon  the  counties  for  the  purpose.  .  .  .  The  people  of  England  begin  to 
call  out  for  an  American  Parliament. " 


310 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


Committees  of  Correspondence,  wliicli  liad  been  formed  in  every 
colony  in  1773,  liad  been  busy  in  the  interchange  of  sentiments  and 
opinions,  and  throughout  the  entire  community  of  British-Americans 
from  Maine  to  Georgia  there  was  evidently  a  consoTiance  of  feeling 
favorable  to  united  efforts  in  opposing  the  augmenting  oppression  of  the 

mother  country.  And  yet  they 
hesitated,  and  resolved  to  deliber- 
ate in  solemn  council  before  they 
should  appeal  to  arms — "  the  last 
argument  of  kings. " 

To  this  end  deputies  represent- 
ing twelve  British-American  colo- 
nies met  in   Carpenter  s  Hall,  at 
Philadelphia,   on  September   5th, 
1774,  and  chose  Peyton  Randolph* 
president    and    Charles    Thomson 
secretary   of    that   body.       There 
were  forty-four  delegates  present 
on    that    day.       Those   from   the 
province  of  New  York  were  James 
Duane,  John  Jay,  Philip  Living- 
ston, Isaac  Low  and  William  Floyd. 
That   first  Continental  Congress   remained   in  session    until    October 
26th,  during  which  time  they  matured  measures  for  future  action.     One 
of  the  most  important  of  these  measures  was  the  formation  of  a  league 


PEYTON   RANDOLPH. 


*  Peyton  Randolph  was  born  in  1723,  in  Virginia,  and,  lilve  other  young  men  of 
wealthy  parents  in  the  colonies,  was  educated  in  England.  lie  became  a  lawyer,  and  at 
the  age  of  twenty-seven  years  was  appointed  attorney-general  of  the  province.  He  went 
with  a  band  of  volunteers  against  the  Indians  on  the  Virginia  frontier  in  1756.  A 
member  of  the  House  of  Burgesses  several  years,  he  was  its  Speaker  at  one  time.  He 
was  chairman  of  a  committee  to  revise  the  laws  of  Virginia  ;  went  to  England  to  seek 
redress  of  grievances  ;  framed  the  remonstrance  of  the  House  of  Burgesses  against  the 
Stamp  Act  ;  presided  over  the  Virginia  Provincial  Convention  at  Williamsburg  in  1774, 
and  the  first  Continental  Congress  the  same  year  ;  presided  over  the  second  Virginia 
Convention  in  March,  1775  ;  was  in  the  Continental  Congress  a  short  time  that  year,  and 
died  of  apoplexy  at  Philadelphia,  October  22d,  1775.  His  jwrtrait  here  given  was  copied 
from  a  miniature  by  Charles  Willson  Beale. 


THE    FIRST   CONTINENTAL   CONGRESS.  211 

for  a  general  commercial  non-intercourse  with  Great  Britain  and  her 
West  India  possessions.  It  was  named  the  American  Association.  In 
addition  to  its  non-intercourse  provisions,  it  recommended  the  abandon- 
ment of  the  slave-trade,  the  improvement  in  the  breed  of  sheep,  absten- 
tion from  all  extravagance  in  living,  indulgence  in  horse- racing,  etc., 
and  the  appointment  of  a  sort  of  vigilance  committee  in  every  town  to 
promote  conformity  to  the  requiremen<'s  of  the  Association.  It  was 
signed  by  the  fifty-two  members  who  were  present  at  its  adoption. 

This  first  Continental  Congress  put  forth  several  able  State  papers — a 
Bill  of  Eights  ;  an  Address  to  the  People  of  Great  Britain  ;  another  to 
the  several  British- American  colonies  ;  another  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the 
Province  of  Quebec,  and  a  petition  to  the  king.  One  of  the  most  sig- 
nificant acts  of  the  Congress,  the  most  offensive  to  Great  Britain,  .and 
which  constituted  the  whole  business  of  the  day,  was  the  passage  of  the 
following  resolution  on  October  8th  : 

'•''Resolved,  That  this  Congress  approve  the  opposition  of  the  inhab- 
itants of  Massachusetts  Bay  to  the  execution  of  the  late  acts  of  Parliament ; 
and  if  the  same  shall  be 
attempted  to  be  carried  ^,0-^  ^^ 

into  execution  by  force,      ^.^^^^r^    J^ ayyz.c^cr-t^/C^ 

in  such  case  all  America  (y  X 

ought  to    support    them.  signature  of  peyton  randoXph. 

in  their  opposition." 

Thus  defiantly  was  the  gauntlet  cast  down  at  the  feet  of  the  king  and 
Parliament.  The  Congress  adjourned  eighteen  days  afterward  to  meet 
at  the  same  place  on  May  10th  following,  unless  the  desired  redress  of 
grievances  should  be  obtained. 

The  public  press  in  the  colonies  almost  unanimously  supported  the 
attitude  assumed  by  the  Congress.  There  were  only  four  newspapers 
then  published  in  the  province  of  New  York,  and  these  were  sent  forth 
from  the  city.  They  were  Hugh  Gaines's  New  York  2lerctiry,  John 
Holt's  New  York  Journal,  John  Anderson's  Constitutional  Gazette, 
and  James  Rivington's  New  York  Gazette.  The  first  three  named  were 
in  sympathy  with  the  patriots.  The  latter  favored  the  royal  side  in 
political    discussions.*      The    Whig    papers    everywhere   abounded   in 

*  Holt's  Journal  was  the  most  outspoken  of  any  of  the  Whig  newspapers.  Before  the 
meeting  of  the  first  Continental  Congress  it  contained  at  its  head  the  device  of  a  snake 
disjointed,  each  piece  having  the  initials  of  one  of  the  English- American  colonies.  He 
pleaded  for  its  union.  In  December,  after  the  session  of  that  Congress  was  ended,  it 
contained  another  significant  device.  It  represented  a  column,  its  base  resting  upon 
Magna  Charta  and  upheld  by  thirteen  strong  arms  reaching  out  of  clouds.     The  column 


212 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


pointed  epigrams,  squibs,  keen  satirical  sonnets,   and  sententious  argu- 
ments and  logic,  like  the  following  : 


THE   QUAUREL   WITH  AMERICA   FAIRLY   8TATKD. 

"  Rudely  forced  to  drink  tea,  Massachusetts,  in  anger. 
Spilt  the  tea  on  John  Bull — John  fell  on  to  bang  her  ; 
Massachusetts,  enraged,  calls  her  neighbors  to  aid, 
And  give  Master  John  a  severe  bastinade. 
NoM%  good  men  of  the  law,  pray  who  is  at  fault, 
The  one  who  begins  or  resists  the  assault  ?" 

The  proceedings  of  the  Continental  Congress  produced  a  most  pro- 
found sensation  in  Great  Britain.  When  Parliament  reassembled  after 
the  holidays  (January  20th,    1775)  the  king  denounced  the  American 

colonists  as  "  rebels,"  and  prom- 


;  UNITE    OR  DIE 

'' ' lllir"'" iiiir "■■• 1 1 


SNAKE   DEVICE. 


jjiiiijiiiiijjijjiiiiiiuMii.rLuijMi..miiiMiiiiiiiiimiiuiiini- iMig       ised  ample  means  to  bring  them 

into   subjection.       William    Pitt 
(now  become  Earl  of   Chatham) 
made  a  powerful  speech  in  the 
House  of  Lords  in  favor  of  the 
Americans,  wliich  drew  from  that 
House  a  severe   reprimand  by  a 
decided    majority.       Thus    sup- 
ported by  the  king  and  lords,  the 
ministry   proceeded    to    put   the 
engine  of  coercion  into  swift  operation.     Restrictive  and  other  oppressive 
acts  were   passed,  and  war  was   virtually  declared  against  the  British- 
American  colonists. 

Meanwhile  the  several  colonies  had  expressed  their  approval  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  Continental  Congress.  New  York  alone  refused  to 
do  so,  but  finally  yielded.  In  November,  1774,  the  Committee  of  Fifty- 
One  was  dissolved,  and  at  a  meeting  of  "  freeholders  and  freemen,"  held 
at  the  City  Hall  on  the  22d  of  that  month,  a  committee  of  sixty  persons 
were  chosen  "  for  carrying  into  execution  the  Association  entered  into 
by  the  Continental  Congress. " 

So  soon  as  the  Congress  adjourned  the  Loyalists  and  the  High  Church 
party  in  New  York  undertook  to  weaken  the  force  of  the  American 


was  surmounted  by  the  cap  of  Liberty, 
coils,  upon  which  were  the  words  : 


The  whole  was  encircled  by  a  snake  in  two 


"  United  now,  alone  and  free, 
Firm  on  this  basis  Liberty  shall  Btand, 
And  thus  supported,  ever  bless  our  land, 
Till  Time  becomes  Eternity." 


THEOLOGICAL  AND  POLITICAL  DISCUSSIONS.  213 

Association  by  inducing  violations  of  its  requirements.  To  this  end 
scholars  and  divines  who  had  been  engaged  in  the  controversy  concern- 
ing an  American  episcopate  now  resumed  their  j)ens.  Among  the  most 
eminent  of  these  writers  on  the  Tory  side  were  Rev.  Myles  Cooper,  D.D., 
President  of  King's  College,  and  Drs.  Inglis,  Seabury  and  Chandler,  of 
the  Anglican  Church.  They  were  ably  answered  by  William  Livingston, 
John  Jay,  young  Alexander  Hamilton,  and  others.  It  was  at  this  time 
that  the  last  named  entered  the  list  of  political  writers,  and  soon  became 
their  peer  and  leader. 

The  first  session  of  the  New  York  Assembly  after  the  adjournment  of 
the  Continental  Congress  began  on  January  10th,  17Y5.     In  it  was  a 


7a6r 


SIGNATURE   OP   OI,rV^R   DE   LANCET. 

clear  working  majority  of  Tories.  Colonel  Philip  Schuyler  was  the 
acknowledged  leader  of  the  opposition.  He  was  ably  supported  by 
George  Clinton  and  others,  and  they  resolved  to  have  the  political  issues 
between  the  people  and  the  Government  distinctly  drawn  and  specifically 
considered. 

The  venerable  Colden,  now  at  the  head  of  the  provincial  government, 
called  the  attention  of  the  Legislature,  in  his  message,  to  the  "  alarming 
crisis,"  and  admonished  them  that  the  country  looked  to  them  for  wise 
counsel.  He  was  a  Loyalist,  but  was  now  conservative  in  feeling.  He 
exhorted  the  Assembly  to  discontinue  all  measures  calculated  to  increase 
the  public  distress,  and  promised  them  his  aid.  The  response  to  the 
message  was  drawn  by  Oliver  de  Lancey,*  and  took  conservative  ground. 

*  Oliver  de  Lancey,  a  brother  of  Lieutenant-Governor  James  de  Lancey,  was  born  in 
1717  ;  died  in  England  in  1785.  He  possessed  large  wealtk  and  great  influence.  He 
adhered  to  the  crown  when  the  war  for  independence  began  ;  was  commissioned  a 
brigadier-general,  and  raised  and  commanded  three  battalions  of  Loyalists.  His  son, 
Oliver,  became  a  captain  of  cavalry,  and  succeeded  Major  Andre  as  adjutant-general 
under  General  Clinton.  The  De  Lanceys  performed  efficient  service  for  the  royal  cause 
in  Westchester  County,  N.  Y.  At  the  close  of  the  war  the  general,  accompanied  by 
his  son,  went  to  England,  where  the  latter  rose  to  the  rank  of  major-general,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  almost  at  the  head  of  the  British  army  list.  The  elder  General  De 
Lancey  became  a  member  of  Parliainent.  His  nephew,  James  de  Lancey,  commanded  a 
battalion  of  horse  in  Westchester  County,  and  because  of  his  zeal  in  supplying  the  British 
army  with  cattle  from  tlie  farms  of  that  county,  his  troopers  were  called  mio-boys.  Confis- 
cation acts  swept  away  the  larger  portion  of  the  De  Lancey  estate  in  America. 


2U  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

At  length  a  question  came  up  (January  26tli,  1775)  which  tested  the 
"political  character  of  the  Assembly.  Abraham  Tenbroeck  moved  that 
the  House  should  "  take  into  consideration  the  proceedings  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,"  etc.  The  motion  was  negatived  by  a  majority  of 
•only  one.  Notwithstanding  the  meagreness  of  this  majority,  the  result 
gave  great  joy  to  the  Tories.  One  of  them  wrote  to  a  gentleman  in 
Boston  :  "  Worthy  old  Silver  Locks  (Lieutenant-Governor  Colden), 
when  he  heard  that  the  Assembly  had  acted  right,  cried  out,  '  Lord, 
now  lettest  thy  servant  depart  in  peace.'  " 

Soon  after  these  efforts  -were  made  in  the  Assembly  to  bring  it  into  sym- 
pathetic action  with  those  of  the  other  colonies,  Colonel  Schuyler  moved 
that  certain  letters  which  had  passed  between  the  Committees  of  Corre- 
spondence of  New  York  and  Connecticut,  and  a  certain  letter  to  Edmund 
Burke  (the  agent  in  England  of  the  colony  of  New  York),  in  June, 
1774,  on  the  subject  of  a  general  Congress,  "  be  forthwith  entered  upon 
the  journals  of  the  House  and  supplied  to  the  newspapers  for  publica- 
tion." It  was  rejected  by  a  vote  of  16  to  9.  Colonel  Nathaniel  Wood- 
hull  moved  that  the  thanks  of  the  House  should  be  given  to  the  dele- 
gates in  the  late  Continental  Congress  "  for  their  faithful  discharge  of 
the  trust  reposed  in  them."  This  was  negatived — 15  to  9.  By  the 
same  vote  a  motion  to  thank  the  merchants  and  otliere  who  had  adhered 
to  the  non-importation  and  non -intercourse  league  was  negatived.  A 
motion  to  appoint  delegates  to  the  proposed  second  Continental  Congress 
was  lost  by  a  vote  of  17  to  0. 

The  Assembly  agreed,  by  a  majority  vote,  that  Parliament  had  a  right 
to  tax  the  colonies  without  their  consent.  Late  in  February  a  petition 
to  the  king  was  presented  for  consideration.  It  was  so  cringing  in  tone 
— speaking  of  the  monarch  as  "  an  indulgent  father"  and  the  colonists 
as  "infants"  who  had  "submitted  hitherto  without  repining"  to  the 
authority  of  "  the  parent" — that  the  manliness,  the  patriotism,  and  the 
indignation  of  Schuyler  and  his  friends  were  thoroughly  aroused  to  most 
vigorous  opposition.  Schuyler  offered  several  amendments  ;  but  these, 
with  resolutions  presented  by  him,  were  voted  down.  Amendments 
offered  to  a  memorial  to  the  House  of  Lords  met  with  similar  treatment. 
Finally  the  several  papers  adopted  by  the  Assembly,  though  they  did 
not  express  the  sentiments  of  the  people  of  the  province,  were  ordered 
to  be  sent  to  Mr.  Burke.  The  Assembly  had  been  induced  to  send  a 
remonstrance  to  Parliament  against  its  harsh  treatment  of  the  colonists. 
Its  terms,  though  mild,  were  so  distasteful  that  it  was  not  received  by 
Parliament. 

On  April  3d,  1775,  the  Provincial  Assembly  of  New  York — a  legisla- 


THE  PEOPLE  EVERYWHERE   AROUSED.  215 

tive  body  which  had  existed  more  than  one  hundred  years — was 
adjourned  never  to  meet  again.  The  people  now  took  pubhc  matters 
into  their  own  hands.  The  whole  continent  was  moving  rapidly  toward 
an  attitude  of  rebelh'on  and  self-government.  The  newspapers,  as  we 
have  observed,  were  tilled  with  exciting  matter,  and  warlike  preparations 
were  observed  on  every  side.  General  Gage,  in  command  of  troops  at 
Boston,  became  alarmed,  and  began  fortifying  Boston  Keck.  He  seized 
and  conveyed  to  that  town  quantities  of  gunpowder  founrl  in  neighbor- 
ing villages,  and  he  adopted  stringent  measures  to  prevent  intercourse 
between  citizens  of  the  town  and  the  country. 

Fierce  exasperation  followed  these  impolitic  measures,  and  it  was  not 
long  before  hundreds  of  armed  men  assembled  at  Cambridge.  At 
Charlestown,  near  Boston,  the  people  took  possession  of  the  Arsenal 
after  Gage  had  carried  off  the  powder.  The  people  also  captured  tlie 
fort  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  and  carried  off  the  powder.  The  people  of 
Rhode  Island  seized  the  powder  and  forty  cannons  at  the  entrance  of 
Newport  Harbor.  Similar  defensive  measures  were  taken  at  Philadel- 
phia, Annapolis,  Williamsburg,  Charleston,  and  Savannah. 

The  Republicans  of  New  York  having  failed  in  their  efforts  in  the 
Assembly  to  procure  the  appointment  of  delegates  to  the  second  Con- 
tinental Congress,  which  was  to  convene  on  May  10th,  nothing  was  left 
for  them  but  to  appeal  to  the  people.  The  new  general  Committee  of 
Sixty,  temporarily  exercising  governmental  functions  and  yielding  to  the 
pressure  of  popular  sentiment,  took  measures  for  assembling  a  conven- 
tion of  representatives  of  the  several  counties  in  the  province  for  the 
purpose  of  choosing  deputies  to  the  General  Congress.  The  Loyalists 
opposed  the  measure  as  disrespectful  to  the  Assembly,  which  had  refused 
to  appoint  delegates. 

The  people,  wearied  of  the  Legislature,  were  now  driven  to  a  point 
where  respect  for  authorities  whose  views  were  not  in  consonance 
with  the  spirit  of  liberty  and  free  discussion  was  almost  wholly  un- 
known. 

They  first  rallied  around  the  Liberty  Pole  (April  6th,  1775),  beneath 
a  banner  inscribed  "  Constitutional  Liberty,"  and  marching  to  the 
Exchange,  were  met  there  by  large  numbers  of  Loyalists,  led  by  members 
of  the  Council  and  the  Assembly,  with  officers  of  the  army  and  navy, 
who  came  to  overawe  the  people.  They  failed.  A  Provincial  Conven- 
tion was  called,  and  assembled  at  the  Exchange,  forty-two  in  number, 
on  April  20th,  and  chose  Philip  Livingston,  James  Duane,  John  Alsop, 
John  Jay,  Simon  Boerum,  William  Floyd,  Henry  Wisner,  Philip 
Schuyler,  George  Clinton,  Lewis  Morris,  Francis  Lewis,  and  Robert  R. 


216  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Livingston  deputies  to  represent  tlie  province  of  New  York  in  the  Con- 
tinental Congress. 

On  May  22d  (1775)  deputies  from  the  several  counties  assembled  in 
New  York  and  organized  a  Provincial  Congress,  with  Peter  van  Brngli 
Livingston,  president  ;  Volkert  P.  Douw,  vice-president  ;  and  John 
McKesson  and  Robert  Benson,  secretaries.*  That  body  assumed  the 
functions  of  a  provincial  government,  and  utterly  ignored  the  royal 
governor  and  his  Council. 

The  great  crisis  was  now  approaching.  When,  just  after  the  adjourn- 
ment of  the  Provincial  Convention  (April  24th),  news  came  of  the  tragedy 
at  Lexington  and  Concord  the  public  mind  at  New  York  was  fearfully 
excited  by  that  intelligence,  and  by  the  arrest  of  Captain  Isaac  Sears, 
the  bold  leader  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  on  a  charge  of  seditious  utter- 
ances. On  his  way  to  jail  he  was  taken  from  the  officers  by  his  friends 
and  borne  in  triumph  through  the  streets,  preceded  by  a  band  of  music 
and  a  banner.     That  night  Sears  addressed  the  people  in  "  The  Fields," 

*  Members  of  the  first  Provincial  Congress  of  New  York,  which  met  in  the  city  of 
New  York  on  May  23d,  1775  : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New  Tm'k. — Isaac  Low,  L.  Lispenard,  Abraham  "Walton, 
Isaac  Roosevelt,  Abraham  Brasher,  Alexander  McDougal,  P.  van  Brugh  Livingston, 
James  Beekman,  John  Morin  Scott,  Thomas  Smith,  Benjamin  Kissam,  Samuel  Verplanck, 
David  Clarkson,  George  Folliot,  Joseph  Hallet,  John  van  Cortlandt,  John  de  Lancey, 
Richard  Yates,  John  Marston,  Walter  Franklin,  Jacobus  van  Zandt. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw,  Abraham  Yates,  Robert  Yates, 
Jacob  Cuyler,  Peter  Sylvester,  Dirck  Swart,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert  van  Rensselaer, 
Henry  Glenn,  Abraham  Teubroeck,  Francis  Nicoll. 

For  Duchess  County. — Dirck  Brinkerhoff,  Andrew  Hoffman,  Zephaniah  Piatt,  Richard 
Montgomery,  Ephraim  Paine?,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jonathan  Langdon,  Gysbert  Schenck, 
Melancton  Smith,  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Colonel  John  Ilardenburg,  Egbert  Dumond,  Christopher  Tap- 
pan,  James  Clinton,  Dr.  Charles  Clinton,  John  Nicholson,  Jacob  Hornbeck. 

For  Orange  County. — John  Coe,  David  Pye,  Michael  Jackson,  Benjamin  Tustin,  Peter 
Clowes,  William  Allison,  Abraham  Lent,  Jolm  Haring. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  WoodhuU,  John  Sloss  Hobart,  Ezra  L'Hommedieu, 
Thomas  Wickham,  Thomas  Treadwell,  John  Foster,  James  Haven,  Selah  Strong. 

For  Richmoiid  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey,  Richard  Conner,  Richard  Law- 
rence, Aaron  Cortelyou. 

For  WesteJiester  County. — Gouvemeur  Morris,  Lewis  Graham,  James  van  Cortlandt, 
Stephen  Ward,  Joseph  Drake,  Philip  van  Cortlandt,  John  Thomas,  Jr.,  Robert  Graham, 
William  Paulding. 

For  Kings  County. — John  E.  Lott,  Henry  Williams,  J.  Remsen,  Richard  Stlllwill, 
Theodore  Polhemus,  John  Lefferts,  Nicholas  Covenhoven,  John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Queens  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Joseph  Lawrence,  Daniel  Rai>elje,  Zebulon 
Williams,  Samuel  Townsend,  Joseph  Trench,  Joseph  Robinson,  Nathaniel  Tom,  Thomas 
Hicks,  Richard  Tlione. 

For  Cluirlotte. — Dr.  John  Williams,  William  Marston. 


COMMITTEES  IN  NEW  YORK  CITY.  217 

and  a  few  days  afterward  lie  was  elected  a  member  of  tlie  Provincial 
Congress. 

The  aroused  Sons  of  Liberty  embargoed  all  vessels  in  the  harbor  laden 
with  provisions  for  the  British  troops  in  Boston.  They  did  more  ;  they 
demanded  and  received  the  keys  of  the  Custom  House,  dismissed  the 
employes,  and  closed  it.  They  also  seized  public  arms,  and  placed  a 
guard  at  the  arsenal.  Then  they  boldly  proclaimed  this  overt  act  of 
treason  to  their  brethren  in  other  cities.  General  alarm  prevailed,  espe- 
cially among  the  Tories.  A  Grand  Committee  of  Safety,  consisting  of 
one  hundred  of  the  most  respectable  citizens,*  was  organized,  and  a 
military  association  for  practice  in  the  use  of  fire-arms  was  formed.  The 
Committee  of  One  Hundred  assumed  the  functions  of  municipal 
government. 

When  the  Provincial  Congress  assembled  its  complexion  disappointed 
the  people.  Toryism  and  timidity  prevailed  in  that  body,  and  schemes 
for  conciliation  instead  of  measures  for  defence  occupied  the  majority. 
Family  influence  was  very  powerful  in  the  colony  in  every  department 
of  social  life,  and  througli  it  the  Provincial  Assembly  and  the  Provincial 
Congress  were  loyally  inclined.  The  masses  of  the  people  were  chiefly 
Republican  in  feeling,  and  Toryism  in  the  Provincial  Congress,  hard 
pressed  by  popular  sentiment  and  the  influence  of  important  events  daily 
occurring,  was  soon  compelled  to  yield.  When  it  was  finally  crushed 
out,  no  province  or  State  was  more  patriotic  and  more  active  in  the  cause 
of  liberty  than  New  York.     With  a  population  of  only  1G4,000  in  1780, 

*  The  following  are  tlie  names  of  the  Committee  of  One  Hundred  :  Isaac  Low,  chair- 
man ;  John  Jay,  Francis  Lewis,  John  Alsop,  Philip  Livingston,  James  Duane,  Evert 
Duyckman,  William  Seton,  William  W.  Ludlow,  Cornelius  Clopper,  Abraham  Bi-inker- 
hoff,  Henry  Remsen,  Robert  Ray,  Evert  Bancker,  Joseph  Totten,  Abraham  P.  Lott, 
David  Beekman,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  Gabriel  H.  Ludlow,  William  Walton,  Daniel  Phoenix, 
Frederick  Jay,  Samuel  Broome,  John  de  Laiicey,  Augustus  van  Home,  Abraham 
Duryee,  Samuel  Verplanck,  Rudolphus  Ritzema,  John  Morton,  Joseph  Hallet,  Robert 
Benson,  Abraham  Brasher,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Nicholas  Hoffman,  Peter  van  Brugh 
Livingston,  Thomas  Marsteu,  Lewis  Pintard,  John  Imlay,  Eleazer  Miller,  Jr.,  John 
Broome,  John  B.  Moore,  Nicholas  Bogart,  John  Anthony,  Victor  Bicker,  William 
Goforth,  Hercules  Mulligan,  Alexander  McDougal,  John  Reade,  Joseph  Ball,  George 
Janeway,  John  White,  Gabriel  W.  Ludlow,  John  Lasher,  Theophilus  Anthony,  Thomas 
Smith,  Richard  Yates,  Olivei;  Templeton,  Jacobus  van  Landby,  Jeremiah  Piatt,  Peter 
S.  Curtenius,  Thomas  Randall,  Lancaster  Burling,  Benjamin  Kissam,  Jacob  Lefferts, 
Anthony  van  Dam,  Abraham  Walton,  Hamilton  Young,  Nicholas  Roosevelt,  Cornelius 
P.  Low,  Francis  Ba.ssett,  James  Beekman,  Thomas  Ivers,  William  Dunning,  John 
Berrien,  Benjamin  Helme,  William  W.  Gilbert,  Daniel  Dunscombe,  John  Lamb,  Richard 
Sharp,  John  Morin  Scott,  Jacob  van  Voorhis,  Comfort  Sands,  Edward  Flemming,  Peter 
Goelet,  Gerrit  Kettletas,  Thomas  Buchanan,  James  Desbrosses,  Petrus  Byvanck,  and 
Lott  Embree. 


218  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

of  wliom  32,500  were  liable  to  military  duty,  New  York  had  furnished 
17,780  soldiers  for  the  Continental  Army,  or  over  3000  more  than  Con- 
gress required.  Even  at  the  juncture  we  are  considering,  the  Provincial 
Congress  authorized  the  raising  and  furnishing  of  four  regiments,  the 
construction  of  fortifications  at  the  northern  end  of  Manhattan  Island, 
and  fortifications  in  the  Hudson  Highlands, 

Already  the  first  military  conquest  made  by  the  Americans  in  the  old 
war  for  independence  had  been  achieved  within  the  province  of  New 
York.  It  was  done  chiefly  by  the  proM'ess  of  Green  Mountain  Boys, 
who  had  so  long  and  so  successfully  defied  the  authorities  and  the  land 
speculators  of  New  York.  Benedict  Arnold,  of  Connecticut,  who  had 
hastened  to  Cambridge  with  a  military  company  on  hearing  of  the  aifrays 
at  Lexington  and  Concord,  proposed  to  the  Massachusetts  Provincial 
Congress  the  seizure  of  the  stronghold  of  Ticonderoga,  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain.  He  was  commissioned  a  colonel,  and  authorized  to  raise  men  for 
the  enterprise.  Meanwhile  some  Connecticut  people,  bent  on  a  similar 
enterprise,  had  repaired  to  Pittsfield,  in  Western  Massachusetts,  where 
they  were  joined  by  Colonels  Eaton  and  Brown  and  some  of  their 
followers.  They  all  went  to  Bennington,  where  Colonel  Ethan  Allen 
and  a  considerable  force  of  Green  Mountain  Boys  joined  them.  The 
whole  force  rendezvoused  at  Castleton,  where  they  cbose  Allen  as  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  expedition.  There  Arnold  joined  the  little  host 
Mnth  a  few  followers,  and,  by  virtue  of  his  commission,  claimed  the  right 
to  supreme  command.  The  Green  Mountain  Boys  objected,  Arnold 
yielded.  On  the  night  of  May  9tli  (1775)  most  of  the  little  army  crossed 
Lake  Champlain  near  Ticonderoga,  and  at  early  dawn  on  the  10th  Allen 
and  Arnold,  with  a  considerable  force,  having  seized  the  sentinel  at  the 
sallyport,  passed  through  a  covered  way,  and  before  they  were  discovered 
were  on  the  parade  within  the  fort.  They  had  taken  the  garrison  by 
surprise.  Allen  proceeded  to  the  quarters  of  the  commandant,  who  had 
just  been  awakened  from  his  slumbers,  and  demanded  the  surrender  of 
the  fort. 

"  By  what  authority  do  you  make  such  a  demand  ?"  asked  the  com- 
mandant, who  knew  Allen. 

"By  the  authority  of  the  Great  Jehovah  and  the  Continental 
Congress  !"  said  Allen,  in  a  loud  voice.  Dubious  about  Allen's  divine 
authority,  the  commandant  nevertheless  yielded,  although  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  did  not  exist  until  some  hours  later  on  that  day.  The 
spoils  of  victory  comprised  120  iron  cannons,  50  swivels,  2  mortars,  and 
a  large  amount  of  ammunition  and  stores,  which  were  used  in  the  siege 
of   Boston   a   few   months   afterward.     Two   days   later   Colonel   Seth 


FUNCTIONS  OF  THE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 


219 


"Warner  and  some  C4reen  Mountain  Boys  took  possession  of  Crown  Point, 
a  few  miles  from  Ticonderoga,  Thus,  at  the  outset  of  the  war,  the 
Republicans  gained  possession  of  Lake  Champlain  and  the  key  to 
Canada, 

On  the  day  of  the  capture  of  Ticonderoga  (May  10th,  1775)  the  second 
Continental  Congress  assembled  at  Philadelphia,  and  chose  Peyton  Ran- 
dolph president  and  Charles  Thomson  secretary.  The  grave  questions 
arose.  What  are  we  here  for  ?  and  What  are  our  powers  ?  They  simply 
composed  a  large  Committee  of  Conference  like  the  Congress  of  1774, 


RUINS   OF    FORT   TICONDEROGA,* 

without  specifically  delegated  legislative  or  executive  powers  ;  yet  the 
common-sense  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  colonies  represented  there  at  that 
perilous  hour,  regarded  them  as  fully  invested  with  supreme  legislative  and 
executive  functions.  The  deference  paid  by  the  provincial  authorities 
of  Massachusetts  and  New  York  in  asking  the  advice  of  Congress  about 
public  affairs  was  a  tacit  acknowledgment  of  the  supremacy  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  and  action  was  taken  accordingly.  That  body  pro- 
ceeded to  issue  bills  of  credit,  create  an  army  and  navy,  establish  a 
postal  service,  and  to  do  all  other  acts  of  sovereignty. 


*  This  is  a  view  of  the  ruins  of  the  famous  old  fort  as  it  appeared  in  1848,  taken  from 
the  bank  of  the  lake.  The  place  of  the  covered  way  through  which  Allen  and  his 
followers  entered  the  fort  was  at  the  left  corner  of  the  picture  near  the  sheep  in  the  fore- 
ground. 


220  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

Meanwhile  the  patriots  of  New  England  had  gathered  in  large  numbers 
around  Boston,  determined  to  confine  the  British  troops  that  occupied 
the  town  within  the  bounds  of  the  peninsula.  The  battle  of  Bunker 
(Breed's)  Hill  was  fought  on  June  17th  ;  a  Continental  Army  had  just 
been  organized,  and  George  Washington,  of  Virginia,  appointed  its  eom- 
inander-in-ehicf  ;  and  the  Continental  Congress  made  vigorous  prepara- 
tions for  the  defence  of  liberty  in  America. 

Rumors  reached  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New  York  that  British 
troops  were  corning  from  Ireland  to  occupy  the  city.  That  body,  now 
somewhat  purged  of  its  Toryism  by  intelligence  from  the  East,  invited 
General  Wooster,  who  was  in  command  of  a  body  of  militia  at  Green- 
wich, in  Connecticut,  for  the  defence  of  the  shores  of  that  colony,  to 
come  to  the  protection  of  New  York.  He  encamped  at  Harlem  for 
several  weeks,  and  sent  detachments  to  drive  off  marauders  on  Long 
Island,  who  were  stealing  cattle  for  the  use  of  the  British  Army  at 
Boston.  His  presence  so  emboldened  the  patriots  at  New  York  that  at 
midnight  late  in  July  they  captured  British  stores  on  the  eastern  verge 
of  Manhattan  Island  (foot  of  present  Forty-seventh  Street),  and  sent 
part  of  them  to  the  American  army  before  Boston  and  a  part  to  the 
garrison  at  Ticonderoga.  They  also  seized  a  tender  belonging  to  the 
Asia,  a  British  man-of-war  lying  in  New  York  Harbor. 

Governor  Tryon  had  returned  to  Ncav  York  in  the  Asia  late  in  June, 
and  was  received  with  much  respect  ;  but  he  soon  ofiiended  the  Repub- 
licans. The  energetic  action  of  the  Committee  of  One  Hundred  soon 
taught  him  to  be  circumspect  in  public,  but  he  Avas  continually  engaged 
in  private  intrigues  in  fostering  the  spirit  of  Toryism  in  the  Provincial 
Congress. 

Washington  arrived  at  New  York  on  his  way  to  take  command  of  the 
army  at  Cambridge  on  the  same  day  when  Tryon  arrived  at  Sandy  Hook 
(Juno  25th,  1775).  This  coincidence  embarrassed  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress and  the  municipal  authorities.  The  public  functions  of  the  two 
men  were  seriously  antagonistic,  and  their  respectiv^e  political  friends 
were  fiercely  hostile.  To  avoid  offence  honors  nmst  be  given  to  both. 
What  was  to  be  done  ?  Fortunately,  these  magnates  did  not  reach  the 
city  simultaneously.  Washington  and  his  party,  to  avoid  British  vessels 
in  the  harbor,  were  landed  at  the  seat  of  Colonel  Lispenard,  on  the 
Hudson,  about  a  mile  above  the  town,  in  the  afternoon,  and  were  con- 
ducted into  the  city  by  nine  companies  of  foot  and  a  great  multitude  of 
citizens,  where  they  were  received  by  the  civil  authorities.  The  Presi- 
dent of  the  Congress  (Philip  Livingston)  pronounced  a  cautious  and  con- 
servative address,  to  which  the  general  replied.     Governor  Tryon  arrived 


ELEMENTS   OF   WEAKNESS   IN   NEW   YORK. 


221 


four  hours  later,  and  was  conducted  to  the  house  of  Hugh  AVallace,  Esq. 
The  civic  and  military  ceremonies  were  partially  repeated  in  the  evening, 
and  all  parties  were  satisfied.  It  was  a  memorable  Sabbath  dav  in  Kew 
York. 

The  province  of  Kew  York  at  this  crisis  presented  three  dangerous 
elements  of  weakness — namely,  an 
exposed  frontier,  a  wily  and  pow- 
erful internal  foe  (Indians  and 
Tories),  and  a  demoralizing  loyalty. 
On  its  northern  border  was  Canada 
with  a  population  practically  neu- 
tral on  the  great  question  at  issue, 
and  prone  to  be  hostile  to  the 
patriots.  The  central  and  western 
regions  of  the  province  were  swarm- 
ing with  the  Six  Nations  of  Iroquois, 
whose  almost  universal  loyalty  had 
now  been  secured  by  the  influence 
of  Sir  William  Johnson  and  his 
family,  while  nearer  the  seaboard 
and  in  the  metropolis,  family  com- 
pacts and  commercial  interests  w^ere  powerfully  swayed  by  traditional  and 
natural  attachments  to  the  crown.     These  neutralized,  to  a  great  extent, 


PHILIP  LrVINGSTON.* 


*  Philip  Livingston  was  one  of  the  most  energetic,  upright,  public-spirited,  and 
esteemed  business  men  in  the  province  of  New  York  at  the  period  immediately  preceding 
the  Revolution  ;  and  he  was  one  of  the  most  trustworthy  and  efficient  of  the  supporters 
of  the  cause  of  the  American  patriots.  He  was  a  grandson  of  Robert  Livingston,  the 
first  "  Lord  of  the  Manor."  He  was  born  in  Albany  in  1716,  the  year  when  the  manor 
was  first  accorded  the  privilege  of  a  representative  in  the  Colonial  Assembly.  .  He  became 
a_  merchant,  and  a  most  energetic  and  thrifty  one  ;  and  he  entered  vigorously  into  the 
heated  political  discuasions  before  the  old  war  for  independence  began.  His  business  was 
in  New  York  City,  where  he  was  alderman  nine  years.  He  represented  the  manor  in  the 
Assembly  during  the  French  and  Indian  War,  where  he  had  great  influence  as  a  leader 
of  the  patriotic  party  in  that  body,  with  Colonel  Schuyler,  Pierre  van  Cortlandt,  Charles 
De  Witt,  etc.  ;  and  corresponded  much  with  Edmund  Burke.  Mr.  Livingston  represented 
New  York  in  the  first  Continental  Congress,  and  was  on  the  committee  that  prepared 
the  remarkable  "  Address  to  the  People  of  Great  Britain,"  which  drew  forth  warm 
encomiums  from  William  Pitt  (Lord  Chatham).  He  was  an  active  member  of  the  New 
York  Provincial  Congress  in  1775,  and  earnestly  supported  the  proposition  for  inde- 
pendence, signing  the  great  Declaration.  Mr.  Livingston  was  a  member  of  the  first 
Senate  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  also  a  delegate  in  the  General  Congress.  When 
the  sessions  of  that  body  were  held  at  Lancaster  and  York  his  health  rapidly  failed,  and 
he  died  at  York  on  June  11th,  1778,  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  New  York 
Society  Library,  of  King's  (now  Columbia)  College,  and  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce. 


222  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

the  influence  of  the  few  sturdy  patriots  who,  in  the  face  of  frowns  and 
menaces  and  the  fears  of  the  timid,  kept  the  fires  of  the  Revolution 
burning  witli  continually  increasing  brightness. 

The  whole  province  of  New  York  constituted  the  "  Northern  Depart- 
ment" of  the  Continental  Army,  Washington  placed  it  under  the 
charge  of  Philip  Schuyler,  one  of  his  four  major-generals,  whose  sleep- 
less vigilance  caused  him  to  be  designated  the  "  Great  Eye*'  of  the 
department.  In  his  instructions  to  Schuyler,  given  at  New  York, 
Washington  admonished  him  to  "  keep  a  watchful  eye  upon  Governor 
Tryon,"  and  to  use  every  means  in  his  power  to  frustrate  his  designs 
"  inimical  to  the  common  cause." 

Affairs  on  Lake  Champlain  demanded  Schuyler's  first  and  most  earnest 
attention,  for  the  possession  of  Canada  by  an  alliance  or  by  conquest  was 
a  consideration  of  the  greatest  consequence.  As  the  inhabitants  were 
French  Roman  Catholics,  having  no  sympathy  in  religion  or  nationality 
with  either  party,  they  were  objects  of  great  solicitude  to  both.  Friendly 
overtures  were  made  to  them  by  the  colonies  then  in  league,  but  imprudent 
language  interfered.  Had  wise  words  and  measures  been  adopted  at  the 
outset  the  Canadians  might  have  been  easily  won  to  an  alliance,  for  a 
traditional  feud  between  the  French  and  English  had  existed  for  a 
thousand  years,  and  the  recent  conquest  of  Canada  by  the  English  was 
yet  a  cause  for  much  irritation  ;  or  had  Congress  acted  promptly  upon 
the  suggestions  of  Colonels  Allen  and  Arnold  soon  after  the  capture  of 
Ticonderoga,  Canada  might  have  been  easily  won  by  conquest.  The 
New  York  Provincial  Congress  thought  it  an  "  impertinent  proposal 
coming  from  Allen,  a  man  who  had  been  outlawed  by  the  authorities  of 
New  York." 

The  two  heroes  (Allen  and  Arnold)  had  already  on  their  own  respon- 
sibility taken  preliminary  steps  toward  such  conquest.  They  went  down 
the  lake  in  a  schooner  and  bateaux  with  armed  men,  and  Arnold 
captured  St.  Johns,  on  the  Sorel  (the  outlet  of  the  lake),  but  could  not 
hold  the  prize.  Again,  when  Arnold  heard  that  the  Governor  of  Canada 
had  sent  an  armed  force  to  St.  Johns  for  the  purpose  of  attempting  the 
recapture  of  the  lake  forts,  he  proceeded  without  authority. to  fit  out, 
arm,  and  man  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  persons  all  the  vessels  he  <;ould 
lay  his  hands  upon,  and,  as  self-constituted  commodore,  he  took  post  at 
Crown  Point  and  awaited  the  coming  of  the  foes.  They  did  not  come. 
This  was  the  first  Continental  Navy.  It  was  put  afloat  in  New  York 
waters  before  the  middle  of  June,  1775. 

Colonel  Allen  and  his  lieutenant,  Seth  Warner,  appeared  before  the 
Continental  Congress  at  Philadelphia,  and  on  the  floor  of  the  House  he 


EMPLOYMENT   OF   GREEN   MOUNTAIN  BOYS.  22'o 

revealed  to  the  members,  in  quaint  phrases  and  with  slow  speech,  the 
state  of  affairs  on  the  northern  frontier,  and  urged  the  importance  of  an 
immediate  invasion  of  Canada  before  the  small  British  force  there  should 
be  increased.  He  asked  for  authority  to  raise  a  new  regiment  of  Green 
Mountain  Boys  for  that  service.  His  words  so  deeply  impressed  the 
members  that  on  June  ITtli  they 

'^liesolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Convention  of  New  Tork 
that  they,  consulting  with  General  Schuyler,  employ  in  the  army  to  be 
raised  for  the  defence  of  America  those  called  '  Green. Mountain  Boys,' 
under  such  officers  as  the  said  Green  Mountain  Boys  shall  choose." 

Allen  and  Warner  soon  appeared  in  JSTew  York  and  craved  an  audience 
with  the  Provincial  Congress.  Their  errand  produced  much  embarrass- 
ment. How  could  members  treat  with  men  who  had  recently  been  pro- 
claimed outlaws  ?  Debates  ran  high,  when  Captain  Sears  moved  that 
"  Ethan  Allen  be  admitted  to  the  floor  of  the  House."  The  motion  was 
adopted  by  a  large  majority.  The  old  fend  was  instantly  healed,  and 
the  Congress  decreed  that  a  regiment  of  Green  Mountain  Boys,  five 
hundred  strong,  should  be  raised. 

Already  Governor  Trumbull,  of  Connecticut,  had  sent  troops  to 
Ticonderoga,  under  Colonel  Hinman,  who  held  the  chief  command  there 
until  superseded  by  General  Schuyler.  The  military  force  then  in  the 
province  did  not  exceed  three  thousand  men  fit  for  duty,  and  yet  prepa- 
rations were  made  in  New  York  for  an  invasion  of  Canada.  The  visit  of 
Allen  and  Warner  had  quickened  the  perceptions  of  the  Continental 
Congress  of  the  necessity  of  such  an  invasion,  and  on  June  27th  that 
body  ordered  General  Schuyler,  if  he  should  "  find  it  practicable  and 
not  disagreeable  to  the  Canadians,  immediately  to  take  possession  of 
St.  Johns  and  Montreal,  and  pursue  such  other  measures  in  Canada  as 
might  have  a  tendency  to  promote  the  peace  and  security  of  these  prov- 
inces"— in  other  words,  to  undertake  an  armed  invasion  of  Canada. 


224 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER  XYI. 


General  Schuylek  had  accompanied  Wasliington  from  Philadelphia 
to  New  York.      When  lie  arrived  at  Albany  early  in  July  he  found  the 

aspect  of  affairs  in  Northern  New 
York  dark  and  unpromising  to  the 
Republican  cause. 

Sir  William  Johnson,*  who  had 
taken  sides  with  the  crown  in  the 
political  movements  of  the  time, 
had  died  the  previous aut*iimn.  His 
mantle  of  almost  unbounded  influ- 
ence over  the  Indians  of  the  Mohawk 
Valley  and  beyond  had  fallen  upon 
his  energetic  son-in-law.  Colonel 
Guy  Johnson,  who  succeeded  him 
as  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs. 
Sir  William's  son  John  inherited 
the  title  and  estates  of  the  baronet, 
and  was  at  that  time  earnestly  en- 
gaged in  keeping  Toryism  actively 
alive  in  the  Mohawk  Yalley.  He 
had  been  appointed,  in  17T4,  brigadier-general  of  the  militia  of  Tryon 
County,  which  extended  west  of  Albany  County  almost  indefinitely. 
These  successors  of  Sir  AVilliam,  especially  Guy,  professed  peaceable 


SIR   WILLIAM   JOHNSON. 


*  Sir  William  Johnson  was  a  conspicuous  character  in  the  later  period  of  the  colonial 
history  of  New  York.  He  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  where  he  was  born  in  1715.  Educated 
for  a  merchant,  an  unfortunate  love  affair  changed  the  tenor  of  his  life.  He  came  to 
America  to  take  charge  of  landed  propert}'^  in  the  region  of  the  ^loliawk  Valley  belonging 
to  his  uncle,  Admiral  Sir  Peter  Warren.  His  good  treatment  of  the  Indians  made  him  a 
favorite  with  them.  He  built  a  fine  mansion  (j'et  standing),  which  he  called  "  Johason 
Hall,"  and  there  the  village  of  Johnstown,  in  Fulton  County,  now  flourishes.  He 
married  a  pretty  German  girl,  by  wliom  he  had  two  children,  a  son  (afterward  Sir  John 
Johnson)  and  a  daughter.  By  his  housekeeper,  Mary  Brant,  the  sister  of  Brant,  the 
celebrated  Mohawk  chief,  he  had  eight  children.  She  lived  with  him  until  his  death  in 
1774.  When  the  French  and  Indian  War  broke  out  Johnson  wa.s  appointed  sole  agent 
of  Indian  affairs  in  the  province  of  New  York,  and  managed  the  bu.siness  most  judi- 
ciously. The  king  granted  him  100,000  acres  of  land  in  the  Mohawk  Valley.  He  lived 
on  his  domain  in  his  fine  mansion  in  rude  baronial  splendor. 


GUY  JOHNSON  AND   THE   INDIANS. 


225 


intentions,  but  the  movements  of  the  latter  had  been  so  suspicious  for 
some  thne  that  tlie  patriotic  citizens  of  Tryon  County  were  filled  with 
apprehensions. 

Guy  Johnson  was  holding  a  council,  in  the  spring  of  1775,  with  the 
Indians  at  his  house*  (near  the 
present  village  of  Amsterdam),  on 
the  Mohav\'k,  when  news  from 
Lexington  and  intimations  that  he 
was  about  to  be  arrested  so  alarmed 
him  that  he  hastily  adjourned  the 
council,  first  to  the  German  Flats 
and   then    to    Fort   Stanwix,    now 

Rome.  He  had  taken  his  family  with  liim.  He  soon  pushed  onward 
to  the  heart  of  the  country  of  the  fierce  Cayugas  and  Senecas,  and  at 
Ontario  (according  to  tradition)  he   called  a  great  council   of  the   Six 


SIGNATURE   OF   SIR   WILLIAM  JOHNSON. 


GUY   JOHNSON  S   HOUSE. 


Nations.     He  was  accompanied  by  Brant  (whose   sister   had   been  the 
concubine — the  wife,  according  to  Indian  customs — of  Sir  William)  as 


*  This  house,  substantially  built  of  stone,  is  yet  standing  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Mohawk  River,  a  mile  from  the  village  of  Amsterdam,  in  Montgomery  County.  Sir 
William  Johnson  had  an  equally  strong  mansion,  two  stories  in  height,  with  a  high 
peaked  roof,  wherein  he  resided  twenty  years  before  he  built  Johnson  Hall.  It  is  yet 
standing,  about  three  miles  west  of  Amsterdam.  It  was  fortified  and  called  "  Fort 
Johnson." 


226 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


Ills  secretary  ;  also  by  Colonel  John  Butler  and  his  son  Walter,  who  was 
afterward  engaged  in  bloody  forays  njjon  the  defenceless  white  inhab- 
itants of  the  Mohawk  region. 

The  council  at  Ontario,  at  which  about  fourteen  hundred  barbarians 
were  assembled,  was  satisfactory  to  Colonel  Johnson.  Thence  he  went 
to  Oswego  and  invited  representatives  of  the  Six  Nations  to  meet  him  in 


JOHNSON   HAL,L,.f 

(From  a  sketch  made  in  1848.) 


council  there,  to  "  feast  on  a  Bostonian  and  to  drink  his  blood  " — in  other 
words,  to  eat  a  roasted  ox  and  to  drink  a  pipe  of  win«.*  Tlie  council 
was  held  ;  and  at  the  conclusion  Johnson,  with  a  large  number  of 
Iroquois  chiefs  and  warriors,  crossed  Lake  Ontario,  went  down  the  St. 
Lawrence  to  Montreal,  and  entered  the  British  military  service.  They 
were  chiefly  Mohawks  under  Brant. 

*  Some  doubt  has  been  expressed  by  a  late  investigator  (Mr.  A.  McF.  Da\Ts)  as  to  tu>o 
conferences  in  the  summer  of  1775,  as  Ontario  and  Oswego  were  names  sometimes  applied 
to  the  same  place  at  the  mouth  of  the  Oswego  River  by  writers  at  that  day.  There  was 
a  place  in  the  Seneca  country  on  the  borders  of  Lake  Ontario  called  "  Ontario,"  where  a* 
conference  may  have  been  held,  as  stated  in  the  text. 

f  Johnson  Hall,  yet  standing  upon  a  gentle  eminence  about  three  fourths  of  a  mile 
north  of  the  court-house  in  the  village  of  Johnstown,  Fulton  County,  was  built  about  the 
year  1760  by  Sir  William  Johnson,  and  was,  probably,  the  finest  mansion  in  the  province 
of  New  York  at  that  time.  The  main  building  is  of  wood,  clapboarded  in  a  manner  to 
represent  blocks  of  stone.  It  is  forty  feet  wide,  sixty  feet  long,  and  two  stories  high. 
The  detached  wings,  built  for  flanking  block-houses,  are  of  stone.  The  walls  are  very 
thick,  and  pierced  near  the  eaves  for  musketry.     One  of  these  was  recently  x'emoved. 


COMMISSIONERS  OF  INDIAN  AFFAIRS.  227 

While  Guy  Johnson  was  thus  forming  an  active  alliance  of  many  of 
the  tribes  of  the  Six  Nations  (and  especially  the  Mohawks)  with  the 
British  in  Canada,  Sir  John  Johnson  remained  at  Johnson  Hall,  the  seat 
of  Sir  William,  which  he  had  fortified,  exerting  an  equally  powerful 
influence  in  a  more  quiet  way  in  favor  of  the  crown  as  a  military  leader 
and  as  a  manorial  i3roprietor  over  a  large  number  of  Scotch  retainers, 
who  were  all  Loyalists. 

So  was  inaugurated  the  coalition  with  the  British  of  Indians  and  Tories 
in  New  York,  whose  atrocious  deeds  in  the  Mohawk  region  gave  it  the 
name  of  "  The  Dark  and  Bloody  Ground." 

The  Continental  Congress  now  perceiving  the  necessity  of  securing  the 
neutrality  if  not  the  alliance  of  the  Indians,  established  a  Board  of  Com- 
missioners of  Indian  Affairs  in  three  departments.  General  Schuyler, 
Major  Joseph  Hawley,  Turbutt  Francis,  Oliver  Wolcott,  and  Volkert 
P.  Douw  were  appointed  commissioners  for  the  Northern  Department. 
Through  this  Board  Congress  addressed  earnest  and  friendly  "  talks"  to 
the  Six  Nations,  entreating  them  not  to  engage  in  the  contest.  "  This 
is  a  family  quarrel  between  us  and  Old  England,"  they  said.  "You 
Indians  are  not  concerned  in  it.  We  do  not  wish  you  to  take  up  the 
hatchet  against  the  king's  troops.  We  desire  you  to  remain  at  home 
and  not  join  on  either  side." 

Had  a  like  humane  and  discreet  policy  governed  the  councils  of  the 
British  Ministry  many  a  horrible  deed  the  record  of  which  stains  the 
annals  of  the  period  might  never  have  been  committed. 

Tionderoga,  or  Ticonderoga,  was  made  the  point  of  rendezvous  for 
the  troops  designed  for  the  invasion  of  Canada.  Schuyler  was  there  at 
the  middle  of  July.  Only  a  handful  of  meanly-clad  and  poorly-fed 
armed  men  were  there,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Hinman,  among 
whom  insubordination  was  the  rule.  Brigadier-General  Richard  Mont- 
gomery, Schuyler's  second  in  command,  had  been  left  at  Albany  to 
receive  and  discipline  troops  that  might  arrive  until  the  commissariat  at 
Ticonderoga  should  be  in  an  efficient  condition. 

It  had  been  agreed  that  Connecticut  should  furnish  men  and  New 
York  supplies.  Both  were  tardy  in  performance,  and  the  summer  was 
almost  ended  before  there  was  a  sufficient  force  fairly  equipped  at 
Ticonderoga  to  warrant  Schuyler  in  ordering  an  advance  toward  Canada. 
Washington,  in  command  of  the  Continental  troops  before  Boston,  gave 
all  aid  to  the  enterprise  in  his  power,  and  when  the  movement  began  he 
sent  Colonel  Arnold  with  over  a  thousand  men  across  the  wilderness  of 
Western  Maine  to  co-operate  in  efforts  to  seize  Quebec. 

The  Provincial  Congress  of  New  York  was  almost  powerless  to  act. 


228  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

*'  You  cannot  conceive,"  wrote  its  president  to  General  Schuvler  in 
August,  "  the  trouble  we  have  with  our  troops  for  want  of  money.  To 
this  hour  we  have  not  received  a  shilling  of  the  public  money.  Two  of 
our  members  have  been  at  Philadelphia  almost  a  fortnight  Avaiting  for 
the  cash.  Our  men  insist  on  being  paid  before  they  march,  not  their 
subsistence  only,  but  also  their  billeting  money.  Perhaps  no  men  have 
been  more  embarrassed  than  we." 

This  inability  was  called  indifference  by  some  and  disaffection  by 
others,  and  drew  forth  ungenerous  reflections.  "  That  Congress," 
wrote  Samuel  Mott  to  Governor  Trumbull  from  Ticonderoga,  "  are  still 
imsound  at  heart.  They  make  a  great  noise  and  send  forward  a  few 
officers  to  command  ;  but  as  to  soldiers  in  the  service,  I  believe  they  are 
not  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  strong  at  all  the  posts  this  side  of 
Albany."  And  Major  Brown,  then  on  a  mission  in  Canada,  wrote  to 
the  same  gentleman  :  "  The  New  Yorkers  liave  acted  a  droll  part,  and 
are  determined  to  defeat  us  if  they  can." 

Schuyler  had  sent  Major  Brown,  an  American  and  a  resident  on  the 
Sorel,  into  Canada  for  information.  At  the  middle  of  August  he  reported 
that  there  were  seven  hundred  regular  troops  in  Canada,  of  whom  three 
hundred  were  at  St.  Johns  ;  that  five  hundred  Tories  and  Indians  under 
Sir  John  Johnson  were  near  Montreal  trying  to  persuade  the  Caughna- 
wagas  to  join  them  ;  that  the  French  Canadians,  restive  under  British 
rule,  were  generally  disposed  to  remain  neutral,  and  that  he  believed  the 
conquest  of  Canada,  if  undertaken  at  once,  might  easily  be  achieved. 

Schuyler  now  resolved  to  push  forward  as  speedily  as  possible.  Troops 
and  supplies  were  coming  forward.  The  Provincial  Congress  of  New 
York  was  using  every  effort  to  furnish  its  one  thousand  men.  Four 
regiments  were  organized  under  the  respective  commands  of  Colonels 
McDougal,  Yan  Schaick,  Clinton,  and  Holmes,  and  Captain  John  Lamb 
was  authorized  to  raise  a  company  of  artillery  one  hundred  strong,  to  be 
attached  to  McDougal's  regiment.  The  Committee  of  Safety  of  New 
Hampshire  sent  to  the  gathering  army  on  the  lake  three  companies,  under 
Colonel  Bedel,  who  were  accustomed  to  the  woods  and  well  acquainted 
with  Canada.  But  the  Green  Mountain  Boys  were  tardy  in  forming 
their  regiment. 

Toward  the  close  of  August  the  troops  at  Ticonderoga  moved  down 
the  lake  nnder  the  command  of  Generals  Montgomery*  and  Wooster, 

*  Richard  Montgomery  was  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland  in  1786  ;  entered  the  British 
Army  ;  assisted  in  the  capture  of  Quebec  in  1759  ;  was  in  the  campaign  against  Havana 
with  General  Lyman,  and,  retxirning  to  New  York,  he  made  that  city  his  residence.  He 
went  to  England,  sold  his  commission  in  1772,  came  back,  and  bought  a  beautiful  estate 


CAPTURE   OF   ST.    JOHNS  AND  MONTREAL. 


229 


and  took  post  at  Isle  aux  Noix,  on  tlie  Sorel,  a  few  miles  above  St. 

Johns.     There  Schuyler  joined  them.     He  had  been  in  attendance  upon 

his  duty  as  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs  in  holding  a  conference  with 

representatives  of  the  Six  Nations 

at  Albany.      Tlie  troops  remained 

at  Isle  aux  Noix  until  the  middle 

of     September,     when     Schuyler, 

prostrated    by    illness,    transferred 

the  chief  command  to  Montgomery 

and  returned  to  Ticonderoga. 

On  the  day  of  Schuyler's  de- 
parture (September  25th)  Mont- 
gomery advanced  upon  the  fort  at 
St.  Johns  with  about  a  thousand 
men  without  artillery,  and  began  a 
siege  on  the  18th.  The  garrison, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Preston, 
maintained  a  vigorous  resistance  for 
more  than  a  montli.  The  fort  was 
surrendered  to  Montgomery  on 
November  3(1,  1775. 

During  the  siege  small  detachments  from  Montgomery's  force  went 
out  upon  daring  enterprises.  Colonel  Ethan  Allen  had  joined  the  little 
patriot  army.  At  the  head  of  eighty  men,  at  the  suggestion  of  Colonel 
John  Brown,  who  was  to  co-operate  with  him,  he  pushed  across  the  St. 
Lawrence  to  attack  Montreal.  Brown  failed  to  co-operate.  Allen  was 
defeated,  made  prisoner,  and  was  sent  to  England  to  be  tried  for  treason, 
but  was  exchanged  in  May,  1778.     Montgomery  took  Montreal. 

General  Montgomery  wrote  to  the  Continental  Congress  :  "  Until 
Quebec  is  taken  Canada  remains  unconquered."  Impressed  with  this 
idea,  he  lost  no  time  in  pressing  toward  Quebec  in  the  face  of  terrible 
discouragements — inclement  weather,  the  desertion  of  troops,  hostility 
of  the  Canadians,  and  a  lean  commissariat.  Frost  was  binding  the 
waters,  snow  was  mantling  the  whole  country,  and  the  rigors  of  a 
Canadian  winter  menaced  him. 


GENERAL   RICHARD    MONTGOMERY. 


on  the  east  bank  of  the  Hudson,  in  Duchess  County,  and  soon  afterward  married  a 
daughter  of  Robert  Livingston.  He  espoused  the  patriot  cause  ;  was  commissioned  a 
brigadier-general,  and  joined  General  Schuyler  in  the  expedition  to  conquer  Canada  in 
1775.  He  was  in  chief  command  of  the  troops  that  captured  St.  Johns  and  Montreal, 
and  laid  siege  to  Quebec.  In  an  attack  upon  that  city  he  was  killed.  There  is  a  fine 
memorial  monument  to  his  memory  on  the  front  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  New  York  City. 


530 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


Twenty  miles  above  Quebec  Montgomery  met  Arnold  (December 
lltli)  with  a  shattered  remnant  of  his  followers,  tattered  and  torn,  who 
had  been  driven  from  before  the  city,  when  woollen  suits  brought  from 
Montreal  were  placed  upon  their  shivering  limbs.  The  united  forces 
stood  upon  the  Plains  of  Abraham,  before  Quebec,  on  December 
1st,  and  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  city.  A  scornful  refusal 
was  followed  by  a  siege  which  lasted  three  weeks.  It  was  carried  on 
with  a  few  light  cannons  and  mortars  mounted  upon  brittle  ice  redoubts, 
the  men  exposed  to  almost  daily  snow-storms  in  the  open  fields. 

On  the  early  morning  of  the  last 
day  of  the  year  1775  the  little  be- 
sieging army  attempted  to  take 
Quebec  by  storm.  The  force  was 
divided.  One  portion  was  led  by 
Montgomery  on  the  St.  Lawrence 
side  of  the  town  ;  the  otlier  portion 
was  led  by  Arnold  on  the  St. 
Charles  side.  They  were  to  meet 
and  attempt  a  forced  entrance  into 
the  city  through  Prescott  Gate  at 
Mountain  $treet.  Just  before 
dawn,  while  he  was  pressing  for- 
ward at  the  head  of  the  New  York 
troops  in  the  face  of  a  blinding 
snow-storm,  Montgomery  was  killed 
by  a  grape-shot  from  a  masked  bat- 
tery at  the  foot  of  Gape  Diamond. 
Arnold  had  been  wounded  and  sent  to  a  hospital.  After  a  further  strug- 
gle the  British  made  a  sortie  through  Palace  Gate  and  captured  the  whole 
of  Arnold's  division.  Arnold,  now  in  chief  command,  retreated  a  few 
miles  up  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  for  a  while  blockaded  the  garrison  at 
Quebec.  He  was  soon  succeeded  in  command  by  General  Wooster,* 
who  came  down  from  Montreal. 


DAVID   W008Tp;U   IN    1758. 


*  David  Wooster  was  born  at  Stratford,  Conn.,  March  2d,  1710,  and  was  educated  at 
Yale  College.  He  performed  excellent  military  service  among  provincial  forces  before 
tlie  Revolution.  He  wsis  colonel  of  a  Connecticut  regiment,  and  became  a  brigadier- 
general  in  the  French  and  Indian  War.  He  was  with  Allen  and  Arnold  at  the  capture  of 
Ticonderoga  in  1775  ;  was  in  command  in  Canada,  with  the  commission  of  a  brigadier- 
general,  in  the  spring  of  1776,  and  on  his  return  was  made  first  major-general  of  Con- 
necticut militia.  Opposing  the  invasion  of  his  State  in  the  spring  of  1777,  he  was  fatally 
wounded  in  a  skirmish  at  Ridgefield,  and  died  on  May  2il. 


GENERAL   SCHUYLER  AND   SIR  J.    JOHNSON. 


331 


General  Schuyler  had  just  Iieard  of  the  death  of  Montgomery,  when 
he  was  called  up  the  Mohawk  Yalley  to  disarm  the  Tories  of  Tryon 
County.  It  was  evident  that  Sir  John  Johnson  and  his  retainers  were 
preparing  for  an  active  armed  alliance  with  the  British  in  Canada. 
Schuyler,  acting  under  instructions  from  the  Continental  Congress,  called 
for  seven  hundred  militia  to  assist  him.  The  response  was  marvellous. 
Before  he  reached  Caughnawaga  on  the  Mohawk,  a  few  miles  from 
Johnson  Hall,  he  had  three  thou- 
sand armed  followers,  including 
nine  hundred  of  the  Tryon  County 
militia. 

By  appointment  Schuyler  met 
the  baronet  at  the  late  residence 
of  Guy  Johnson,  on  the  Mohawk, 
from  whom  he  demanded,  as  terms 
of  peace,  the  immediate  cessation 
of  all  hostile  demonstrations  ;  the 
surrender  of  all  arms,  ammunition, 
and  stores  in  the  possession  of 
Johnson  ;  the  delivery  to  him  of 
all  the  arms  and  accoutrements 
held  by  the  Tories  and  Indians,  and 
Sir  John's  parole  of  honor  not  to 
act  inimically  to  the  patriot  cause. 
Sir  John  was  compelled  to  comply  with  the  terms,  and  gave  his  pledge.^ 

On  January  19th  (1776)  the  expedition  under  Schuyler  was  at  Johns- 
town, where  the  arms  and  military  stores  were  delivered  up,  and  at  noon 
the  next  day  nearly  three  hundred  Scotch  Highlanders  laid  down  their 
arms  before  a  line  of  armed  militia  in  the  streets  of  Johnstown.  The 
Mohawks  meanwhile  had  remained  neutral.  With  six  Scottish  chiefs 
and  more  than  one  hundred  Tory  prisoners,  and  some  heavy  guns  as 
trophies,  Schuyler  marched  back  to  Albany.  He  had  disarmed  between 
six  and  seven  hundred  Tories,    conciliated  the   Mohawks,  and  diluted 


SIR  JOHN   JOHNSON. 


*  Sir  .John  Johnson  was  born  in  1742  ;  died  at  Montreal  June  4th,  1830.  In  1774  he 
was  appointed  major-general  of  the  New  York  militia.  He  was  an  active  Tory  and 
British  partisan  during  the  old  war  for  independence,  and  produced  great  distress  among 
the  patriotic  inhabitants  of  the  Mohawjc  Valley  by  participation  Avith  the  Indians  on  their 
destructive  forays  with  his  "  Royal  Greens,"  a  partisan  corps.  He  went  to  England,  but 
returned  in  1785  and  resided  in  Canada,  where  he  was  made  Superintendent  of  Indian 
Affairs.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Legislative  Council  of  Canada.  To  compensate 
him  for  his  losses,  the  British  Government  made  him  grants  of  land  in  Canada. 


232  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

the  loyalty  of  some  of  the  most  prominent  leaders  among  the  Six 
Nations, 

During  the  summer  and  fall  of  1775  stirring  events  occurred  in  the 
city  of  New  York.  The  course  of  Governor  Tryon  was  so  evidently 
hostile  to  the  Republican  cause  that  the  Provincial  Congress,  now 
governed  by  the  popular  will,  and  perceiving  a  resort  to  arms  to  be 
inevitable,  ordered  Captain  John  Lamb,  then  recruiting  an  artillery  com- 
pany, to  take  the  cannons  from  the  fort  and  the  grand  battery  to  a  place  of 
safety.  With  a  small  military  force  and  a  body  of  citizens  led  by  Cap- 
tain Sears,  he  went  to  the  Battery  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  (August 
25th)  and  began  the  task.  A  bullet  was  sent  among  the  people  from  a 
barge  filled  with  armed  men  from  the  Asia,  which  was  concealed  near 
by.  A  volley  was  returned,  and  the  barge,  bearing  several  men  killed 
and  wounded,  hastened  back  to  the  Asia.  That  vessel  immediately 
hurled  three  cannon  shots  ashore  in  quick  succession.  Lamb  ordered  the 
drums  to  beat  to  arms.  The  church-bells  rang  out  an  alarum  ;  and 
while  all  was  confusion  and  fear  broadside  after  broadside  of  grape-shot 
from  the  Asia  was  fired  upon  the  town,  injuring  several  houses  ;*  but 
no  life  was  sacrificed.  Believing  that  the  town  was  to  be  sacked  and 
burnt,  hundreds  of  men,  women,  and  children  were  seen  at  midnight 
hurrying  away  with  their  light  effects  to  places  of  safety  in  the  suburbs. 
Yet  the  patriots  at  the  Battery  stood  firm,  and  in  the  face  of  the  can- 
nonade from  the  Asia  every  gun  was  removed.  There  were  twenty-one 
iron  IS-pounders  and  some  smaller  cannons. 

The  conduct  of  the  commander  of  the  Asia  caused  intense  exaspera- 
tion among  the  patriots,  and  Governor  Tryon,  taking  counsel  of 
prudence  and  his  fears,  sought  refuge  from  the  wrath  of  the  people  on 
board  a  British  ship-of-war  in  the  harbor.  From  that  aquatic  "  palace" 
he  attempted  to  rule  the  province.  There  his  Council  joined  liim.f 
But  royal  authority  was  at  an  end  at  New  York  forever. 

Rivington,  the  loyal  printer,  had  changed  the  name  of  his  newspaper 
to  the  lioyal  Gazette,  and  was  using  his  great  influence  as  a  journalist  in 

*  Among  tlic  houses  injured  at  tliat  time  was  the  tavern  of  Samuel  Fraunce,  a  West 
Indian  by  birth,  and  of  such  a  dark  complexion  that  he  was  familiarly  known  as  "  Black 
Sam."  His  house  was  on  the  corner  of  Broad  and  Pearl  streets.  Freneau,  in  his 
"Petition  of  Hugh  Gains,"  makes  that  time-serving  journalist  say,  in  alluding  to  the 
cannonade  of  the  Asia : 

"At  first  we  stijiposed  it  was  only  a  gliain. 
Till  he  drove  a  round  ball  through  the  roof  of.  Black  Sam." 

f  The  members  of  his  Council  who  joined  him  were  :  Oliver  de  Lancey,  Hugh  Wallace, 
William  Axtelle,  John  Harris  Crugcr,  and  James  Jauncey. 


.SEARS'  RAID   ON  A  PRINTING  OFFICE. 


233 


fostering  Toryism  in  the  province.  He  abused  the  Sons  of  Liberty 
(especially  Captain  Sears)  in  his  paper  without  stint.  Fired  by  personal 
insult  and  patriotic  zeal,  Sears  went  to  Connecticut,  and  at  noon  on  a 
bright  day  in  Kovember  (2oth)  he  entered  the  city  at  the  head  of  seventy- 
five  light  hoi-semen,  proceeded  to  the  printing  establishment  of  Riving- 
ton*  at  the  foot  of  Wall  Street,  placed  a  guard  around  it,  put  the  type 
into  bags,  destroyed  the  press 
and  other  appurtenances,  and 
then  rode  out  of  the  city  amid 
the  shouts  of  the  populace  and 
to  the  tune  of  Yankee  Doodle. 
The  type  was  cast  into  bullets 
Rivington  finding  New  York 
too  hot  for  him,  fled  to  England, 
but  returned  the  next  year,  when 
British  troops  held  possession  of 
the  city,  and  resumed  the  publi- 
cation of  his  Gazetteer. 

Notwithstanding  this  action 
and  the  aggressive  zeal  of  the 
Republicans,  disaffection  to  their 
cause  extensively  prevailed 
throughout  the  province  of 
New  York  during  the  winter 
of  1775-76.  In  Queens  County, 

on  Long  Island,  many  of  the  people  began  to  arm  in  favor  of  the  crown, 
and  from  his  floating  refuge  in  the  harbor  Governor  Tryon  kept  up  a 
continual  correspondence  with  Mayor  Matthews,  Oliver  de  Lancey,  and 
other  Loyalists  on  shore.  The  Continental  Congress  as  vigorously 
opposed  his  influence,  and  took  measures  to  disarm  the  Tories  every- 
where, while  Washington,  besieging  Boston,  kept  a  vigilant  eye  upon  all 
that  might  harm  the  colony  of  New  York. 


JAMES  RrVINGTON. 


*  James  Rivington,  the  "King's  printer"  in  New  York,  was  a  native  of  England. 
Failing  in  business  as  a  bookseller  in  London,  he  came  to  America  in  1760  and  opened  a 
book-store  in  Philadelphia.  He  opened  another  the  following  year  at  the  foot  of  Wall 
Street,  in  New  York.  He  printed  books,  and  in  1773  he  began  the  publication  of  the 
Jiffyal  Gazetteer,  a  weekly  newspaper.  After  the  Revolutionary  War  began  he  took 
strong  ground  in  favor  of  the  crown,  and  so  continued  until  the  close  of  the  contest.  It 
seems  to  be  a  well- attested  fact  that  Rivington  played  false  to  the  Royalists,  and  furnished 
much  information  to  Washington.  He,  an  apparent  Anti-Loyalist,  was  permitted  to 
remain  in  the  city  unmolested  when,  at  the  evacuation  in  1783,  hundreds  of  lesser  sinners 
were  compelled  to  flee.     He  died  in  July,  1802,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years. 


334  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

"When,  in  January,  1776,  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  witli  a  considerable  force, 
sailed  from  Boston,  Washington,  believing  New  York  to  be  liis  destina- 
tion, sent  General  Charles  Lee  thither,  instructed  to  gather  a  force  on 
his  way  and  take  a  position  to  defend  that  city.  With  marvellous 
rapidity  Lee  collected  about  twelve  hundred  men  and  encamped  with 


SIGNATURE   OF   JAMES   RIVINGTON.. 


them  in  "  The  Fields"  on  the  verge  of  the  city,  in  spite  of  the  protests 
of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  who  had  been  made  timid  by  a  threat  of  the 
commander  of  the  Asia  that  he  would  bombard  the  town  if  "  rebel 
troops"  were  allowed  to  enter  it.  Lee  made  liis  headquarters  at  No.  1 
Broadway  and  issued  a  proclamation,  in  which  he  said  : 

"  I  come  to  prevent  the  occupation  of  Long  Island  and  the  city  by  the 
enemies  of  liberty.  If  the  ships-of-war  are  quiet  I  shall  be  quiet  ;  if 
they  make  my  presence  a  pretext  for  firing  upon  the  town,  the  first  house 
set  in  flames  by  their  guns  shall  be  the  funeral-pile  of  some  of  their  best 
friends." 

At  these  brave  words  the  Tories  shrunk  into  inactivity  ;  the  Provincial 
Congress  felt  a  glow  of  patriotism,  and  measures  were  immediately 
adopted  for  fortifying  the  city  and  the  approaches  to  it,  and  garrisoning 
it  with  two  thousand  mon."^'  Sir  Henry  Clinton  arrived  at  Sandy  Hook 
on  the  day  when  Lee  entered  the  city.  Informed  of  Lee's  presence,  he 
sailed  southward.  Lee  followed  by  land,  leaving  the  little  army  at  New 
York  in  charge  of  Lord  Stirling.  In  June  following  Lee  and  Clinton 
were  in  conflict  in  Charleston  Harbor. 

Washington  prosecuted  the  siege  of  Boston  with  as  much  vigor  as  cir- 
cumstances would  allow,  and  in  March,  1776,  he  drove  General  Ilowe 
and  his  troops  from  the  town  literally  into  the  sea.  He  allowed  them  to 
evacuate  Boston  (March  17th)  and  to  sail  away  quietly  and  unmolested, 
accompanied  by  a  large  number  of  Loyalists,  wlio  fled  before  the  indig- 
nation of  a  multitude  of  Whigs  whom  they  had  persecuted  for  months. 


*  For  a  description  of  the  fortifications  thus  erected,  see  Lossing's  Pictorial  Field  Book 
of  the  Eewlution,  Vol.  II.,  p.  593,  note. 


A   CONSPIRACY   AGAINST   THE   LIFE   OF   WASHINGTON. 


235 


Howe  sailed  for  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  and  the  following  summer  lie 
appeared  witli  a  large  armed  force  before  New  York  City,  borne  thither 
in  a  fleet  commanded  by  his  brother,  Lord  Howe,  and  took  possession  of 
Staten  Island. 

Suspecting  Howe  had  sailed  for  New  York,  Washington,  with  a  larger 
j)art  of  his  army,  hastened  to   that 
city  immediately  after  the  evacuation 
of  Boston,  and  held   it   until    Sep- 
tember. 

Durino-  the  heats  of  the  summer 
Washington  made  his  headquarters 
at  Richmond  Hill,  far  "  out  of 
town,"  with  the  bulk  of  his  army 
encamped  near  by.  Tryon  w\as  yet 
at  his  floating  headquarters  in  the 
Duchess  of  Gordon  Avar-ship  plot- 
ting, plotting,  plotting  with  his 
friends  on  shore  for  the  ruin  of  the 
Republican  cause.  He  formed  a 
plan  for  the  murder  of  Washington 
and  his  principal  ofiicers,  or  for  their 
arrest  and  transportation  to  England 

to  be  tried  for  treason,  and  the  capture  of  the  troops  on  Manhattan 
Island.  He  sent  money  ashore  freely  for  purposes  of  bribery.  The 
Life  Guard  of  Washington*  was  tampered  with,  and  two  of  them  were 
seduced  from  their  fidelity.  To  one  of  them,  an  Irishman  named 
Hickey,  was  intrusted  the  task  of  destroying  Washington.  He  knew 
that  his  commander  was  very  fond  of  green  peas,  and  he  resolved  to 


UZAIi   KNAPP. 


*  Washington's  Life  Guard  was  organized  in  the  autumn  of  1776  on  Harlem  Heights, 
and  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  picked  men,  first  commanded  by  Caleb  Gibbs, 
of  Rhode  Island,  with  the  rank  of  captain.  William  Colfax  was  the  last  commander. 
The  special  service  of  the  Life  Guard  was  to  guard  the  headquarters  of  the  commander- 
in-chief,  but  they  were  never  spared  in  battle.  The  last  survivor  of  Washington's  Life 
Guard  was  Uzal  Knapp,  who  died  in  the  town  of  New  Windsor,  Orange  County,  N.  Y., 
in  January,  1857,  when  he  was  a  little  more  than  ninety-seven  years  of  age.  He  was  a 
native  of  Stamford,  Conn.,  and  was  a  sergeant  in  the  Guard.  Over  his  grave  near  Wash- 
ington's Headquarters  at  Newburgh  is  a  handsome  mausoleum  of  brown  freestone,  made 
from  designs  by  H.  K.  Brown,  the  sculptor. 

The  sketch  on  the  following  page  of  the  banner  of  the  Guard  was  copied  from  one  in  the 
museum  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  in  1848,  deposited  there  by  George  Washington  Parke  Custis. 
The  figure  of  the  guardsman  shows  the  uniform  of  the  Guard.  It  consists  of  a  blue  coat 
with  white  facings,  white  waistcoat  and  breeches,  black  half  gaiters^  a  cocked  hat  with  a 
blue  and  white  feather.     The  banner  was  white  silk. 


236 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


slay  him  by  poison  mixed  in  a  dish  of  them  to  he  set  before  him  at 
dinner. 

Ilickey  tried  to  make  tlie  general's  lionsekeeper,  a  faithful  maiden,  an 
accomplice  in  the  deed  by  placing  the  poison  in  the  peas.  She  pre- 
tended to  favor  his  plans.  At  the  appointed  time  for  j^lacing  the  savory 
dish  before  the  general  Ilickey  watched  her  movements  through  a  half- 
opened  door.  The  general  made  some  excuse  for  ordering  the  dish 
away  without  tasting  the  peas.  The  girl  had  forewarned  him.  Hickey 
was  arrested,  found  guilty,  and  hanged  on  a  tree  (June  28th,  1776)  in 
the  presence  of  fully  twenty  thousand  people.  It  was  the  first  military 
execution  in  the  Continental  Army.     Mayor  Matthews  and  more  than 

twenty  others  were  ar- 
rested on  suspicion  of 
complicity  in  the  plot, 
but  only  Ilickey  suffer- 
ed. The  plot  was  traced 
directly  to  Try  on  as  its 
author. 

At  this  juncture  the 
Continental  Congress, 
now  become  a  permanent 
body,  sitting  at  Phila- 
delphia, were  engaged 
in  the  discussion  of  a 
most  important  matter. 
The  people  in  general 
mitil  lately  had  not  ex- 
pressed a  desire  for  po- 
litical independence  of 
Great  Britain.  There 
were  a  few  who  had  warmly  advocated  it  for  some  time.  At  the  be- 
ginning of  1776  Thomas  Paine,  an  English  radical  living  in  Philadelphia, 
put  forth  a  powerful  pamphlet,  at  the  suggestion  of  Dr.  Rush,  in  whicli 
he  pleaded  earnestly  for  independence.  It  was  termed  Common  Sense. 
In  terse,  sharp,  incisive,  and  vigorous  sentences  bristling  with  logic,  he 
embodied  the  sentiments  of  reflecting  men  and  women  throughout  the 
colonies. 

"  Independence,"  he  said,  "  is  now  the  only  bond  that  will  keep  us 
together.  We  shall  then  be  on  a  proper  footing  to  treat  with  Great 
Britain.  .  .  .  Every  quiet  method  for  peace  hath  been  ineffectual. 
Our  prayers  have   been  rejected  with  disdain.     Reconciliation  is  now  a 


BANNER   OF   "WASHINGTON  S  LIFE   GUARD. 


PAINE'S  PLEA  FOR  INDEPENDENCE.  237 

fallacious  dream.  Bring  the  doctrine  of  reconciliation  to  the  touch- 
stone of  nature  ;  can  you  hereafter  love,  honor,  and  faithfully  serve  the 
power  that  hath  carried  fire  and  sword  into  your  land  ?  Ye  that  tell  us 
of  harmony,  can  you  restore  us  to  the  time  that  is  past  ?  The  blood  of 
the  slain,  the  weeping  voice  of  nature  cries,  ' '  Tis  time  to  part. '  The 
last  chord  is  now  broken  ;  the  people  of  England  are  now  presenting 
addresses  against  us.  A  government  of  our  own  is  a  natural  right.  Te 
that  love  mankind,  that  dare  oppose  not  only  tyranny  but  the  tyrant, 
stand  forth  !  Every  spot  of  the  old  world  is  overrun  with  oppression. 
Freedom  hath  been  hunted  round  the  globe.  Asia  and  Africa  hath  long 
expelled  her  ;  Europe  regards  her  like  a  stranger  ;  and  England  hath 
given  her  warning  to  depart.  Oh,  receive  the  fugitive  and  prepare  an 
asylum  for  mankind  !" 

The  effect  of  this  pamphlet  \vas  marvellouSc  It  carried  dismay  into 
the  enemy's  camp.  One  hundred  thousand  copies  were  sent  broadcast 
over  the  land,  and  produced  an  almost  universal  desire  for  independence 
among  the  people,  for  its  trumpet  tones  awakened  the  continent  and 
mad.e  every  patriotic  heart  thrill  with  joy.  It  gave  expression  to  a 
feeling  that  already  filled  the  hearts  of  the  people  and  was  waiting  for  a 
voice. 

Very  soon  legislative  bodies  began  to  move  in  the  matter.  North 
Carolina  was  the  first  colony  that  took  positive  action.  It  authorized  its 
delegates  in  Congress  to  "  concur  with  those  of  other  colonies  in  declar- 
ing independence."  Other  colonies  did  the  same.  Others  permitted 
their  deputies  to  do  so,  and  still  others  refused  assent  and  were  silent. 
Among  the  latter  were  New  York,  South  Carolina,  and  Georgia. 

At  length  the  Continental  Congress  moved  in  favor  of  independence, 
satisfied  that  the  people  were  ripe  for  it.  In  April  they  recommended 
the  several  provincial  assemblies  to  form  State  governments.  General 
letters  of  marque  and  reprisal  were  granted,  and  the  American  ports 
were  opened  to  all  nations  excepting  the  British.  Finally  on  June  7th, 
on  motion  of  Richard  Henry  Lee,  of  Virginia  (seconded  by  John 
Adams,  of  Massachusetts),  the  Congress  resolved  that  the  colonies  were, 
and  of  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  independent  States,  and  that  all 
political  connection  between  them  and  the  State  of  Great  Britain  was, 
and  ought  to  be,  dissolved. 

The  consideration  of  this  resolution  was  deferred,  and  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  draw  up  a  formal  declaration  of  causes  for  the  action.  The 
resolution  was  debated  from  time  to  time  for  nearly  a  month.  It  was 
adopted  on  July  2d  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  colonies  (not  of  the 
representatives),  and  on  July  4th  the  Declaration,  written  by  Thomas 


238  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Jefferson,  was  adopted  by  the  same  vote.  Tlie  Declaration  was  signed 
on  the  same  day  by  all  the  members  who  voted  for  it,  when  it  was 
printed  and  sent  out  in  every  direction  bearing  the  signatures  of  only 
John  Hancock,  president,  and  Charles  Thomson,  secretary.  It  was 
engrossed  on  parchment  and  signed  afterward. 

Toward  evening  on  July  9th  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was 
read  to  a  brigade  of  the  Continental  Army  in  New  York  City,  which 
was  drawn  up  in  a  hollow  square  on  the  site  of  the  City  Hall.  Wash- 
ington was  present.  The  Declaration  was  read  in  a  clear  voice  by  one 
of  his  aides.  At  early  twilight  the  excited  populace,  citizens  and 
soldiers,  were  led  to  the  Bowling  Green,  where  they  attached  ropes  to 
the  equestrian  statue  of  George  HI.  erected  there,  as  we  have  observed, 
in  17Y0  (see  page  199),  and  man  and  horse  were  pulled  headlong  to  the 
ground.  The  statue,  made  of  lead,  was  broken  into  fragments,  and  a 
large  portion  of  it  was  cast  into  bullets  which  were  afterward  used  by 
the  Continental  soldiers.  "So,"  wrote  a  contemporary,  "the  British 
had  melted  majesty  hurled  at  them." 

A  sudden  change  in  action  now  appeared  in  the  newiy-elected  Pro- 
vincial Congress  of  New  York.  A  large  British  force,  just  landed  on 
Staten  Island,  was  menacing  the  city.  The  Congress  adjourned  to 
White  Plains,  in  Westchester  County,  and  reassembled  there  on  July 
9th.  They  emphatically  approved  the  Declaration  of  Independence,* 
and  changed  the  title  of  their  body  to  "  Convention  of  Representatives 
of  the  State  of  New  York,"  though  the  State  was  not  yet  organized. 
That  measure  was  then  under  consideration. 

It  was  now  clearly  manifest  that  the  province  of  New  York  was  to  be 
the  theatre  of  the  first  great  effort  to  crush  the  "  rebellion"  in  accord- 
ance with  a  plan  devised  by  the  British  Ministry  the  year  before,  and 
which  had  been  partially  revealed.  It  contemplated  the  seizure  of  New 
York  and  Albany,  and  to  strongly  garrison  both  cities  ;  to  declare  all 
persons  "  rebels"  who  should  oppose  the  royal  troops  ;  to  take  possession 
of  the  Hudson  and  East  rivers  with  small  armed  vessels,  and  so  to  form 
a  strong  line  of  military  power  between  New  England  and  the  rest  of 
the  colonies,  extending  from  Manhattan  Island  through  the  valleys  of 

*  The  Declaration  was  referred  to  a  committee,  of  wliicli  John  Jay  was  cbairman. 
He  almost  instantly  reported  the  following  resolution,  which  was  adopted  : 

''BcHolved,  unanimously,  That  the  reasons  assigned  by  the  Continental  Congress  for 
declaring  these  united  colonies  free  and  independent  States  are  cogent  and  conclusive, 
and  that,  while  we  lament  the  cruel  necessity  wliich  has  rendered  the  measure  unavoid- 
able, we  approve  the  same,  and  will,  at  the  risk  of  our  lives  and  fortunes,  join  with  the 
other  colonies  in  supporting  it." 


A   COMMITTEE   OF   CONGRESS   SENT   TO   CANADA. 


239 


the  Hudson  to  Canada  ;  to  retake  the  forts  on  Lake  Champlain,  and 
with  regulars,  Canadians,  Tories,  and  Indians,  easily  make  destructive 
irruptions  into  IS'ew  England  and  Pennsylvania.  This  would  secure  a 
safe  communication  between  Quebec  and  New  York,  separate  and 
weaken  the  most  important  colonies,  and  make  the  subjugation  of  all  the 
colonies  an  easy  task.  This  plan  was  devised  by  the  ministry  after  the 
battle  of  Bunker  (Breed's)  Hill,  and  was  made  known  to  members  of 


.^^|A  4;  4 


SAMUEL   CHASE. 


BENJAMIN   PKANKLIN. 


CHARLES   CARROLL. 


the  New  York  Provincial  Congress  by  a  letter  from  London  during  that 
summer. 

The  Continental  Congress,  satisfied  that  such  a  plan  of  subjugation 
was  to  be  attempted,  perceived  the  necessity  of  forming  an  alliance  with. 
Canada  or  achieving  its  conquest,  and  in  the  spring  of  1776  Dr.  Franklin, 
Samuel  Chase,  and  Charles  Carroll,  of  Carrollton,  were  sent  into  thut 
province  invested  with  extraordinary  powers.  They  were  accompanied 
by  Eev.  John  Carroll,  a  Roman  Catholic  priest.  They  were  authorized 
to  regulate  all  military  matters  in  the  Republican  army  there  ;  to  treat 
with  the  Canadians  as  friends  and  brethren  ;  to  organize  a  republic 
there,  and  to  admit  Canada  into  union  with  the  colonies  they  represented. 

The  commissioners  were  cordially  received  at  Montreal,*  but  circum- 


*  The  commissioners  were  entertained  at  New  York  by  Lord  Stirling,  and  set  sail  up 
the  Hudson  in  a  sloop  furnished  by  him  for  the  purpose  at  five  o'clock  p.m.  ,  April  2d,  1776. 
They  came  to  anchor  off  the  upper  end  of  Manhattan  Island,  and  lay  there  twenty-four 
hours  because  of  a  heavy  north-east  storm.     They  proceeded,  and  had  a  perilous  voyage 


240  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

stances  rendered  their  mission  futile.  The  British  Government  had 
hired  thousands  of  soldiers  from  petty  German  princes  to  assist  in  enslav- 
ing its  subjects  in  America.  Some  of  these,  under  the  command  of 
General  de  Iliedesel,  with  British  re-enforcements  commanded  by  Sir 
John  Burgoyne,  arrived  at  Quebec  early  in  May  (1776),  and  very  soon 
the  little  Republican  army  in  Canada,  sorely  smitten  with  the  scourge 
of  small-pox,  was  driven  out  of  that  province. 

General  John  Thomas,  a  brave  and  skilful  officer,  had  been  sent  by 
Washington  to  take  command  of  the  Kepublican  troops  in  Canada  and 
attempt  a  retrieval  of  losses  there.  He  reached  the  camp  near  Quebec 
late  in  April  (1776).  The  arrival  of  British  re-enforcements  there  com- 
pelled him  to  retreat  up  tlie  St.  Lawrence.  lie  continued  his  retreat  to 
the  Sorel,  where  he  died  of  small-pox,  when  the  command  devolved 
upon  General  Sullivan.  That  officer  struggled  bravely  with  fate,  but 
was  compelled  to  yield  to  a  superior  force.  With  the  shattered  remnant 
of  the  Republican  army  he  retreated  to  Crown  Point.  Of  five  thousand 
troops  gathered  there,  poorly  clad,  fed,  and  sheltered,  fully  one  half 
were  sick  early  in  July.  The  Northern  army  had  lost,  by  death  and 
desertion,  fully  five  thousand  men. 

So  ended  in  disaster  that  remarkable  invasion.  The  incidents  of  its 
execution  rank  among  the  most  startling  and  romantic  in  the  annals  of 
war.* 

We  have  observed  that  Sir  John  Johnson  gave  his  parole  of  honor  to 
remain  quiet.  Early  in  May  (1776)  Schuyler  was  informed  that  Sir 
John,  with  Brant  and  others,  was  holding  conferences  with  the  Indians 
and  inciting  them  to  war,  and  that  the  baronet  was  preparing  to  make 
hostile  movements  in  Tryon  County  wuth  his  Scotch  retainers  and  the 
barbarians.  Colonel  Elias  Dayton,  a  judicious  officer,  was  sent  with  a 
competent  force  to  Johnstown  to  arrest  the  baronet  and  take  him  to 
Albany,  with  his  Scotch  retainers  and  their  families.     AA^lien   Dayton 

through  the  Highlands,  for  the  storm  continued.  When  it  abated  they  sailed  with  a  fair 
wind  and  pleasant  weather  to  Albany,  where  they  were  hospitably  entertained  by  General 
Schuyler.  Charles  Carroll  wrote  :  "  He  lives  in  pretty  style  ;  has  two  daughters  (Betsy 
and  Peggy),  lively,  agreeable,  black-eyed  gals. "  "Peggy"  became  Mr.s.  (Patroon)  Van 
Rensselaer,  and  "Betsy"  Mrs.  General  Hamilton.  The  general  conveyed  them  first  to 
his  country-seat  at  Saratoga,  and  thence  to  Ijake  George,  where  he  had  prepared  for  them 
a  stout  bateau.  They  crossed  the  lake  among  floating  ice.  Their  bateau  was  drawn 
over  to  Lake  Champlain  (four  miles)  by  six  yoke  of  oxen.  There  the  commissioners 
embarked  on  it  and  voyaged  to  St.  Johns,  at  the  foot  of  the  lake,  and  thence,  by  land, 
to  Montreal  in  caUches — two-wheeled  vehicles. 

*  For  a  more  minute  account  of  this  invasion,  see  Lossing's  Life  and  Time^  of  Philip 
Schuyler. 


SIR  JOHN  JOHNSON  AND  HIS  FOLLOWERS.  241 

arrived  the  baronet  had  fled  to  the  forest,  and  Lady  Johnson  assured 
him  that  her  husband  was  on  his  way  to  Niagara  with  his  retainers,  and 
that  his  enemies  would  ''  soon  hear  where  he  was." 

Lady  Johnson  was  a  spirited  woman,  a  daughter  of  John  Watts,  one 
of  the  king's  provincial  councillors.  Dayton  informed  her  that  measures 
would  be  taken  to  frustrate  her  husband's  designs,  and  that  she  must 
accompany  him  to  Albany.  She  was  then  conveyed  thither,  where  she 
was  treated  with  all  the  delicacy  due  to  her  sex  and  her  social  position. 
She  was  retained  there  some  time  as  a  hostage  for  the  good  behavior  of 
her  husband. 

Sir  John  and  his  followers  did  not  go  to  Niagara,  but  started  for  the 
St.  Lawrence.  They  suffered  intensely  from  weariness  and  starvation 
on  the  way,  and  reached  that  river  in  a  wretched  plight  some  distance 
above  Montreal.  The  baronet  was  immediately  commissioned  a  brig- 
adier-general in  the  British  service.  lie  raised  two  battalions — a  total 
of  one  thousand  men — composed  of  his  immediate  followers  and  other 
American  loyalists  who  followed  his  example  in  deserting  their  country, 
and  these  formed  that  active  and  formidable  corps  known  in  the  frontier 
warfare  of  that  period  in  Northern  and  Central  New  York  as  the 
^' Royal  Greens." 


242  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

An  arrangement  had  been  made  by  the  British  Cabinet  to  attack  the 
Americans  in  1776  simultaneously  at  three  points.  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
was  to  invade  the  Soutliern  colonies  ;  General  Sir  John  Burgoyne  was  to 
clear  Canada  of  the  "  rebels  ;"  and  General  Howe,  with  the  main  army  of 
thirty  thousand  men,  including  twelve  thousand  Germans,  was  to  seize 
and  occupy  New  York  City,  and  thence  form  a  junction  with  Burgoyne 
at  Albany, 

At  the  close  of  June  General  Howe  arrived  at  Sandy  Hook  from 
Halifax  with  a  large  army,  in  transports,  and  on  July  8th  landed  nine 
thousand  troops  on  Staten  Island,  where  he  awaited  the  arrival  of  his 
brother,  Admiral  Lord  Howe,  with  British  regulars  and  some  of  the 
German  hirelings. 

Sir  Henry  Clinton  joined  Howe  on  the  lltli  with  troops  from  Charles- 
ton, S.  C,  where  they  had  co-operated  with  Admiral  Sir  Peter  Parker's 
fleet  in  an  unsuccessful  attack  upon  Fort  Moultrie,  on  June  28th.  That 
conflict  raged  furiously  about  ten  hours,  when  the  terribly  shattered  fleet 
withdrew,  and  the  seaworthy  vessels  sailed  with  the  army  for  Sandy 
Hook. 

Admiral  Howe  arrived  at  Sandy  Hook  on  the  12tli,  and  very  soon 
other  vessels  came  with  German  mercenaries.  When  August  arrived 
nearly  thirty  thousand  veteran  soldiers  stood  ready  to  fall  upon  the 
Kepublican  army  (who  were  mostly  militia,  and  nearly  one  fourth  of 
them  sick  and  unfit  for  duty),  then  occupying  the  city  of  New  York, 
under  the  immediate  command  of  Washington. 

General  Howe  and  his  brother  appeared  in  the  twofold  character  of 
peace  commissioners  and  as  military  commanders  empowered  to  make 
war.  They  were  authorized  to  treat  for  peace,  but  only  on  the  condition 
of  absolute  submission  on  the  part  of  the  Americans.  They  were  also 
authorized  to  grant  pardons  and  amnesty  to  penitents.  Tliey  made  a 
most  silly  blunder  at  the  outset  in  endeavoring  to  open  negotiations  with 
Washington  by  sending  him  a  letter  addressed  to  "  George  Washington, 
Esq."  The  general  refused  to  receive  it  unless  addressed  to  him  by  his 
military  title.  This  the  commissioners  were  instructed  not  to  do  ;  also 
not  to  recognize  the  Congress  in  an  official  capacity.  Howe's  adjutant- 
general  (Major  Patterson)  was  sent  with  another  communication.     It  was 


A  BRITISH  ARMAMENT  BEFORE  NEW  YORK.  243 

not  received,  but  ]ie  was  admitted  to  the  presence  of  Washington.  He 
expressed  a  hope  that  reconciliation  might  be  effected,  and  said  the  com- 
missioners had  large  powers.  "  Thej  have  power  only  to  grant  pardon," 
said  Washington.  "  The  Americans  are  only  defending  their  rights  as 
British  subjects,  and  have  been  guilty  of  no  act  requiring  pardon,"  he 
continued.     Here  ended  the  interview. 

Admiral  Howe,  who  was  personally  acquainted  with  Dr.  Franklin  and 
most  sincerely  desired  reconciliation,  wrote  to  that  gentleman  on  his  first 
arrival.  The  doctor's  reply  satisfied  the  earl  that  his  Government  mis- 
apprehended the  temper  of  the  American  people,  and  that  Franklin 
expressed  the  sentiments  of  the  Continental  Congress  when  he  wrote  at 
the  conclusion  of  his  letter:  "  This  war  against  us  is  both  unjust  and 
unwise  ;  posterity  will  condemn  to  infamy  those  who  advised  it  ;  and 
even  success  will  not  save  from  some  degree  of  dishonor  those  who 
voluntarily  engage  in  it. "  Here  the  commissioners  paused  in  efforts  to 
negotiate,  and  prepared  immediately  to  strike  the  "  rebellion"  an 
effectual  blow. 

Already  British  ships-of-war  had  run  up  the  Hudson  River  past 
American  batteries,  and  were  menacing  the  country  in  the  rear  of  Man- 
hattan Island  with  the  intention  of  keeping  open  a  free  communication 
with  Canada  and  facilities  for  furnishing  arms  to  Tories  in  the  interior. 
In  the  city  of  IS^ew  York  a  majority  of  the  influential  inhabitants  were 
active  or  passive  Tories.  The  provincial  authorities  were  yet  acting 
timidly.  In  this  exigency  Washington  appealed  to  the  country.  It 
was  nobly  responded  to  by  the  farmers  of  Connecticut,  New  York, 
Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  and  Maryland,  where  harvest-fields  needed 
them,  and  very  soon  they  swelled  the  army  at  New  York  to  about  seven- 
teen thousand  effective  men. 

Both  parties  now  prepared  for  an  inevitable  conflict.  Hulks  of  vessels 
were  sunk  in  the  channel  of  the  Hudson  opposite  the  height  on  which 
Fort  Washington  was  built.  Fort  Lee  was  erected  on  the  Palisades 
beyond  the  river.  Batteries  were  constructed  at  various  points  on 
Manhattan  Island,  and  troops  under  the  command  of  General  Greene 
were  sent  over  the  East  River  to  erect  fortifications  on  Long  Island  back 
of  Brooklyn.  Greene  was  soon  prostrated  by  fever,  and  resigned  the 
command  to  General  Sullivan,  who  had  lately  come  from  Lake  Cham- 
plain.  Small  detachments  were  placed  on  Governor's  Island  and  at 
Paulus's  Hook  (now  Jersey  City),  and  some  militia  were  posted  in  lower 
Westchester  County  under  General  James  Clinton  to  oppose  the  landing 
of  British  troops  on  the  shores  of  Long  Island  Sound.  Sullivan  placed 
guards  at  several  passes  through  a  range  of  M^ooded  hills  on  Long  Island 


244  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

extending  from  the  Narrows  to  Jamaica.  Late  in  August  the  Ameri- 
cans had  a  h'ne  of  defences  extending  from  (present)  Greenwood  Cem- 
etery to  tlie  Navy  Yard,  a  distance  of  nearly  two  miles.  Tliese  were 
armed  with  twenty  cannons,  and  there  was  a  strong  redoubt  with  seven 
great  guns  on  Brooklyn  Heights. 

On  August  26th  from  twelve  to  fifteen  thousand  British  troops  were 
landed  at  the  western  end  of  Long  Island.  Washington  immediately 
sent  over  a  small  re-enforcement  to  the  Americans  near  Brooklyn,  placed 
General  Putntim  in  chief  command  on  Long  Island,  and  ordered  General 
Sullivan  to  command  the  troops  outside  the  lines.  On  that  evening  the 
British  began  an  advance  in  three  divisions.  Their  left,  under  General 
Grant,  moved  along  the  road  nearest  New  York  Bay  ;  their  right,  under 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  and  Earl  Cornwallis,  accompanied  by  Howe,  moved 
toward  the  interior  of  the  island,  and  their  centre,  composed  of  Germans 
and  led  by  General  De  Ileister,  advanced  by  Flatbush.  The  British  had 
then  afloat  in  adjacent  waters  ten  ships  of  the  line,  twenty  frigates,  some 
bomb-ketches,  and  almost  three  hundred  and  fifty  transports.  The 
American  troops  on  Long  Island  did  not  exceed  eight  thousand  in 
number. 

Informed  that  his  pickets  at  the  lower  pass  below  Greenwood  had  been 
driven  in,  Putnam  sent  General  Lord  Stirling  with  some  Delaware  and 
Maryland  troops  to  confront  the  enemy.  He  unexpectedly  met  a  large 
force.  Planting  his  only  two  cannons  upon  a  wooded  height  ("  Battle 
Hill  "  in  Greenwood),  he  waited  for  the  coming  enemy,  to  give  battle. 

Meanwhile  the  Germans  were  pushing  forward  to  force  their  way 
through  the  Flatbush  Pass  (now  in  Prospect  Park,  its  place  marked  by 
an  inscription),  while  Clinton  and  Cornwallis  were  eagerly  pressing  on  to 
gain  the  Bedford  and  Jamaica  passes.  The  latter  had  been  neglected  b}' 
Putnam,  and  having  no  defenders,  Clinton  easily  seized  it.  AVhile 
Sullivan  was  defending  the  Flatbush  Pass  against  De  Ileister,  the 
baronet  with  a  strong  force  descended  from  the  woods  and  attacked  the 
Americans  there  on  flank  and  rear.  Sullivan  attempted  to  retreat  to  the 
American  lines,  but  failed,  and  with  a  large  portion  of  his  men  he  was 
made  a  prisoner. 

Stirling  and  his  party  were  now  the  only  Americans  in  the  field  with 
unbroken  ranks.  They  fought  Grant's  column  with  spirit  for  four 
hours.  Then  Cornwallis  descended  the  Port  or  Mill  Road  with  the  bulk 
of  Clinton's  column  and  fell  upon  Stirling.  The  latter  ordered  a 
retreat,  but  the  bridge  over  Gowanus  Creek  was  in  flames  and  the  tide 
was  rising.  There  was  no  alternative  but  to  wade  the  creek.  lie 
ordered  one  half  of  his  troops,  with  some  German  prisoners,  to  cross  the 


A  NOTABLE   RETREAT   FROM  LONG  ISLAND. 


245 


muddy  channel,  while  he  and  tlie  rest  should  fight  Cornwallis.  Stirling 
was  finally  overcome  and  was  made  a  prisoner."^  By  uoon  the  victory 
for  the  British  was  complete.  The  Americans  had  lost  about  five  hun- 
dred men  killed  and  wounded,  and  one  hundred  and  eleven  made  prisoners. 
The  victors  encamped  in  front  of  the  American  lines  and  prepared  to 
besiege  them. 

Washington,  who  had  beheld  these  movements  wdth  great  anxiety, 
crossed  the  river  on»  the  morning 
of  the  28th,  and  was  rejoiced  to 
find  the  British  encamped  and  de- 
laying an  attack  until  their  fleet 
should  co-operate  with  them.  He 
at  once  conceived  a  plan  for  the 
salvation  of  his  imperilled  little 
army.  He  resolved  to  attempt  a 
retreat  across  the  river  to  New 
York  under  the  shadow  of  the 
ensuing  night.  Providentially  a 
dense  fog  which  overspread  both 
armies  at  midnight  and  covered  the 
whole  region  gave  him  essential 
aid.  It  did  not  disperse  until  after 
sunrise  the  next  morning,  when, 
under  its  sheltering  wing  and  un- 
suspected by  the  British,  the  whole  American  army  had  passed  the 
stream  in  boats  and  bateaux,  carrying  everything  with  them  except- 
ing heavy  cannons.  AVashington  and  his  staff,  who  had  been  in  the 
saddle  all  night,  remained  on  the  Brooklyn  side  of  the  river  until  the 
last  boat-load  had  departed. 

Immediately  after  the  battle  General  Howe  again  proposed  to  treat 
for  peace.  This  was  a  reason  for  his  delay  in  attacking  the  American 
camp.     He  sent  a  verbal  message  to  the  Continental  Congress,  whose 


LORD   STIRLING. 


*  William  Alexander  (Lord  Stirling)  was  born  in  New  York  City  in  1720,  a  son  of 
Secretary  Alexander,  of  New  Jersey.  Attached  to  the  commissariat  of  the  British  Army 
in  America,  he  attracted  the  notice  of  General  Shirley,  who  made  him  his  private  secre- 
tary. He  went  to  Scotland  in  1755,  and  unsuccessfully  presented  his  claim  to  the 
Earldom  of  Stirling.  It  was  generally  believed  that  his  claim  was  just,  and  he  ever  after- 
ward bore  the  empty  title  of  "  Lord  Stirling,"  in  America.  In  1776  he  was  commissioned 
a  brigadier-general  in  the  Continental  Army,  and  served  with  distinction  during  the  war 
then  begun.  He  married  a  daughter  of  William  Livingston,  of  New  Jersey.  He  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  New  York  Society  Library  and  King's  (now  Columbia) 
College.     Lord  Stirling  died  June  15th,  1783. 


34G  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

authority  he  had  been  instructed  not  to  recognize,  proposing  an  informal 
conference  with  any  jDcrsons  wlioni  that  body  might  appoint.  Congress 
consented,  and  early  in  September  Dr.  FrankHn,  John  Adams,  and 
Edward  Kutledge  met  Howe  at  a  liouse  on  Staten  Island  opposite 
Amboy,  known  as  the  "  Billop  House."*  The  meeting  was  friendly, 
but  barren  of  expected  fruit.  Howe  could  not  meet  the  three  gentle- 
men as  members  of  Congress,  but  only  as  private  citizens  ;  and  he 
informed  them  that  the  independence  of  the  colonies  would  not  be 
considered  for  a  moment.  The  gulf  between  them  was  impassable,  and 
the  conference  soon  ended. 

The  disaster  on  Long  Island  disheartened  the    American    army,  and 


THE  BILLOP  HOUSE. 


hundreds  deserted  and  went  home.  General  insubordination  prevailed, 
and  the  army  was  weakened  by  the  practice  of  many  vices.  Drunken- 
ness was  very  common,  and  licentiousness  poisoned  the  regiments.  The 
outlook  was  extremely  gloomy,  and  it  was  determined  to  take  the  sick 
and  wounded  to  Kew  Jersey,  the  military  stores  up  the  Hudson  to 
Dobbs  Ferry,  abandon  the  city,  and  establish  a  fortified  camp  on 
Harlem  Heights,  near  Fort  Washington,  toward  the  upper  part  of 
Manhattan  Island. f 

*  Tins  liouse  was  the  residence  of  Captain  Christopher  Billop,  formerly  of  the  British 
Navy.  It  was  now  abandoned  by  the  family.  It  stood  upon  high  ground  opposite  Perth 
Amboy. 

f  Washington,  in  his  retreat  from  the  city  to  Harlem  Heights,  made  his  headcjuarters 
for  a  day  or  two  at  the  home  of  Robert  Murray  on  (present)  Murray  Hill,  where  he  gave 
instructions  to  Captain  Nathan  Hale,  who  had  volunteered  to  visit  the  British  camp  on 
liOng  Island,  in  disguise,  and  obtain  information.  While  on  that  business  Hale  was  recog- 
nized and  exposed.  He  was  arrested,  sent  to  Howe's  headquarters  at  Turtle  Bay,  East 
River  (at  Forty-scventh  Street),  and  hanged  as  a  spy  by  the  notorious  provost-marshal, 


BATTLE   OX  HARLEM  PLAINS.  247 

General  Howe  was  indolent  and  fond  of  sensual  j)leasures.  Procras- 
tination marred  many  of  his  plans.  When  he  found  the  Americans  had 
escaped  he  leisurely  prepared  to  invade  Manhattan  Island  in  the  rear  of 
the  American  army  there.  Before  he  was  ready  to  do  so  that  army 
was  so  strongly  intrenched  upon  Harlem  Heiglits  that  they  delied  him. 
Washington  made  his  headquarters  at  the  home  of  his  companion-in-arms 
on  the  field  of  Monongahela,  Roger  Morris,  which  is  yet  standing. 

After  various  menacing  movements  had  heen  made,  a  strong  British 
force  crossed  the  East  River  (September  15th)  from  Long  Island  and 
landed  at  Kip's  Bay,  at  the  foot  of  (present)  Thirty-fourth  Street,  under 
cover  of  a  cannonade.  The  American  guard  there  fled,  but  were  soon 
rallied.  So  long  delayed  were  the  movements  of  the  British  toward  the 
Hudson  River  that  Putnam,  who  had  been  left  in  the  city  with  a  few 
troops,  was  enabled  to  escape  to  Harlem  Heights. 

On  the  following  day  some  British  infantry  and  Scotch  High- 
landers, led  by  General  Leslie,  encountered  some  Connecticut  Rangers 
and  a  force  of  Virginians,  under  Colonel  Knowlton  and  Major  Leitch, 
on  Harlem  Plains.  They  fought  desperately  until  Washington  sent 
some  re-enforcements,  when  the  enemy  was  forced  back  to  tlie  high  rocky 
ground  at  the  upper  end  of  Central  Park.  This  affair  greatly  inspirited 
the  Americans,  though  they  were  compelled  to  mourn  the  loss  of  Colonel 
Knowlton  and  Major  Leitch. 

General  Robertson  was  now  sent  with  a  considerable  force  to  take 
possession  of  the  city,  where  the  British  intended  to  make  their  com- 
fortable winter  quarters.  While  his  forces  were  reposing  in  their  tents 
on  the  hills  not  far  northward  of  the  town,  at  midnight  (September 
20th-21st)  huge  columns  of  lurid  smoke  arose  above  the  houses.  It  was 
soon  followed  by  arrows  of  flame  that  shot  upward.  A  terrible  con- 
flagration was  begun.  It  broke  out,  by  accident,  in  a  low  groggery  and 
brothel  at  Whitehall,  and  as  most  of  the  Whig  inhabitants  had  fled  from 
the  city,  there  were  few  to  check  the  flames  excepting  the  soldiers  and 
the  sailors  from  the  ships  in  the  harbor.  About  five  hundred  buildings 
were  consumed,  including  Trinity  Church,  on  Broadway. 

Howe,  re-enforced  by  troops  from  Great  Britain  and  more  Germans, 
under  the  command  of  General  Knyphausen,  resolved  to  gain  the  rear 
of   Washington's   army,    which   he   dared   not   attack   in   front.      The 

Cunningham,  who  exercised  the  greatest  cruelty  toward  the  unfortunate  young  man.  His 
last  words  were,  as  he  stood  under  the  tree  upon  which  he  was  hanged,  with  a  rope 
around  his  neck  :  "  I  only  regret  that  I  have  but  one  life  to  give  to  my  country."  Hale 
is  justly  regarded  as  a  martyr  to  human  liberty.  Andi'e,  who  suffered  for  the  same 
offence,  was  the  victim  of  his  own  ambition. 


248  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Germans  had  come  in  seventy  vessels,  and  numbered  about  ten  thousand 
men,  swelling  Howe's  forces  to  about  thirty-five  thousand.  On  October 
12th  Howe  embarked  a  large  portion  of  his  army  in  ninety  flat-boats  and 
landed  them  on  a  low  peninsula  of  the  main  of  "Westchester  County. 
"Washington  sent  General  Heath  to  confront  the  invaders  and  check 
their  movements  toward  his  rear. 

Perceiving  his  peril,  Washington  called  a  council  of  war,  when  it  was 
resolved  to  evacuate  Manhattan  Island  and  take  position  on  the  Bronx 
River  in  "Westchester,  to  meet  the  invaders  face  to  face,  or  secure  a  safe 
retreat  to  the  Hudson  Highlands.  Leaving  a  garrison  of  nearly  three 
thousand  men  in  Fort  Washington,  under  Colonel  Magaw,  the  army 
withdrew,  and,  marching  up  the  valley  of  the  Bronx,  formed  intrenched 
camps  from  the  heights  of  Fordham  to  White  Plains.  Washington 
made  his  headquarters  near  White  Plains  village  on  the  21st.  General 
Greene  commanded  a  small  force  which  garrisoned  Fort  Lee,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Hudson. 

After  almost  daily  skirmishing  the  two  armies,  each  about  thirteen 
thousand  strong,  met  in  battle  array  near  the  village  of  White  Plains  on 
October  28th.  The  strongest  position  of  the  Americans  was  behind 
breastworks  upon  Chatterton's  Hill,  a  lofty  eminence  on  the  right  side 
of  the  Bronx  opposite  the  village. 

Howe's  array  advanced  in  two  divisions,  one  led  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton, 
and  the  other  by  Generals  De  Heister  and  Erskine.  Howe  was  with 
the  latter.  A  hurried  council  of  war  was  held  by  these  ofiScers  on 
horseback,  when  some  troops,  under  cover  of  a  heavy  cannonade,  pro- 
ceeded to  build  a  rude  bridge  over  the  Bronx.  Over  tbis  British  troops 
crossed  and  drove  the  Americans  from  Chatterton's  Hill.  The  Repub- 
licans retreated  to  their  intrenched  camp  nearer  the  village,  M'^here  they 
remained  unmolested  until  the  night  of  the  31st.  _  Howe  dared  not 
attack  the  apparently  formidable  breastworks  of  Washington's  intrench- 
ments,  which  were  really  composed  chiefly  of  cornstalks  slightly  covered 
with  earth.  The  Americans  withdrew  in  the  night  to  a  strong  position 
on  the  heights  of  North  Castle,  five  miles  farther  north.  The  British 
did  not  pursue.  Washington  with  his  main  army  crossed  the  Hudson 
and  encamped  between  Fort  Lee  and  Hackensack,  in  New  Jersey.  He 
left  Genera]  Lee  in  command  of  a  strong  force  at  North  Castle,  with 
instructions  to  follow  him  into  New  Jersey  if  necessary,  and  he  put 
Heath  in  command  in  the  Hudson  Highlands. 

Isolated  Fort  Washington,  standing  upon  the  highest  land  on  the 
island,  overlooking  and  commanding  the  Hudson  River,  between  One 
Hundred  and  Eighty-first  Street   and  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-sixth 


CAPTURE    OF  FORT   WASHINGTON. 


249 


Street,  was  the  next  point  of  attack  bj  the  British  nnder  Howe.  It 
was  a  five-sided  earthwork,  two  hundred  and  thirty  feet  above  tide- 
water, a  mile  north  of  Washington's  former  headquarters  at  the  Roger 
Morris  home.  It  mounted  thirty-four  great  guns,  and  it  was  defended 
by  several  outlying  redoubts  and  batteries  on  the  north  and  south, 
extending  across  the  island  between  the  Hudson  and  Harlem  rivers. 

Howe  procrastinated  as  usual,  and  it  was  the  middle  of  November 
before  he  attacked  Fort  Washington.  On  the  morning  of  the  16th  he 
put  t"^oops  in  motion  for  a  simultaneous  assault  at  four  difiFerent  points. 


THE  JERSEY  PRISON-SHIP. 


They  crossed  the  Harlem  River  under  cover  of  a  cannonade.  The  troops 
were  led,  respectively,  by  General  Knyphausen  (who  commanded  the 
Germans),  Lords  Percy  and  Cornwallis,  General  Mathews,  and  others. 
Before  noon  the  occupants  of  supporting  redoubts  and  batteries  were 
driven  into  the  fort.  At  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  it  had  been 
surrendered,  and  the  British  flag  was  waving  over  it.  Its  name  was 
changed  to  Fort  Knyphausen.*  Twenty-six  hundred  men  became 
prisoners  of  war,  and  many  of  them  were  long  sufferers  in  the  loathsome 
prisons  of  New  York  and  the  more  loathsome  prison-ships  afloat  in  the 
surrounding  waters. f 


*  On  the  day  of  the  final  attack,  Washington,  with  Generals  Putnam,  Greene,  and 
Mercer,  crossed  the  river,  ascended  the  heights,  and  went  to  the  abandoned  mansion  of 
Roger  Morris,  where  the  commander-in-chief  had  established  his  headquarters  on  Harlem 
Heights.  From  that  point  they  took  a  hasty  view  of  the  scene  of  operations,  and  hastily 
departed.  Within  fifteen  minutes  after  they  left  the  mansion  the  British  Colonel  Sterling 
with  his  victorious  troops  took  possession  of  it. 

f  Among  the  most  notable  of  these  prison-ships  was  the  hulk  of  the  Jersey,  which  was 
moored  at  the  Wallabout,  now  the  site  of  the  Navy  Yard  at  Brooklyn.  It  was  called 
' '  hell  afloat. ' '  A  greater  portion  of  its  inmates  were  captive  American  sailors.  The 
most  wanton  outrages  were  suffered  by  the  poor  victims.     The  number  of  deaths  in  this 


250  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Washington,  satisfied  that  Howe  would  now  turn  his  attention  to  the 
Federal  City  (Philadelphia),  where  Congress  was  sitting,  ])repared  to 
hasten  to  its  defence.  Fort  Lee  was  abandoned,  but  before  its  stores 
could  be  removed  Cornwallis  had  crossed  the  Hudson  with  six  thousand 
men,  and  was  rapidly  approaching  it.  The  garrison  fled  to  the  camp 
near  Hackensack,  and  then  began  Washington's  famous  retreat  across 
New  Jersey,  pursued  by  Cornwallis,  to  the  Delaware  River. 

The  British  were  now  in  full  possession  of  the  city  of  Kew  York  and 
Manhattan  Island,  and  held  them  more  than  seven  years.  The  Pro- 
vincial Congress  of  New  York  became  migratory.  Driven  from  the  city 
in  August  (1776),  they  sat  a  short  time  at  Harlem,  then  at  Kingsbridge, 
White  Plains,  the  Philipse  Manor,  Fishkill,  Poughkeepsie,  and  finally  at 
Kingston,  in  Ulster  County.  There  they  remained  until  their  final 
dissolution  on  the  establishment  of  a  State  Government,  in  the  spring 
and  summer  of  1777. 

While  the  important  military  events  just  recorded  were  occurring  in 
Southern  New  York  near  the  sea,  others  of  great  importance  were 
occurring  in  Northern  New  York  near  the  bordei-s  of  Canada.  A  large 
British  and  German  force  were  in  the  latter  province  under  the  general 
command  of  Sir  John  Burgoyne,  and  were  united  with  troops  under 
General  Guy  Carleton,  the  Governor  of  Canada,  in  preparation  for 
executing  the  plan  for  the  severance  of  New  England  from  the  other 
colonies,  already  mentioned.  This  gave  the  Continental  Congress  and 
their  constituents  great  anxiety,  and  in  June  the  Congress  sent  General 
Horatio  Gates  to  take  command  of  the  Republican  army  in  Canada, 
independent  of  General  Schuyler's  control. 

When  Gates  arrived  in  Albany  he  was  thus  first  informed  that  the 
army  %vas  out  of  Canada,  and  the  remnant  of  it  was  at  Crown  Point. 
He  hastened  thither,  took  command  of  that  remnant,  and  proceeded  to 

"hell"  was  frightful.  Starvation,  fever,  and  even  suffocation  in  the  pent-up  air  at 
night  made  a  fearful  daily  sacrifice  of  human  creatures.  Every  morning  there  went 
down  the  hatchway  from  the  deck  the  terrible  cry,  "Rebels,  turn  out  your  dead  !" 
Then  a  score  of  dead  bodies  covered  with  vermin  would  be  carried  up  by  tottering  half 
skeletons,  their  suffering  companions,  when  they  were  taken  to  the  shore  and  lightly 
buried  in  the  sands  of  the  beach.  Such  was  the  fate  of  eleven  thousand  American 
l^risoners  during  the  war. 

The  cruelties  inflicted  by  Cunningham,  the  brutal  provost-marshal,  who  had  the  general 
supervision  of  American  prisoners  in  New  York  City,  were  terrible,  lie  seemed  to  be 
acting  independent  of  the  military  officers.  In  his  confession  before  his  execution  in 
England  for  a  capital  crime,  he  said  :  "  I  shudder  to  think  of  the  murders  I  have  been 
accessory  to,  with  and  without  orders  from  Government,  especially  wliile  in  New  York, 
during  which  time  there  were  more  than  two  thousand  prisoners  starved  in  the  different 
buildings  used  as  prisons,  by  stopping  their  rations,  which  I  sold  !" 


NAVAL  ENGAGEMENT  ON  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 


351 


construct  a  flotilla  of  armed  vessels  to  oppose  the  advance  of  the  British. 
General  Arnold  was  appointed  commander-in-chief  of  the  flotilla,  and 
by  the  middle  of  August  (1776)  ten  vessels,  large  and  small,  were  ready 
for  service.  Meanwhile  the  British  were  busy  in  the  construction  of  an 
armed  flotilla  at  St.  Johns,  on  the  Sorel, 

Toward  the  close  of  August  the  impatient  and  impetuous  Arnold  was 
permitted  to  go  down  the  lake  to  meet  the  foe,  but  instructed  not  to  go 
beyond  (present)  Rouse's  Point,  on  the  boundary-line  between  New 
York  and  Canada.  He  soon  found  liimself  in  a  perilous  position,  and 
fell  back  some  distance.  In  the  course  of  a  few  weeks  his  flotilla  was 
increased,  and  early  in  October  he  was  in  command  of  a  fleet  composed 
of  three  schooners,  two  sloops, 
three  galleys,  eight  gondolas,  and 
twenty-one  gun-boats,  bearing  an 
aggregate  armament  of  sixty-seven 
cannons  and  ninety-four  mortars, 
and  manned  by  about  five  hundred 
men. 

Ignorant  of  the  strength  of  the 
naval  armament  preparing  at  St. 
Johns,  and  unwilling  to  meet  a 
superior  force  on  the  broad  lake, 
Arnold  committed  the  foolish  blun- 
der of  arranging  his  vessels  in  a 
line  across  the  comparatively  narrow 
channel  between  Valcour  Island 
and  the  western  shore  of  the  lake, 
a  few  miles  below  Plattsburg.    His 

flag-ship  M'as  tlie  schooner  Royal  Savage,  twelve  guns.  There  he  was 
attacked  by  a  formidable  flotilla,  manned  by  many  veterans  of  the  Royal 
Navy,  on  the  morning  of  October  11th.  It  was  commanded  by  Captain 
Pringle  in  the  Inflexible,  though  the  expedition  was  under  the  supreme 
command  of  General  Carleton,  who  was  with  the  fleet,  with  British  and 
German  officers  and  troojjs.  A  severe  action  ensued,  which  continued 
almost  five  hours.  Arnold  and  his  men  fought  desperately.  His  vessel 
grounded  and  was  burned  by  the  enemy,  but  the  crew  were  saved. 
Night  closed  upon  the  scene,  when  neither  party  was  victorious. 

The  two  fleets  anchored  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  each  other. 

*  Copied  from  a  water-color  sketch  found  by  the  writer  among  the  papers  of  General 
Philip  Schuyler  in  1856.  It  settled  the  important  question,  What  was  the  device  on  the 
"  Union  flag"  hoisted  over  the  American  camp  at  Cambridge  on  January  1st,  1776  ? 


THE   ROYAL   SAVAGE.* 


253  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Arnold  determined  to  retreat  to  Crown  Point  that  night.  Anticipating 
such  a  movement,  the  British  flotilla  was  anchored  in  a  line  across  the 
lake  to  intercept  his  vessels.  The  night  was  intensely  dark,  heavy 
clouds  having  gathered  over  the  sky.  At  ten  o'clock  the  Americans 
weighed  anchor,  and  with  a  stiff  breeze  from  the  north  the  whole  flotilla 
passed  through  the  British  line  unobserved.  The  astonished  enemy 
gave  chase  the  next  morning.  Calms  and  head  winds  ensued,  and  it  was 
not  until  the  morning  of  the  13th  that  the  fugitives  were  overtaken. 
Then  another  desperate  fight  ensued  for  several  hours.  One  of  the 
American  vessels  (the  Washington)  was  captured,  and  General  "Water- 
bury  and  her  crew  were  made  prisoners.  Arnold  was  on  the  Congress. 
When  she  became  shattered  almost  to  a  wreck  he  ran  her  ashore,  with 
other  vessels,  a  few  miles  below  Crown  Point,  set  them  on  fire,  and 
escaped. 

General  Carleton,  with  Generals  Burgoyne  and  Riedesel  (the  latter 
the  commander  of  the  Germans),  who  accompanied  the  expedition,  took 
possession  of  Crown  Point  and  held  it  about  a  fortnight,  but  refused  to 
attempt  to  recapture  Ticonderoga.  The  whole  British  force  sailed  down 
the  lake  early  in  November,  and  went  into  winter  quarters  in  Canada. 
Burgoyne  soon  afterward  returned  to  England.  At  the  end  of  1776 
Lake  Champlain  was  really  at  the  mercy  of  the  British,  and  the  Ameri- 
cans had  lost  all  territory  acquired  since  Allen  took  Ticonderoga. 

Early  in  the  struggle  British  cruisers  kept  the  j^eople  on  the  Xew 
England  coasts  in  a  state  of  continual  alarm.  One  of  them  bombarded 
and  burnt  Falmouth  (now  Portland),  in  Maine,  and  other  depredations 
were  committed  by  British  armed  vessels.  The  Continental  Congress, 
perceiving  the  necessity  for  meeting  this  exigency,  took  measures  for 
creating  a  navy.  At  near  the  close  of  the  year  they  ordered  a  consider- 
able number  of  armed  vessels  to  be  built.  Esek  Hopkins,  of  Rhode 
Island,  was  appointed  the  chief  naval  commander,  and  in  February 
(1776)  he  sailed  from  the  Delaware  with  a  little  squadron  to  oppose  Lord 
Dunmore,  the  fugitive  royal  governor  of  Virginia,  who  was  devastating 
the  shores  of  that  province.  On  January  1st  (1776)  he  had  burned 
Norfolk.  Hopkins  went  on  to  the  Bahama  Islands,  seized  Nassau,  and 
carried  off  one  hundred  cannons  and  a  large  quantity  of  stores.  The 
Continental  Navy  was  never  powerful,  but  numerous  privateers  author- 
ized by  Congress  performed  efficient  service. 

Two  of  the  vessels  of  war  ordered  by  Congress  were  built  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  on  the  Hudson,  by  Van  Zandt,  Lawrence  &  Tudor,  who  estab- 
lished a  "  Continental  Ship  Yard  "  there.  These  were  the  Congress^ 
twenty-eight  guns,   and  the  Montgomery^    twenty-four  guns.       These 


A  RACE   FOR  THE   DELAWARE   RIVER.  253 

naval  constructors  were  also  einplojed  in  building  the  boom  composed 
of  timbers  and  iron  chains  across  the  Hudson  at  Anthony's  Nose,  at  the 
southern  entrance  of  the  Highlands.  It  was  constructed  by  command  of 
the  Committee  of  Safety  appointed  by  the  Provincial  Congress.  It  was 
completed  in  the  spring  of  1777.* 

Tlie  military  disasters  in  different  parts  of  New  York  were  partially 
counterbalanced  by  brilliant  achievements  of  American  soldiers  in  New 
Jersey,  in  the  early  winter  of  1776-77,  In  the  race  for  the  Delaware 
River  between  Washington  and  Coruwallis  the  former  won  ;  but  impor- 
tant places — Newark,  Brunswick,  Princeton,  and  Trenton — fell  into  the 
hands   of  the   invader.     The   little   army   of    Washington   continually 


LINKS  OF   TIIE  CHAIN  AT  WEST  POINT. 

diminished  during  his  flight  across  New  Jersey,  and  when  he  reached 
the  Delaware  and  crossed  the  river  into  Pennsylvania  he  had  scarcely 
three  thousand  soldiers  left.  Republicans  in  New  Jersey  seemed  para- 
lyzed in  the  presence  of  the  British  army.  Washington  had  urged  Lee 
to  join  him  with  the  troops  left  at  North  Castle,  but  he  would  not  do 
so  ;  and  after  the  little  army  had  crossed  the  Delaware  that  officer,  who, 
it  is  now  known,  was  a  traitor  to  the  cause,  allowed  himself  to  be  made 
a  prisoner  in  New  Jersey  and  taken  to  New  Tork. 

The  procrastinating  Howe,  feeling  sure  that  he  could  now  capture 
Philadelphia  at  any  time,  ordered  Cornwallis  to  defer  the  crossing  of  the 
river  until  it  should  be  sufficiently  frozen  to  allow  the  troops  to  move 

*  The  boom  consisted  of  a  heavy  iron  chain  borne  by  strong  floats.  A  more  powerful 
boom  was  stretched  across  the  river  from  West  Point  to  Constitution  Island.  The  chain 
was  buoyed  by  logs  about  sixteen  feet  in  length  sharpened  at  each  end,  so  as  to  offer  little 
resistance  to  the  tides.  To  these  logs  the  chain  was  firmly  fastened.  Several  links  of  the 
chain  may  be  seen  at  West  Point  surrounding  a  mortar.  The  links  are  made  of  iron  bars 
two  inches  and  a  half  square  and  a  little  more  than  three  feet  in  length.  Each  weighed 
about  one  hundred  and  sixty  pounds. 


354  THE  EMPIRE   STATE 

over  upon  the  ice.  Tliej  were  cantoned  along  tlie  New  Jersey  side  of 
the  river  from  Trenton  to  Burlington.  A  detachment  of  Germans 
under  Colonel  Rail  and  some  British  light  horse  were  stationed  at 
Trenton  ;  and  so  confident  were  the  British  that  the  inchoate  republic 
was  ruined,  that  Cornwallis  prej)ared  to  return  to  England,  When  Rail 
sent  to  General  Grant  for  re-enforcements,  the  latter  said  to  the  mes- 
senger :  "  Tell  the  colonel  he  is  very  safe.  I  will  undertake  to  keep  the 
peace  in  New  Jersey  with  a  corporal's  guard." 

Dark,  indeed,  was  the  aspect  of  public  affairs  for  the  Republicans  at 
that  moment.  The  frightened  Congress  had  fled  from  Philadelphia  to 
Baltimore.  The  public  mind  was  despondent.  Recruiting  for  the  army 
seemed  impossible.  Terms  of  service  of  the  soldiers  were  about  to 
expire,  and  the  army  was  reduced  to  seventeen  hundred  men.  Yet 
Washington,  knowing  the  cause  to  be  just,  and  relying  upon  Omnipo- 
tence, never  lost  hope.  At  that  gloomy  hour  he  conceived  a  masterly 
stroke  of  military  skill.  Liberal  bounties  were  offered  for  recruits,  and 
brought  them.  Lee's  division,  under  Sullivan,  joined  him.  So,  also, 
did  regiments  from  Ticonderoga.  The  Pennsylvania  militia  turned  out 
with  considerable  alacrity,  and  the  spell-bound  people  of  New  Jersey 
began  to  recover  their  senses. 

Thus  strengthened,  Washington  resolved  to  recross  the  Delaware  and 
smite  the  enemy  at  Trenton.  lie  chose  Christmas  night  for  the  enter- 
prise, knowing  that  a  large  portion  of  the  Germans  would  probably  be 
disabled  by  their  holiday  indulgences. 

In  a  storm  of  sleet  the  Americans,  two  thousand  strong,  with  twenty 
cannons,  crossed  the  Delaware  at  night  on  flat-boats  amid  thin  floating 
ice,  and  hoped  to  reach  Trenton  before  daylight.  They  could  not. 
The  German  guards  at  the  outskirts  of  the  village,  surprised,  were 
driven  in,  and  gave  an  alarm.  The  drums  beat  to  arms,  and  very  soon 
Colonel  Rail  and  his  disordered  troops  were  in  the  streets.  In  the  sharp 
skirmish  that  ensued  Rail  fell,  mortally  wounded.  Ilis  troops,  panic- 
stricken,  broke  and  fled  in  confusion,  but  were  intercepted  by  some 
Pennsylvania  riflemen  under  Colonel  Hand  and  made  prisoners.  The 
light  horse  escaped.  The  victory  was  complete.  As  a  prudential 
measure  Washington  innnediately  recrossed  the  river  with  his  captives 
and  spoils. 

The  British  were  astounded,  and  fell  back  from  the  Delaware.  Wash- 
ington's ranks  were  rapidly  filled.  Congress  had  clothed  him  with  the 
powers  of  a  dictator.  He  recrossed  the  Delaware  (December  30th), 
took  post  at  Trenton  with  about  five  thousand  men,  and  resolved  to  act 
on  the  offensive.     Cornwallis  returned  to  New  Jersey,  and  the  British 


BATTLE   AT   PRINCETON.  256 

and  German  troops  were  concentrated  at  Princeton,  only  ten  miles 
distant. 

On  January  2d  (1777)  Cornwallis,  with  a  strong  force,  moved  against 
Washington  from  Princeton.  At  Trenton  they  had  some  skirmishing, 
when  each  party  encamped  for  the  night  upon  opposite  sides  of  a  small 
stream.  Expecting  re-enforcements  in  the  morning,  Cornwallis  felt 
sure  of  his  prey.  But  Washington,  with  his  troops,  moved  secretly 
away  after  midnight,  and  before  sunrise  he  was  engaged  in  battle  near 
Princeton  with  the  reserved  troops  who  had  started  to  re-enforce  Corn- 
wallis. The  battle  was  short,  sharp,  and  decisive.  The  brave  General 
Hugh  Mercer  was  mortally  wounded,  and  many  other  American  officers 
were  slain  on  that  snowy  field. 

When  the  astonished  Cornwallis  found  that  his  anticipated  prey  had 
escaped,  and  he  heard  the  booming  of  cannon  at  Princeton,  he  hastened 
back  ;  but  not  a  "  rebel  "  was  found  there.  They  had  won  a  victory 
and  passed  on,  and  made  their  way  to  Morristown,  in  the  hill  country  of 
East  Jersey,  where  Washington  established  his  winter  quarters. 


256  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

Two  ver}''  important  events  occurred  witliin  tlie  domain  of  New  York 
during  the  year  l'T77,  namely  :  (1)  Tlie  framing  of  a  constitution  for  the 
government  of  tlie  Commonwealth  and  the  establishment  and  organization 
of  an  independent  State  government ;  (2)  A  formidable  invasion  of  the 
State  by  British  troops  from  Canada,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant- 
General  Sir  John  Burgoyne. 

The  final  movement  in  their  migrations  by  the  Provincial  Congress, 
or,  rather,  the  "  Convention  of  Representatives  of  the  State  of  New 
York,"  as  that  body  was  now  called,  occurred  in  February,  1777,  when 
they  adjourned  from  Pouglikeepsie  to  Kingston.  In  April,  the  pre- 
vious year,  the  Continental  Congress  resolved,  "  That  it  be  recommended 
to  the  several  Assemblies  and  Conventions  of  the  United  Colonies,  where 
no  government  sufficient  to  the  exigencies  of  their  affairs  hath  hitherto 
been  established,  to  adopt  such  a  government  as  shall,  in  the  opinion  of 
the  representatives  of  the  people,  best  conduce  to  the  happiness  and 
safety  of  their  constituents  in  particular,  and  of  America  in  general." 

This  was  a  bold  but  cautious  step  in  the  direction  of  independence. 
The  people  of  New  York,  though  Toryism  was  yet  rife  among  them, 
favored  the  recommendation  of  Congress  by  a  large  majority,  and  pro-^ 
ceeded  to  elect  a  new  Convention.*     It  assembled  at  White  Plains  in 

*  At  that  time  the  State  was  divided  into  fourteen  counties — namely,  New  York,  Rich- 
mond, Kings,  Queens,  Suffolk,  Westchester,  Duchess,  Orange,  Ulster,  Albany,  Tryon, 
Charlotte,  Cumberland,  and  Gloucester.  The  last  two  counties  formed  a  part  of  the 
(present)  State  of  Vermont.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the  members  who  were 
present  at  the  session  at  Kingston  and  assisted  in  the  formation  of  a  State  government  for 
New  York  : 

New  York  City. — John  Jay,  James  Duane,  John  Morin  Scott,  James  Beekman,  Daniel 
Dunscomb,  Robert  Harper,  Philip  Livingston,  Abraham  P.  Lott,  Peter  van  Zandt, 
Anthony  Rutgers,  Evert  Bancker,  Isaac  Stoutenburgh,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John  van  Cort- 
landt,  William  Denning. 

Albany. — Abraham  Ten  Broeck,  Robert  Yates,  Leonard  Gansevoort,  Abraham  Yates, 
Jr.,  John  Ten  Broeck,  John  Taylor,  Peter  R.  Livingston,  Robert  van  Rensselaer, 
Matthew  Adgate,  John  I.  Bleecker,  Jacob  Cuyler. 

BxichesH. — Robert  R.  Livingston,  Zephaniah  Piatt,  John  Schenck,  Jonathan  Landon, 
Gilbert  Livingston,  James  Livingston,  Henry  Schenck. 

Ulster. — Christopher  Tappen,  Matthew  Rea,  Matthew  Cantine,  Charles  De  Witt, 
Arthur  Parks. 


FORMATION   OF  A  STATE   CONSTITUTION. 


357 


July,  for  the  double  purpose  of  framing  a  State  Constitution  and  of  exer- 
cising all  the  powers  of  government  until  that  duty  should  be  performed. 

On  August  1st  (1TT6)  the 
Convention  appointed  a  commit- 
tee to  prepare  a  Constitution. 
Mr.  Jay  was  made  chairman  of 
the  committee.  The  exigencies 
of  public  affairs,  iu  which  he 
was  deeply  engaged,  caused  con- 
siderable delay  in  their  work,  for 
almost  the  entire  labor  devolved 
upon  him.  The  draft,  in  the 
handwriting  of  Mr.  Jay,  was  sub- 
mitted to  the  Convention  on 
March  12th,  1777.  That  body 
were  then  sitting  at  Kingston,  in 
a  substantial  house  built  of  blue 
limestone,  on  the  corner  of  Main 
and  Fair  streets,  which  is  yet 
(1886)  standing.     It  was  one  of 

the  few  houses  spared  by  the  torches  of  British  incendiaries  who  burned 
Kingston  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year. 


Westchester. — Pierre  van  Cortlandt,  Gouverueur  Morris,  Gilbert  Drake,  Lewis 
Graliam,  Ezra  Lockwood,  Zebediah  Mills,  Jonathan  Piatt,  Jonathan  G.  Tompkins. 

Orange. — William  Allison,  Henry  Wisner,  Jeremiah  Clarke,  Isaac  Sherwood,  Joshua 
H.  Smith. 

Suffolk. — William  Smith,  Thomas  Treadwell,  John  Sloss  Hobart,  Matthias  Burnet 
Miller,  Ezra  L'Hommedieu. 

Queens. — Jonathan  Lawrence. 

Tryon. — William  Harper,  Isaac  Paris,  Mr.  Vedder,  John  Morse,  Benjamin  Newkirk. 

Charlotte. — John  AVilliams,  Alexander  Webster,  William  Duer. 

Cumberland. — Simon  Stephens. 

Kings,  Richmond,  and  Gloucester  were  not  represented. 

*  John  Jay  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York  on  December  12th,  1745.  He  entered 
King's  (now  Columbia)  College  when  he  was  fourteen  years  old,  and  gave  early  promise 
of  a  brilliant  career.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1768  ;  soon  became  an  eminent 
lawyer  ;  married  a  daughter  of  William  Livingston,  of  New  Jersey,  in  1774,  and  joined 
vigorously  in  opposition  to  the  measures  of  the  British  ministry  as  a  champion  of  popular 
rights.  He  was  the  youngest  member  of  the  flnst  Continental  Congress,  and  was  one  of 
the  most  efficient  men  in  that  body.  After  assisting  in  the  organization  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  he  became  president  of  the  Continental  Congress,  and  in  1779  was  sent  as 
minister  at  the  Spanish  court.  He  was  one  of  the  commissioners  to  negotiate  the  Pre- 
liminary Treaty  of  Peace  in  1782,  and  the  following  year  he  affixed  his  signature  to  the 
detinite  Treaty.     On  his  return  he  assumed  the  duties  of  cliief  of  the  Foreign  Depart- 


258 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


The  Constitution  was  under  consideration  for  more  than  a  month. 
]V[r.  Jay,  on  reflecting  upon  the  character  and  feehngs  of  the  members 
of  the  Convention,  had  omitted  several  imj)ortant  provisions,  wliich  he 
proposed  to  offer  separately  as  amendments  before  it  should  be  finally 
acted  upon.  That  action  was  taken,  in  a  precipitate  manner,  on  April 
20th.*  Mr.  Jay  was  then  absent  in  attendance  upon  his  dying  mother. 
Before  his  return  the  instrument  was  adopted,  with  some  additions  and 


HOUSE  IN   WHICH  THE   CONSTITUTION  AVAS  ADOPTED. 

omissions,  which  lie  regretted.  In  a  letter  penned  a  few  days  afterward 
concerning  the  hurried  manner  in  which  this  important  business  had 
been  concluded,  Mr.  Jay  wrote,  after  pointing  out  his  objections  : 

"  The  other  parts  of  the  Constitution  1  approve,  and  only  regret  that, 
like  a  harvest  cut  before  it  was  well  ripe,  some  of  the  grains  have 
shrunk.     Exclusive  of  the  clauses  which  I  have  mentioned,  and  which 


ment  of  the  Federal  Government,  and  so  remained  until  the  National  Government 
was  established,  in  1789,  when  he  was  appointed  the  first  Chief-Justice  of  the  United 
States.  In  1794  he  negotiated  a  new  treaty  with  Great  Britain.  During  his  absence  lie 
Avas  elected  Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  held  that  office  until  1801.  Gov- 
ernor Jay  died  May  17th,  1829. 

*  On  April  22d  the  Constitution  was  published  by  the  reading  of  it  to  (he  members  of 
tlu!  Convention  and  the  people  by  Robert  Benson,  the  secretary,  in  front  of  the  court- 
house in  Kingston.  Benson  stood  upon  a  barrel,  and  his  clear  voice  was  distinctly  heard 
])y  the  multitude.  Three  thousand  copies  of  the  document  were  printed  by  John  Holt, 
at  Fishkill,  for  distribution. 


PEATUKES   OF   THE   STATE   CONSTITUTION. 


259 


I  wish  had  been  added,  another  material  one  has  been  omitted — namely, 
a  direction  that  all  persons  holding  office  nnder  the  government  should 
swear  allegiance  to  it,  and  renounce  all  allegiance  and  subjection  to 
foreign  kings,  princes,  and  States,  in  all  matters,  ecclesiastical  as  well  as 
civil.  I  should  also  have  been  for  a  clause  against  the  continuance  of 
domestic  slavery,  and  for  the  support  and  encouragement  of  literature. " 
Because  of  Mr.  Jay's  temporary  absence  from  the  Convention  it  is 
probable  that  the  State  of  Kew  York  was  deprived  of  the  honor  of 


PUBLISHING   THE   CONSTITUTION. 


setting  the  first  example  in  America  of  the  voluntary  abolition  of  slavery. 
Among  the  most  prominent  features  of  the  Constitution,  and  which 
were  subsequently  eliminated  from  it  by  revisions  and  amendments, 
were  (1)  a  provision  for  a  Council  of  Appointment,  composed  of  the 
governor  and  four  Senators,  the  latter  chosen  by  the  Assembly  to  serve 
for  two  years.  This  Council  appointed  nearly  all  officers,  excepting  the 
chancellor  and  Supreme  Court  judges.  The  term  of  office  of  their 
appointees  depended  upon  the  will  of  the  Council  ;  (2)  a  Council  of 


260  THE  EMPIRE  STATE, 

Revision,  composed  of  the  governor,  tlie  chancellor,  and  Supreme  Court 
judges,  whose  duty  it  was  to  revise  all  bills  about  to  be  passed  into  laws 
by  the  Legislature  ;  (3)  a  property  qualification  to  enable  a  citizen  to 
exercise  the  right  of  the  elective  franchise,  and  reqiiiring  Senators  to  be 
freeholders  ;  giving  power  to  the  governor  to  prorogue  the  Legislature. 

Unlike  the  more  democratic  usage  of  to-day,  no  j^rovision  was  made 
for  the  submission  of  the  Constitution  to  the  judgment  of  the  people, 
and  the  latter  had  no  opportunity  to  discuss  its  provisions  or  form  an 
opinion  of  it  until  it  was  too  late  to  do  so.  The  Convention  was  urged 
by  the  "Union  Mechanics,"  of  I*^ew  York  City,  to  submit  it  to  the 
people  ;  but  as  the  members  of  the  Convention  were  anxious  to  return 
liome,  and  j^ublic  affairs  required  a  speedy  organization  of  a  State  govern- 
ment, this  fundamental  law  of  the  State  was  put  forth,  the  product  of 
the  representatives  only  of  the  people. 

In  the  full  history  of  tliese  movements  toward  the  perfecting  the 
Constitution  of  the  State  of  New  York  is  developed  much  of  the  phi- 
losophy of  that  progress  which  marks  so  distinctly  the  onward  career  of 
our  Commonwealth.  Urom  the  old  Dutch  laws,  sometimes  narrow  and 
despotic,  but  usually  marked  by  a  sound  and  expansive  policy,  have 
evolved,  by  degrees,  the  enlightened  features  of  the  present  Constitution 
of  the  State.  In  it  we  may  trace  the  growth  of  the  benevolent  principles 
of  human  equality  and  the  correct  appreciation  in  the  public  mind  of 
the  rights  of  man. 

Provision  was  made  for  putting  the  State  Government  into  active 
operation  immediately.*  Robert  R.  Livingston  was  appointed  by  the 
Convention,  Chancellor  ;  John  Jay,  Chief -Justice  ;  Robert  Yates,  Jr., 
and  John  Sloss  Ilobart,  puisne  justices,  and  Egbert  Benson,  Attorney- 
General.  The  benches  of  the  courts  of  the  several  coimties  were  filled. 
A  Council  of  Safety  was  appointed,  composed  of  John  Morin  Scott. 
Robert  R.  Livingston,  Charles  Tappen,  Abraham  Yates,  Jr.,  Gouverneur 
Morris,  Zephaniah  Piatt,  John  Jay,  Charles  De  Witt,  Robert  Harper, 
Jacob  Cuyler,  Thomas  Treadwell,  J.  Sloss  Ilobart,  and  Jonathan 
G.  Tompkins.  To  this  Council  were  confided  all  the  powers  of  the  State, 
to  be  exercised  without  control,  until  superseded  by  the  regularly  con- 
stituted authorities. 

The  Convention  also  appointed  a  sort  of  Vigilance  Committee,  for 

*  A  committee  composed  of  Johu  Jay,  Robert  R.  Livingston,  Gouverneur  Morris,  John 
Morin  Scott,  Abraham  Yates,  and  John  Sloss  Hobart  was  appointed  to  report  a  plan  for 
organizing  the  State  Government.  Fifteen  of  the  members  of  the  Convention  were 
empowered  to  govern  the  State  imtil  an  election  could  be  held  for  the  State  officers. 
They  constituted  a  board  called  the  Council  of  Safety. 


A  VIGILANCE   COMMITTEE  APPOINTED.  3G1 

"  inqniring  into  and  detecting  and  defeating  all  conspiracies  that  nxay  be 
formed  in  the  State  against  the  liberties  of  America."  John  Jay  was 
the  first  chairman.  They  were  empowered  to  send  for  persons  and 
papers  ;  to  call  out  the  militia  in  the  several  counties  for  suppressing 
insurrection  ;  to  apprehend,  secure,  or  remove  persons  whom  they  might 
judge  dangerous  to  the  State  ;  to  make  the  necessary  drafts  upon  the 
treasury  ;  to  enjoin  secrecy  upon  their  members  and  the  persons  they 
employed.  They  were  empowered  to  raise  and  officer  two  hundred  and 
twenty  men,  and  to  avail  themselves  of  their  service  whenever  the 
committee  might  see  fit. 

This  formidable  committee  was  kept  in  active  existence  during  the 
war,  and  its  powers  were  employed  with  energy.  A  vast  number  of 
arrests,  imprisonments,  and  banishments  from  the  State  or  to  within  the 
British  lines  at  [New  York  were  made  by  it.  Many  Tories  and  their 
families  were  sent  into  the  city  of  New  York  from  the  rural  districts  ; 
others  were  expelled  from  the  State,  and  others  were  required  to  give 
security  to  a  pledge  to  reside  within  prescribed  limits.  Occasionally  the 
jails  and  even  the  churches  were  crowded  with  prisoners,  and  many  were 
sent  to  jails  in  Connecticut  for  safe  keeping.  Among  the  latter  was  the 
Mayor  of  J^ew  York.* 

The  Convention  defined  the  crime  of  treason  against  the  State,  and 
imposed  the  j)enalty  of  death  upon  the  offender.  They  established  a 
system  of  confiscation  ;  and  soon  after  the  Constitution  was  adopted  a  law 
was  passed  requiring  an  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  State.  All  persons 
refusing  to  take  such  oath  were  sent  within  the  British  lines  or  were 
exchanged  for  prisoners  of  war.  An  act  of  attainder  was  passed, 
together  with  an  act  for  the  "  forfeiture  and  sale  of  the  estates  of  persons 


*  This  committee  was  timely,  for  the  southern  portion  of  the  State  was  so  strongly 
Tory  in  sentiment  that  at  one  time  the  inhabitants  were  on  the  point  of  open  opposition 
to  Congress  before  the  entry  of  the  British  troops  into  New  York  City.  Governor  Tryon 
resumed  his  authority  as  .supreme  ruler.  He  received  the  congratulations  of  the  loyal 
inhabitants  signed  by  Daniel  Hommanden,  Oliver  de  Lancey,  and  nine  hundred  and 
forty-six  others.  They  also  addressed  the  brothers  Howe,  as  peace  commissioners,  praying 
that  reconciliation  and  general  loyalty  might  be  restored.  A  similar  address  was  made  to 
the  governor  and  the  commissioners  in  October,  signed  by  David  Colden  and  two  thou- 
sand one  hundred  and  eighty-four  inhabitants  of  Queens  County.  On  the  20th  of  the  same 
month  the  committee  of  Suffolk  County  dissolved,  disclaimed  and  rejected  the  orders  of 
Congress,  and  declared  themselves  "  desirous  to  obey  the  legal  authority  of  government, 
hoping  that  the  governor  would  pass  by  their  former  misconduct  and  be  graciously 
pleased  to  protect  them,  agreeably  to  the  laws  of  the  province."  The  disaffected  every- 
where began  to  correspond  with  the  enemy,  and  authority  was  given  to  county  com- 
mittees to  arrest  and  punish  them. 


2G2  THE  EMPIRE  STATE, 

who  had  adhered  to  the  enemy,  and  for  declaring  the  sovereignty  of  the 
State  in  respect  to  all  property  within  it."* 

The  Convention  adjourned  in  May.  The  Council  of  Safety  imme- 
diately ordered  an  election  of  a  Legislature  and  State  officers.  The  returns 
were  made  to  the  Council  early  in  July.  General  George  Clinton 
M'as  chosen  governor,  and  Pierre  van  Cortlandt  lieutenant-governor. 
Clinton  held  the  position  hy  successive  elections  until  1795,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  John  Jay.  lie  was  installed  in  office  on  July  30th,  at 
Kingston.  Being  then  actively  engaged  in  command  of  the  New  York 
militia,  he  did  not  quit  the  field  until  the  defeat  of  Burgoyne,  in  the 
fall,  but  discharged  his  civil  duties  by  correspondence  with  the  Council 
of  Safety,  which  body  was  continued  until  the  full  organization  of  the 
State  Government,  in  the  spring  of  1778. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Legislature  of  New  York  took  place  at  King- 
ston,f  when  Walter  Livingston  was  chosen  Speaker  of  the  Assembl}'. 
Pierre  van  Cortlandt,  the  lieutenant-governor,  presided  over  the  Senate. 
John  Morin  Scott  was  chosen  Secretary  of  State,  and  Comfort  Sands 
Auditor- General. 

Thus  was  completed  by  the  process  of  evolution  the  transformation  of 
the  alternate  Dutch  and  English  province  of  New  York  into  an  inde- 
l^endent  commonwealth.  It  formed  a  constituent  of  the  then  inchoate 
nation  which  has  become  the  mightiest  power  on  the  earth.     New  York 

*  The  persons  subjected  to  special  attention  under  this  law  were  :  John  Murray,  Earl 
of  Dunmore  ;  William  Tryon,  governor  ;  John  Watts,  Oliver  de  Lancey,  Hugh  Wallace, 
Henry  White,  John  Harris  Cruger,  William  Axtell,  Roger  Morris,  late  members  of  the 
Council ;  George  Duncan  Ludlow  and  Thomas  James,  late  justices  of  the  Supreme 
Court  ;  John  Taber  Kempe,  late  attorney-general ;  William  Bayard,  Robert  Bayard, 
James  de  Lancey,  David  Matthews  (late  Mayor  of  New  York),  James  Jauncey,  George 
Folliot,  Thomas  White,  William  McAdam,  Isaac  Low,  Miles  Sherbrooke,  Alexander 
Wallace,  John  Weatherhead,  Rev.  Charles  Inglis,  rector  of  Trinity  Church,  and 
Margaretta,  his  wife  ;  Sir  John  Johnson,  Guy  Johnson,  Daniel  Claas  (son-in-law  of  Sir 
William  Johnson),  John  Butler,  John  Joost  Herkimer,  Frederick  Philipse,  Senior  and 
Junior  ;  David  Colden,  Daniel  Kissam,  Gabriel  Ludlow,  Philip  Skene,  Andrew  P.  Skene, 
Benjamin  Seaman,  Christopher  Billop,  Beverly  Robinson,  Senior  and  Junior  ;  Malcomn 
Morrison,  John  Kane,  Abraham  C.  Cuyler,  Robert  Leake,  Edward  Jesup,  Ebenezer 
Jesup,  Peter  Dubois,  Thomas  H.  Barclay,  Susannah  Robinson  and  her  sister,  May 
Morris,  John  Rapelje,  George  Morrison,  Richard  Floyd,  Parker  Wyckham,  Henry 
Lloyd,  and  Sir  Henry  Clinton. 

f  Kingston  was  then  a  pretty,  thriving  village  situated  on  a  plain  a  short  distance  west 
of  the  river.  It  was  one  of  the  earliest  Dutch  settlements  in  the  State.  It  was  originally 
named  Esopus,  and  that  region  was  the  theatre  of  a  tragedy,  already  noticed,  in  which  the 
Indians  took  a  conspicuous  part  in  Stuyvesant's  time.  There  were  Dutch  trading  settlers 
there  so  early  as  1616.  At  the  time  in  question  it  was  one  of  the  larger  ^^llages  in  New 
York. 


INVASION  FROM  CANADA  THREATENED.  263 

is  a  peerless  member  of  the  Thirty-eiglit  United  States  which  form  the 
Great  Republic  of  the  West. 

While  these  civil  matters  were  occupying  the  earnest  attention  of  the 
people  of  Xew  York,  a  most  imposing  military  spectacle  was  seen  within 
its  borders,  and  filled  the  minds  of  every  patriot  with  anxiety  and  alarm. 

We  have  observed  that  General  Burgoyne  was  in  Canada  at  the  close 
of  1776  with  a  large  British  force.  He  went  to  England  early  in  1777, 
but  returned  to  Quebec  on  May  5th  following.  He  came  bearing  the 
commission  of  lieutenant-general  and  invested  with  the  chief  command 
of  the  troops  in  Canada,  superseding  Governor  Carleton.  To  soothe  the 
feelings  of  the  governor,  Burgoyne  bore  to  Carleton  tokens  of  knight- 
hood which  had  just  been  bestowed  upon  him,  and  thenceforth  he  was 
known  as  Sir  Guy  Carleton. 

Burgoyne  was  instructed  to  attempt  the  execution  of  the  ministerial 
plan  for  the  severance  of  New  England  from  the  other  States  then  in 
revolt.  He  at  once  made  preparations  to  invade  Northern  New  York 
by  the  way  of  Lake  Champlain,  with  a  large  force  of  Britons,  Germans, 
Canadians,  and  Indians. 

The  vigilant  Schuyler,  anticipating  such  an  invasion,  had  written  to 
Washington  early  in  the  year  that  at  least  ten  thousand  troops,  well 
supplied,  would  be  required  at  Ticonderoga,  and  two  thousand  at  Fort 
Stanwix  (now  Rome)  and  at  other  points  on  the  Mohawk  River. 
Schuyler  also  engaged  two  trustworthy  residents  of  Canada  to  furnish 
him  with  the  best  intelligence  of  affairs  there,  from  time  to  time. 

Washington  made  strenuous  efforts  to  strengthen  the  northern  army. 
Some  New  York  and  New  England  troops  had  joined  the  garrison  at 
Ticonderoga  ;  but  when,  so  late  as  June  20th,  Schuyler  visited  that  post, 
he  was  deeply  concerned  to  learn  from  General  St.  Clair  that  the  garrison 
was  still  very  weak,  the  soldiers  miserably  clad  and  fed,  and  that  there 
was  almost  nothing  in  store  for  them.  A  strong  redoubt  had  been  built 
on  Mount  Independence  on  the  opposite  shore  of  the  here  narrow  lake, 
but  there  were  not  men  enough  to  properly  man  it. 

At  dawn  on  the  very  day  when  Schuyler  arrived  at  Ticonderoga 
(June  20th),  the  drums  in  the  British  camp  at  St.  Johns,  on  the  Sorel, 
beat    the   generate^    and   very   soon   the  army  which   Burgoyne  *    had 


*  Sir  John  Burgoyne  was  born  in  England  about  1730,  and  entered  the  army  in  his 
youth.  He  married  a  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Derby.  He  became  distinguished  as  a 
soldier,  served  with  honor  in  Portugal  in  1763,  and  became  a  member  of  Parliament. 
With  the  commission  of  brigadier-general  he  arrived  in  Boston  late  in  May,  1775.  He 
returned  to  England  late  in  1776,  and  came  back  to  America  in  the  spring  of  1777,  and 
imdertook  the  invasion  of  the  State  of  New  York.     He  and  his  whole  army  were  made 


264  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

gathered  tliere  were  upon  vessels  bound  up  the  lake.  The  wives  of 
many  of  the  officers  accompanied  their  husbands,  for  they  expected  a 
pleasant  summer  journey  over  the  country  to  New  York,  the  lieutenant- 
general  having  written  to  General  Howe  that  he  sliould  very  soon  join 
him  on  the  navigable  waters  of  tlie  Hudson.  The  Indians  were  to 
spread  terror  over  Northern  New  York  by  their  atrocities,  and  so  make 
conquest  easy,  and  the  voyage  up  the  lake  and  the  march  to  Albany 
ahnost  a  pleasure  excursion. 

At  the  same  time  an  expedition  under  Colonel  St.  Leger,  composed  of 
regulars,  Canadians,  and  Indians,  was  despatched  to  Lake  Ontario  with 
orders  to  cross  it,  land  at  Oswego,  penetrate  and  desolate  the  Mohawk 
Valley,  and  join  the  victorious  troops  which  might  sweep  down  from 
the  north  into  the  valley  of  the  Hudson.  The  Canadians  and  Indians 
were  led  by  Sir  John  Jolmson.  At. the  same  time  a  Britisli  force  was  to 
ascend  the  Hudson,  seize  the  American  fortifications  in  the  Highlands, 
waste  the  country  above  in  case  of  resistance,  and  form  a  junction  with 
Burgoyne  at  Albany. 

To  alarm  and  distract  the  inhabitants  in  the  lower  valley  of  the 
Hudson  and  on  the  seaboard,  marauding  expeditions  were  sent  out  from 
New  York.  Late  in  April  a  strong  British  force  went  up  the  Hudson 
to  destroy  American  stores  at  Peekskill,  at  the  lower  entrance  to  the 
Highlands.  Too  weak  to  defend  them,  the  Americans,  under  General 
McDougal,  set  them  on  fire  and  retreated  to  the  hills  in  the  rear. 
A  little  later  Governor  Tryon,  with  about  two  thousand  British  and 
Tories,  landed  on  the  shores  of  Connecticut,  penetrated  the  country, 
destroyed  the  stores  at  Danbury,  and  plundered  and  burnt  that 
village. 

With  much  display  Burgoyne  went  on  board  the  schooner  Lady 
Mary,  at  St.  Johns,  when  a  discharge  of  cannons  from  her  deck  gave  a 
signal  for  the  fleet  to  move.  His  second  in  command  was  General 
"William  Phillips.     The  Baron  de  Riedesel  *  was  the  commander-in-chief 


prisoners  at  Saratoga,  when  he  returned  to  England  and  resumed  his  seat  in  Parliament, 
lie  became  a  Privy  Councillor,  commander-in-chief  in  Ireland,  and  retired  from  public 
life  in  1784.     He  died  in  London  in  1792. 

*  Baron  de  Riedesel  was  a  German  officer,  born  in  1738,  and  died  in  Brunswick  in 
1800.  He  served  in  the  English  army  in  the  Seven  Years'  War  in  Europe  under  Prince 
Ferdinand,  and  became  captain  of  Hessian  Hussars  in  1760.  In  1767  he  became  adjutant- 
general  of  the  Brunswick  army.  With  the  rank  of  major-general  he  commanded  the 
Brunswickers  hired  by  George  III.  of  England  for  service  in  America,  and  landed  with 
Burgoyne  in  Canada  in  the  spring  of  1775.  He  assisted  that  general  in  his  invasion  of  New 
York,  and  was  made  a  prisoner  of  war.     His  charming  wife  accompanied  him.  and  after- 


BURGOYNE'S  INVASION  OF  NEW  YORK. 


205 


of  the  Germans.     At  the  mouth  of  the  Boquet  River  (site  of  Wills- 
borough,  in  Essex  County)  Burgoyne  feasted  about  four  hundred  Indians, 
to  whom  he  made  a  speech,  praising  them  for  their  fidelity  to  the  king, 
and  exhorting  them  to  "strike  at 
the  common  enemy  of  their  sov- 
ereign and  America."    He  forbade 
them  to  kill  any  excepting  in  bat- 
tle, or  to  take  scalps  from  any  but 
the    dead.      The    whole    invading 
army  arrived  at  Crown    Point   on 
June  26th.      They  then  numbered 
something  less  than  nine  thousand 
men,  with  a  powerful  train  of  artil- 
lery. 

The  garrisons  at  Ticonderoga 
and  Mount  Independence  had  an 
aggregate  force  of  not  more  than 
thirty- five  hundred  men,  and  only 
one  in  ten  of  them  possessing  a 
bayonet.  Schuyler,  who  was  at 
Albany  making  provision  to  meet 
the  invasion  of  the  Mohawk  region, 
had  too  few  troops  to  spare  a  re- 
enforcement  for  St.  Clair  without  uncovering  points  which,  left  un- 
protected, might  allow  the  invaders  to  gain  the  rear  of  the  lake 
fortresses.  There  were  strong  outposts  around  Ticonderoga,  but  there 
were  not  troops  enough  to  man  them  ;  and  there  were  eminences  that 
commanded  the  fort  that  were  left  unguarded  for  the  same  reason. 
Between  Ticonderoga  and  Mount  Independence  was  a  boom  which  the 
Americans  thought  would  effectually  bar  the  way  of  British  vessels 
ascending  the  lake  ;  but  it  utterly  failed  in  the  hour  of  need. 

At  Crown  Point  Burgoyne  issued  a  pompous  proclamation  to  the 
inhabitants  of  the  upper  Hudson  Yalley,  which  he  prefaced  with  a 
list  of  his  titles,  followed  by  terrible  threats  in  allusion  to  what  the 
Indians  might  do  if  unrestrained.  It  did  not  frighten  the  people  at  all. 
They  knew  the  character  of  the  Indians,  and  regarded  the   proclama- 


BARONESS   0E   RIEDESEL. 


ward  published  an  interesting  account  of  her  experience  in  America.  Tlie  baron  was 
exchanged  in  1780  and  was  made  lieutenant-general.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  the 
Prussian  Minister  Massow.  She  died  in  Berlin  in  1808.  The  baron's  Memoirs  and  his 
wife's  Letters  and  Journal  have  been  translated  into  English  and  published  by  W.  L. 
Stone,  Esq. 


366  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

tioii  with  contompt*  St.  Clair  also  indulged  in  liopes  and  a  little 
boasting. 

On  July  let,  a  bright,  hot  day,  the  invading  army  moved  in  two 
divisions  from  Crown  Point  to  attack  Forts  Ticonderoga  and  Indepen- 
dence. The  right  wing,  led  by  General  Phillips,  moved  up  the  west  side 
of  the  lake,  and  the  left  wing,  composed  of  the  Germans  commanded  by 
General  Eiedesel,  moved  up  the  east  side.  The  dragoons  formed  the 
advance  guard.  General  Burgoyne  and  his  staff  were  on  the  schooner 
lioyal  George^  from  which  he  could  watch  the  movements  of  each 
division.  The  whole  force  halted  within  three  miles  of  Forts  Ticon- 
deroga and  Independence. 

A  detachment  of  the  right  wing  of  the  army  seized  an  eminence  that 
commanded  the  road  to  Lake  George  and  some  mills,  and  they  soon  took 
possession  of  the  crest  of  Mount  Defiance,  and  planted  a  battery  upon  it, 
whence  plunging  shot  might  be  hurled  into  Fort  Ticonderoga  from  a 
point  several  hundred  feet  above  it.  This  was  done  so  secretly  that  the 
first  intimation  St.  Clair  had  of  it  was  the  startling  sight,  at  dawn  on 
July  5th.  It  seemed  to  the  Americans  more  like  the  lingering  appari- 
tions of  a  night  vision  than  the  terrible  reality  they  were  compelled  to 
acknowledge  it  to  be. 

The  fort  was  now  clearly  untenable.  A  council  of  w'ar  determined 
that  only  in  secret  flight  might  the  garrison  hope  for  salvation  from 
destruction  or  capture.  The  flight  was  undertaken  the  same  night. 
The  invalids  and  convalescents,  stores  and  baggage,  were  sent  up  the 
lake  that  evening  to  Skenesborough  (now  Whitehall)  on  bateaux  ;  and 
at  about  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  (Sunday,  July  6th)  the  garrison 

*  The  following  poetical  paraphrase  of  the  proclamation  was  attributed  to  Francis 
H()]ikinson,  author  of  "  The  Battle  of  the  Kegs  :" 

"  I  will  let  loose  the  dogs  of  hell, 
Five  thousand  Indians,  who  shall  yell, 
And  foam  and  tear,  and  griu  and  roar. 
And  drench  their  moccasins  in  gore  ; 
To  these  I'll  give  full  scope  and  play, 
From  Ticonderog'  to  Florida. 
They'll  scalp  your  heads  and  kick  your  shins, 
And  rip  your  —  and  flay  your  skins  ; 
And  of  your  ears  be  nimble  croppers, 
And  make  your  thumbs  tobacco-stoppers. 
If  after  all  these  loving  warnings, 
My  wishes  and  my  bowels'  yearnings. 
You  shall  remain  as  deaf  as  adder. 
Or  grow  with  hostile  rage  the  madder, 
I  swear  by  St.  George  and  by  St.  Paul, 
I  will  exterminate  you  all. 
Subscribed  with  my  manual  sign. 
To  test  these  presents— John  Burooyne." 


EVACUATION   OF  TICONDEROGA.  267 

crossed  a  floating  bridge  at  the  boom  to  Fort  Independence,  leaving 
ahnost  two  hundred  cannons  behind  them.  With  the  garrison  of  the 
latter  thej  fled  southward  through  the  forests  of  Vermont,  hotly  pursued 
by  the  grenadier  brigade  of  General  Fraser  and  some  of  the  Germans. 
Overtaken  at  Ilubbardton,  the  Americans,  after  a  short  and  sharp  battle, 
were  defeated  and  dispersed.  St.  Clair  finally  rallied  about  two  thousand 
men,  and  with  these  reached  Fort  Edward,  on  the  upper  Hudson,  in  safety. 

In  the  mean  time  Burgoyne  had  ordered  his  gun-boats  and  other 
vessels  to  pursue  the  fugitive  bateaux.  Before  sunrise  these  vessels  Jiad 
burst  asunder  the  boom  on  which  the  Americans  relied,  and  the  whole 
British  flotilla  engaged  in  the  chase.  The  bateaux  were  overtaken  near 
Skenesborough  and  destroyed,  with  all  their  contents,  but  the  men 
escaped. 

General  Schuyler,  who  was  constantly  engaged  in  the  oversight  of 
everything  in  the  Northern  Department,  was  severel}'  censured  for  the 
evacuation  of  Ticonderoga,  when  he  had  no  connection  with  the  event. 
The  evacuation  was  done  without  his  orders  or  his  knowledge,  for  he 
was  then  at  Saratoga  on  important  public  business.  He  was  tried  for 
the  offence  by  a  court-martial,  and  most  honorably  acquitted.* 

From  Skenesborough  Burgoyne  sent  out  a  boastful  and  arrogant  proc- 
lamation, in  which  he  demanded  the  instant  submission  of  the  people, 
and  required  them  to  send  deputies  from  the  several  townships  to  meet 
Colonel  Philip  Skene  f  in  conference  at  Castleton,  on  July  15th.  He 
threatened  them  with  "  military  executions"  if  they  refused  to  obey  his 
commands.  At  the  same  time  he  promised  them  ample  protection  if 
they  should  be  obedient. 

General  Schuyler,  who  had  hastened  to  Fort  Edward,  issued  a  stirring 
counter-proclamation,  warning  the  people  against  the  wiles  of  the  enemy, 
whose  sole  object  was  by  threats  and  promises  to  induce  the  inhabitants 
to  forsake  the  cause  of  their  injured  country,  and  to  assist  the  enemy  in 

*  For  minute  particulars  concerning  tlie  eminent  public  services  of  General  Schuyler 
from  1760  until  his  death  in  1804,  see  Lossing's  Life  and  Times  of  Philip  Schuyler, 
published  by  Henry  Holt  &  Co. ,  New  York. 

f  Philip  Skene  came  to  America  with  British  troops  in  1756,  and  was  wounded  in  the 
attack  on  Ticonderoga  under  Abercrombie.  He  had  entered  the  army  in  1739.  He  was 
in  command  of  Crown  Point  for  a  w-hile.  He  planted  a  settlement  at  the  head  of  Lake 
Champlain  (now  Whitehall)  which  was  called  Skenesborough,  and  there  he  made  his  resi- 
dence in  1770.  Adhering  to  the  British  crown,  he  was  arrested  in  Philadelphia,  but  was 
exchanged  in  1776,  and  accompanied  Burgoyne  in  his  invasion  of  New  York.  He  was 
with  the  British  detachment  defeated  at  Bennington,  and  was  taken  prisoner  at  Saratoga. 
The  Legislature  of  New  York  confiscated  his  property  in  1779,  when  he  returned  to 
England,  and  died  there  in  1810. 


268  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

forcing  slavery  upon  the  people  of  the  United  States.  He  warned  his 
fellow-citizens  that  the  invaders  would  bring  upon  them  that  misery 
which  similar  promises  brought  upon  "the  deluded  inhabitants  of  New 
Jersey  who  were  weak  enough  to  confide  in  them,  but  soon  experienced 
their  fallacy  by  being  treated  indiscriminately  with  those  virtuous  citizens 
who  came  forth  in  defence  of  their  country,  with  the  most  wanton 
barbarities,  and  such  as  hitherto  hath  not  even  disgraced  barbarians. 
They  cruelly  butchered  without  distinction  to  age  or  sex,"  Schuyler 
continued.  "  They  ravished  children  from  ten  to  women  of  eighty 
years  of  age  !  they  burnt,  pillaged,  and  destroyed  whatever  came  into 
their  power,  nor  did  those  edifices  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  Almighty 
God  escape  their  sacrilegious  fury." 

Schuyler  warned  the  people  of  Northern  New  York  that  this  would 
be  their  fate  if  they  heeded  Burgoyne's  proclamation  ;  and  he  told  them 
distinctly  that  any  persons  holding  any  correspondence  with  the  invaders, 
or  who  should  accept  protection  from  them,  would  be  regarded  and 
punished  as  traitors  to  their  country. 

Burgoyne  pushed  on  from  Skenesborough  toward  Fort  Edward,  on 
the  upper  Hudson,  but  met  with  obstructions  at  almost  every  step, 
which  had  been  cast  in  his  way  by  General  Schuyler,  who  destroyed 
bridges  and  felled  trees  across  the  roads.  Schuyler  was  then  in  command 
of  not  more  than  four  thousand  effective  men,  a  number  entirely  inade- 
quate to  combat  a  foe  twice  as  strong  in  numbers  and  flushed  with 
victory  ;  but  so  effectually  did  he  employ  his  troops  in  impeding  the 
march  of  the  invading  anny  that  they  did  not  arrive  at  Fort  Edward 
before  the  close  of  July.  Then  occurred  there  the  sad  tragedy  of  the 
death  of  Jane  McCrea,  the  story  of  which,  as  set  afloat  at  that  time,  is 
familiar  to  all  readers  of  American  history;  but  truth  changed  its 
features  many  years  ago,  and  gave  the  story  as  follows  : 

Jane  McCrea,  a  daughter  of  a  clergyman  in  New  Jersey,  was  visiting 
friends  at  Fort  Edward  at  the  time  of  the  invasion.  She  was  betrothed 
to  a  young  man  living  near  there,  who  was  then  in  Burgoyne's  army. 
When  that  army  approached  Fort  Edward  some  prowling  Indians  seized 
Miss  McCrea  and  her  feminine  friend  with  whom  she  was  staying,  and 
attempted  to  convey  them  to  the  British  camp  at  Sfindy  Hill.  They 
had  placed  them  upon  horses  (probably  by  direction  of  the  lover)  and 
were  ascending  a  hill  when  a  detachment  of  Americans,  who  were  sent 
to  rescue  the  captives,  fired  upon  the  dusky  kidnappers.  One  of  the 
bullets  pierced  the  brain  of  the  maiden,  and  she  fell  dead  from  the 
horse.  Her  captors  scalped  her  and  carried  her  glossy  tresses  into  the 
camp  as  a  trophy.     Her  lover,  shocked  by  the  event,  loft  the  anuy  and 


PERILOUS   CONDITION  OF  BURGOYNE'S  ARMY.  269 

retired  to  Canada,  earryinji;  with  liim  the  precious  locks  of  liis  affianced. 
He  lived,  a  moody  bachelor,  until  he  was  an  old  man. 

The  body  of  Miss  McCrea  was  recovered  by  her  friends,  and  was 
buried  at  Fort  Edward.  A  tale  of  romance  and  horror  concernins^  the 
manner  of  her  death  went  abroad.  In  September  an  open  letter  of 
General  Gates  (who  had  superseded  Schuyler  in  command)  to  Burgoyne, 
full  of  exaggerations  and  holding  the  latter  responsible  for  the  death  of 
the  maiden,  gave  great  currency  to  the  story  ;  and  hundreds,  perhaps 
thousands,  of  young  men,  burning  with  indignation  and  a  spirit  of  ven- 
geance because  of  the  outrage,  flocked  to  the  American  camp. 

Schuyler  contimially  fell  back  before  the  pressure  of  Burgoyne's 
superior  numbers,  made  stronger  by  discipline,  until,  in  August,  he 
resolved  to  make  a  stand  near  Stillwater,  on  the  Hudson,  and  there 
establish  a  fortified  camp  for  recruits,  who  were  coming  in  rapidly. 
Burgoyne  was  evidently  becoming  weaker  as  he  departed  farther  from 
his  now  precarious  supplies.  His  army  was  soon  in  an  almost  starving 
condition,  and  menaced  on  every  side  by  constantly  increasing  enemies. 

Necessity  now  compelled  Burgoyne  to  make  a  bold  stroke  for  food, 
forage,  and  conquest.  lie  was  informed  that  the  Americans  had  a  largo 
quantity  of  stores  at  Bennington,  in  Vermont.  lie  sent  a  detachment 
of  Germans,  Canadians,  Tories,  and  Indians,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Breyman,  to  seize  these  supplies,  procure  horses,  and  organize  the  Tories 
in  that  region.  This  force  was  met  by  N^ew  Hampshire  militia  and 
others  under  General  John  Starke  a  short  distance  from  Bennington, 
and  on  August  lOth  (1777)  a  severe  battle  occurred.  *  The  invaders  were 
defeated  and  dispersed,  and  about  seven  hundred  of  them  became 
prisoners.  Many  of  the  Canadians  and  Indians  deserted,  and  the 
survivors  marched  back  in  most  melancholy  mood. 

This  was  a  disastrous  expedition  for  the  invaders.  It  greatly  inspirited 
the  patriots,  disheartened  the  Tories,  and  depressed  the  spirits  of  the 
whole  of  Burgoyne's  army.  It  crippled  his  movements  when  it  wsis  all- 
important  that  he  should  go  forward  with  celerity,  for  St.  Leger,  whom 
he  had  sent  by  way  of  Lake  Ontario  and  Oswego  to  invade  the  Mohawk 
Valley,  was  then  besieging  Fort  Stanwix  (then  called  Fort  Schuyler), 
with  the  expectation  of  soon  meeting  the  lieutenant-general  at  Albany. 
His  plans  M'ere  frustrated.  It  was  perilous  for  him  to  remain  where  he 
was  ;  it  would  be  perilous  to  move  forward.  His  troops  had  to  be  fed 
with  provisions  brought  from  England  by  way  of  Canada  and  Lakes 
Champlain  and  George  and  a  land  journey  through  the  forests.  Let  us 
leave  Burgoyne  in  this  dilemma  and  take  a  glance  at  passing  events  in 
the  Mohawk  Valley. 


'^70 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CIIAPTEK   XIX. 


In  order  to  moderate  tlie  zeal  of  tlie  Toi-ies  and  to  encourage  and 
support  tlio  Whigs  of  Tryon  County,  Fort  Schuyler  (on  the  site  of 
Rome,   N.  Y.)  had  been  garrisoned  by  seven  hundred  and  fifty  men, 

commanded  by  Colonel  Peter 
Gansevoort.  In  July  (1777)  Colo- 
nel Marimis  Willett,  an  active  and 
judicious  officer,  joined  the  garri- 
son with  his  regiment.  Another 
re-enforcement  arrived  soon  after- 
ward with  provisions  sufficient  to 
subsist  the  garrison  for  at  least  six 
weeks. 

Brigadier-General  Nicholas  Her- 
kimer,  a   venerable   citizen    sixty- 
five  years  old,  was  then  in  command 
of  the  Tryon  County  militia.     The 
Mohawk    chief,    Brant,*    had    re- 
turned from  Canada  in  the  spring 
and  placed  himself  at  the  head  of 
a  band  of  Indian  marauders  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  head-waters  of  the 
Susquehanna  River,  and  the  briga- 
dier had  watched  liim  for  several 
weeks  with  sleepless  vigilance. 
At  the  beginning  of  August  Colonel  St.  Leger,  with  a  motley  host  of 
Tories  and  Canadians — the  "  Johnson  (or  Royal)  Greens" — commanded 
by  Colonels  Sir  John  Johnson,  Claas,  and  Butler,  and  Indians  led  by 


JOSEPH   BKANT. 


*  Joseph  Brant  tTliay-cn-da-ne-gea)  was  an  eminent  Mohawk  chief,  born  about  1752, 
and  died  at  the  western  end  of  Lake  Ontario,  in  Canada,  in  1807.  Sir  WiUiani  Johnson 
liad  him  educated  by  Dr.  Wheelock  at  Hanover,  N.  H.  He  engaged  in  the  war  against 
Pontiac  in  1763.  He  became  .secretary  to  Guy  Johnson.  In  1776  he  went  to  England 
and  offered  his  own  and  Ins  people's  services  in  suppressing  the;  rebellion  in  the  colonies. 
He  and  most  of  the  Mohawks  remained  friends  of  the  crown  throughout  the  war.  After 
the  war  he  prevailed  on  the  Six  Nations  to  make  a  permanent  peace  with  the  new  govern- 
ment. He  went  to  England  a  second  time,  in  1786,  in  the  interest  of  his  people,  who 
were  settled  on  a  reservation  on  the  Grand  River,  in  Canada.     His  remains  rest  beneath  a 


BATTLE   OF  ORISKANY.  271 

Brant,  arrived  before  Fort  Sclmyler  from  Oswego,  and  began  a  close 
siege.*  Herkimer  with  his  mihtia,  eight  hundred  strong,  hastened  to 
the  assistance  of  the  garrison,  sending  them  word  that  he  was  comino-. 
Encouraged  by  this  news.  Colonel  Willett  made  a  sortie  with  a  part  of 
two  regiments.  He  fell  upon  the  "  Greens"  so  suddenly  and  furiously 
that  they  were  compelled  to  fly  in  confusion.  Sir  John  had  not  time  to 
put  on  his  coat.  His  papers,  baggage,  clothing,  blankets,  and  camp 
equipage,  sufficient  in  bulk  to  All  twenty  wagons,  were  tlie  spoils  of 
victory.  The  trophies  were  five  British  flags.  A  portion  of  the 
"  Greens''  had  gone  to  meet  Herkimer  and  his  men. 

On  the  morning  of  August  6th  Herkimer  and  his  little  force  were 
marching,  in  fancied  security,  at  Oriskany,  a  few  miles  west  of  Utica, 
when  they  fell  into  an  ambush  of  Tories  and  Indians.  They  were 
assailed  at  all  points  by  pikes,  hatchets,  and  rifle-balls.  Herkimer's  rear- 
guard broke  and  fled  ;  the  remainder  sustained  a  fierce  conflict  for  more 
than  an  hour,  interrupted  about  fifteen  minutes  by  a  sudden  thunder- 
storm.    A  bullet  shattered  the  leg  of  the  brave  old  commander, f  and 


handsome  mausoleum  near  a  church  built  on  the  reservation.  His  son  John  was  active 
on  the  side  of  the  British  in  the  Eastern  movements  of  the  War  of  1813. 

In  October,  1886,  a  slightly  colossal  statue  of  Brant,  nine  feet  in  height,  in  Indian 
costume,  was  unveiled  on  the  Mohawk  reservation  at  Brantford,  on  the  Grand  River, 
Ontario,  Canada.  The  likeness  we  give  of  the  chief  is  from  a  miniatui'e,  exquisite!}^ 
painted  on  ivor}-,  from  life,  when  Brant  was  in  London  in  1785-86.  It  is  in  possession 
of  the  Brant  family,  and  has  ever  been  considered  the  best  likeness  of  him  ever  painted. 

Colonel  William  L.  Stone,  the  eminent  journalist  of  New  York  fifty  or  sixty  years  ago, 
has  made  the  students  of  the  history  of  our  Commonwealth  his  debtors  by  his  elaborate 
biographies  of  both  Brant  and  the  great  Seneca  chief,  Red  Jacket,  the  most  conspicuous 
representatives  of  the  Iroquois  Confederacy. 

*  The  garrison  was  without  a  flag  when  the  invaders  appeared.  One  was  soon  sup- 
plied, in  pattern  that  was  uniform  with  the  prescription  of  the  Continental  Congress,  by 
resolution,  adopted  a  few  weeks  before — "  thirteen  stripes,  alternate  red  and  white,  and 
thirteen  stars  displayed  upon  a  blue  field. "  Shirts  were  cut  up  to  form  the  white  stripes  ; 
bits  of  scarlet  cloth  were  joined  for  the  red  stripes,  and  the  blue  ground  for  the  stars  was 
composed  of  a  portion  of  a  cloth  cloak  belonging  to  Captain  Abraham  Swartwout,  of 
Duchess  County,  N.  Y.,  who  was  then  in  the  fort.  It  is  believed  this  was  tlie  first 
garrison  flag  displayed  after  the  passage  of  the  resolution  of  Congress  on  June  14th,  1777. 

f  Nicholas  Herkimer  (Herkheimer)  was  born  about  1727,  and  died  in  1777.  He  was  a 
son  of  a  Palatine  who  settled  below  Little  Falls,  in  the  Mohawk  Valley,  in  the  reign  of 
Queen  Anne,  and  was  one  of  the  patentees  of  present  Herkimer  County.  In  1758  Nicholas 
was  made  a  lieutenant  of  provincials,  and  was  in  command  of  Fort, Herkimer  in  that 
year.  He  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  first  battalion  of  Tryon  County  militia  in  1775  ; 
also  chairman  of  the  County  Committee  of  Safety,  and  in  September,  1776,  was  made  a 
brigadier-general  by  the  Provincial  Convention  of  New  York.  He  died  at  his  home  ten 
days  after  he  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Oriskany.  The  Continental  Congress  voted  to 
erect  a  monument  to  his  memory  of  the  value  of  $500,  but  it  has  never  been  done. 


273 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


killed  the  liorse  upon  which  lie  was  riding.  Seated  upon  his  saddle  at 
the  foot  of  a  tree,  he  calmly  gave  orders.  At  length  the  Indians,  hear- 
ing the  firing  occasioned  by  Willett's  sortie,  fled  to  the  deep  woods  in  a 
panic,  and  were  soon  followed  by  the  equally  alarmed  Tories,  leaving 
the  patriots  masters  of  the  field.     Herkimer  was  taken  to  his  home  below 

the  Little  Falls  of  the  Mohawk, 
where  he  soon  afterward  died  from 
excessive  bleeding  from  his  wound, 
the  result  of  bad  surgery. 

The  siege  of  Fort  Schuyler  was 
vigorously  pressed  by  St.  Leger. 
On  August  9th  he  made  a  formal 
demand  for  the  surrender  of  the 
fort.  It  was  refused.  Fearing  the 
assailants  might  be  re-enforced,  and 
that  his  own  provisions  might  fail, 
Gansevoort  sent  Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel AV"illett  *  to  Schuyler  to  ask 
him  to  furnish  relief.  Willett, 
with  a  single  companion,  who  was 
an  expert  in  woodcraft,  left  the 
fort  stealthily  during  a  series  of 
heavy  thunder-storms.  He  reached 
the  quarters  of  Schuyler  at  Still- 
water on  the  12th,  and  revealed  the  urgency  of  the  case  to  the  general. 

Scliuyler,  fully  comprehending  the  importance  of  checking  the 
advance  of  St.  Leger  in  the  west  while  endeavoring  to  roll  back  the 
invasion  from  the  north,  called  a  council  of  officers  and  proposed  to  send 
a  detachment  to  the  relief  of  Fort  Schuyler.  The  council  objected 
because  of  the  pressing  need  of  men  for  the  army  confronting  Burgoyne. 


MARINUS   WILLETT. 


*  Marinus  Willett  was  born  at  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  in  1740,  and  died  in  Xew  York  City  in 
1830.  He  was  graduated  at  King's  (now  Columbia)  College,  and  soon  afterward  served 
with  Abercrombie  in  the  attack  on  Ticonderoga  in  1758.  He  wa.s  with  Bradstreet 
against  Fort  Frontenac.  Willett  was  one  of  the  most  eminent  of  the  "  Sons  of  Liberty," 
and  became  a  captain  in  McDougal's  regiment  in  the  invasion  of  Canada  in  1775.  He  was 
promoted  to  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Third  New  York  Regiment.  In  1777  he  was  in 
Fort  Stanwix  and  assisted  in  its  defence.  In  August  he  bore  a  mes.sage  by  stealth  to 
General  Schuyler  asking  for  relief,  which  was  sent.  He  was  in  the  battle  of  Monmoutli 
in  1778,  was  with  Sullivan  in  his  campaign  against  the  Indians  in  1779,  and  in  1784 
became  sheriff  of  New  York  City,  in  which  position  he  served  ten  years.  In  1807  he 
was  elected  mayor  of  the  city.  He  had  been  appointed  a  brigadier-general  in  the  army 
to  act  against  the  Indians  in  the  North-west  in  1792,  but  declined  the  honor. 


FORT    SCHUYLER  RELIEVED.  27Z 

Schuyler  heard  one  of  the  officers  say  in  a  half -suppressed  whisper,  "  He 
means  to  weaken  the  army."  This  was  an  echo — an  epitome — of  the 
slanders  with  whicli  the  general  liad  been  assailed  since  the  evacuation  of 
Ticonderoga.  With  hot  indignation  he  turned  upon  the  slanderer,  and 
unconsciously  biting  in  pieces  a  clay  pipe  that  he  was  smoking,  exclaimed 
in  a  voice  that  awed  the  whole  company  into  silence  : 

"Gentlemen,  I  shall  take  the  responsibility  upon  mj'self  ;  where  is 
the  brigadier  who  will  take  command  of  the  relief  ?  I  shall  beat  up  for 
volunteers  to-morrow. " 

The  brave  Benedict  Arnold,  one  of  the  council,  who  knew  how  unjust 
was  the  thought  that  there  could  be  treason  in  the  heart  of  General 
Schuyler,  immediately  stepped  forward  and  offered  his  services.  The 
drums  beat  for  volunteers  the  next  morning,  and  before  noon  (August 
13th)  eight  hundred  stalwart  men  were  enrolled  for  the  relief  expedition. 
They  were  chiefly  from  the  Massachusetts  brigade  of  General  Larned. 

With  such  followers — men  who  had  implicit  confidence  in  him — Gen- 
eral Arnold  pushed  rapidly  up  the  Mohawk  Yalley.  By  stratagem, 
audacity,  and  prowess  Arnold  impressed  the  followers  of  St.  Leger  with 
the  startling  idea  that  the  Americans  advancing  upon  them  were  over- 
whelming in  numbers.*  So  impressed,  the  Indians  resolved  to  fly.  No 
persuasions  could  hold  them.  Away  they  went,  as  fast  as  their  legs 
could  carry  them,  toward  Oswego  and  the  more  western  forests.  They 
were  followed  by  their  pale-faced  confreres^  pell-mell,  helter-skelter,  in 
a  race  for  safety  to  be  found  on  the  bosom  of  Lake  Ontario. 

So  was  suddenly  raised  the  siege  of  Fort  Schuyler,  and  so  ended  the 
really  formidable  invasion  from  the  west. 

The  failure  of  the  expedition  of  St.  Leger  f  was  a  stunning  blow  to 
the  hopes  of  Burgoyne.     This  disaster,  following  so  closely  upon  that 

*  At  the  German  Flats  Arnold  found  a  half  idiotic  Tory  under  sentence  of  death  for 
some  crime  he  had  committed.  His  mother  begged  Arnold  to  pardon  him.  Her  prayer 
was  granted  on  the  condition  that  he  should  accompony  a  friendly  Oneida  chief  among 
the  barbarians  into  St.  Legcr's  camp,  and  by  representing  the  oncoming  Americans,  from 
whom  they  had  just  escaped,  as  very  numerous,  frighten  them  away.  The  prisoner 
consented.  The  Tory  had  several  shots  fired  through  his  coat,  and  with  these  evidences 
of  a  "terrible  engagement  with  the  enemy,"  he  ran,  almost  out  of  breath,  into  the 
Indian  camp.  Pointing  toward  the  trees  and  the  sky  he  said  :  "  They  are  as  many  as 
the  leaves  and  the  stars  at  night."  Very  soon  his  companion,  the  Oneida,  came  running 
from  another  direction  with  the  same  story,  when,  as  we  have  seen  above,  the  Indians 
fled. 

f  Colonel  Barry  St.  Leger  entered  the  British  army  in  1749  ;  came  to  America  with  his 
regiment  in  1757,  and  was  with  Wolfe  at  Quebec. .  He  became  lieutenant -colonel  in 
1772,  and  was  sent  to  Canada  in  1775.  After  his  failure  in  the  Mohawk  Valley  he  dis- 
iippears  from  history.     He  died  in  1789. 


274  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

near  Bennington,  staggered  liim.  His  visions  of  conquest,  "orders,"' 
and  perliaps  a  peerage  for  himself  vanished.  His  army  was  already  con- 
quered. The  sad  news  thoroughly  disheartened  his  troops.  The  fidelity 
of  the  Indians,  always  fair-weather  warriors,  waned,  and  tiiese  and 
Canadians  and  timid  Tories  became  lukewarm,  and  they  deserted  by 
hundreds. 

Burgoyne's  perplexity  was  great.  To  proceed  would  be  madness  ;  to 
retreat  would  give  hosts  of  friends  to  the  Republicans  and  dissipate  the 
idea  of  British  invincibility.  He  complained  to  the  ministry  that  Howe 
had  not  co-operated  in  his  favor  by  movements  below,  and  consequently 
troops  from  above  the  Highlands  had  swelled  the  Northern  army  of  the 
Americans.  He  resolved  to  remain  where  he  was  (on  the  heights  of 
Saratoga,  where  Schuylerville  now  stands)  until  the  panic  in  his  army 
should  subside  and  he  should  receive  supplies  from  posts  on  Lakes  Cham- 
plain  and  George.  By  great  diligence  he  soon  afterward  had  sufficient 
provisions  brought  from  Lake  George  to  last  his  army  a  month. 

At  this  juncture,  w^hen  Schuyler,  who  for  weeks  had  retarded  the 
invasion  of  Burgoyne  with  a  handful  of  men  ;  when  his  wisdom,  prowess, 
and  patriotism  were  inducing  recruits  to  flock  to  his  standard,  now  that 
their  summer  crops  were  generally  gathered  and  he  was  ready  to  strike  a 
blow  for  victory,  he  was  superseded  in  the  command  of  the  Xorthern 
Department  by  General  Gates.  This  change  had  been  effected  by 
intrigues,  a  faction  in  Congress,  and  widely  circulated  slanders.  That 
Schuyler  was  the  victim  of  a  conspiracy  no  careful  student  of  our  history 
can  reasonably  doubt.  Yet  he  patriotically  acquiesced,  and  generously 
offered  to  give  Gates  all  the  aid  in  his  power.  Had  Gates  wisely  accepted 
the  generous  offer  and  acted  with  a  proper  spirit  at  that  time,  he  might 
have  gained  an  early  victory  over  the  invaders.  But  he  did  not  act 
wisely,  generously,  nor  efficiently,  and  when  a  victory  was  finally  won  in 
spite  of  him,  he  was  not  entitled  to  the  honor  of  achieving  it. 

Burgoyne  established  an  intrenched  camp  on  the  heights  of  Saratoga. 
Early  in  September  Gates  found  himself  in  command  of  an  army 
stronger  in  numbers  than  the  whole  British  force  opposing  him.  The 
American  forces  were  well  j^osted  on  Bemis's  Heights,  two  miles  above 
Stillwater,  the  right  wing  resting  upon  the  Hudson  River  below  the 
Heights,  and  their  loft  upon  gentle  hills.  Upon  their  front  was  a  well- 
constructed  line  of  fortiii cations. 

Imperious  necessity  compelled  Burgoyne  to  move  forward.  He  took 
a  position  within  two  miles  of  the  American  lines,  and  on  the  morning^ 
of  September  19th  he  advanced  to  offer  battle.  He  had  no  alternative 
but  to  fight  or  surrender,  for  he  had  been  informed  that  General  Lincoln, 


BATTLE   ON  BEMIS'S   HEIGHTS.  275 

with  two  thousand  New  England  mihtia,  had  gotten  in  liis  rear  and  Imd 
cut  off  his  communication  with  Canada.  On  the  daj  before,  Colonel 
John  Brown,  despatched  by  General  Lincoln  with  a  few  troops  and  some 
heavy  guns,  had  surprised  an  outpost  between  Ticonderoga  and  Lake 
George  ;  liad  taken  possession  of  Mount  Defiance  ;  cannonaded  Ticon- 
deroga and  Fort  Independence  ;  destroyed  two  hundred  vessels,  includ- 
ing seventeen  gun-boats  and  an  armed  sloop,  at  the  outlet  of  Lake 
George  ;  seized  a  large  quantity  of  stores  ;  released  one  hundred  Ameri- 
can prisoners,  and  captured  about  three  huiidred  British  soldiers, 

Burgoyne's  left  wing,  with  an  immense  artillery  train,  commanded  by 
Generals  Phillips  and  Riedesel,  kept  upon  the  plain  near  the  river.  The 
centre  and  right,  composed  largely  of  Germans,  extended  across  the 
rolling  country  on  the  Heights,  and  were  commanded  by  Burgoyne  in 
person.  Upon  tiie  hills  on  the  extreme  right  General  Fraser  with 
grenadiers  and  Colonel  Breyman  with  riflemen  were  posted  for  the  pur- 
pose of  outflanking  the  Americans.  On  the  front  and  right  flank  was  a 
body  of  Canadians,  Tories,  and  Lidians  designed  to  attack  the  central 
outposts  of  the  Americans. 

During  the  morning  General  Arnold,  who  commanded  a  division,  had 
observed  through  vistas  in  screening  woods  ])re*parations  of  the  foe  for 
an  attack,  and  urged  General  Gates  to  send  out  a  detachment  to  confront 
them.  But  Gates  had  determined  to  act  on  the  defensive  within  his 
lines,  and  hesitated.  At  length  he  permitted  Colonel  Morgan  and  his 
riflemen,  and  some  infantry  under  Colonels  Dearborn  and  Scammell,  to 
make  an  attack  upon  the  Canadians  and  Tories.  After  severe  skirmish- 
ing the  parties  retired  to  their  respective  lines. 

At  eleven  o'clock  Burgoyne  gave  a  signal  for  his  whole  array  to  move 
forward.  Gates  seemed  indisposed  to  flght,  and  remained  in  his  tent. 
GeneralFraser  began  the  battle  by  making  a  rapid  movement  to  turn  the 
American  left  commanded  by  Arnold.  At  the  same  time  Arnold,  with 
equal  celerity  of  movement,  attempted  to  turn  the  British  right.  Ho 
was  frustrated  by  the  refusal  of  Gates  to  send  him  re-enforcements.  He 
was  forced  back,  when  Fraser,  by  a  quick  movement,  called  up  to  his 
aid  some  German  and  other  troops  from  Burgoyne's  centre  column. 
Arnold  brought  his  whole  division  (chiefly  New  Englanders)  into  action 
and  called  for  re-enforcements.  They  were  not  supplied  ;  yet  he  smote 
the  enemy  so  lustily  that  their  line  began  to  waver,  and  it  soon  fell  into 
confusion. 

General  Phillips,  below  the  Heights,  hearing  the  din  of  battle,  hurried 
over  the  hills  with  fresh  troops  and  artillery,  followed  by  German 
dragoons  under  Biedesel,  and  appeared  upon  the  ground  just  as  victory 


27()  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

seemed  about  to  rest  witli  the  Americans.  Still  the  l)attle  raged.  The 
ranks  of  the  British  were  becoming  fearfully  thinned,  when  Riedesel 
made  a  furious  attack  upon  the  flank  of  the  Americans  with  cannon  and 
musketry,  which  compelled  them  to  give  way.  So  the  Germans  saved 
the  British  army  from  ruin. 

At  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  there  was  a  lull  in  the  tempest  of 
battle.  It  was  soon  succeeded  by  a  more  violent  outburst  of  fury. 
Burgoyne  opened  a  heavy  cannonade  upon  the  Americans,  who  made  no 
response.  Then  he  ordered  a  bayonet  charge.  As  the  invaders  rushed 
forward  to  the  assault  their  silent  antagonists  sprang  forward  from  their 
intrenchments  like  tigers,  and  attacked  the  British  so  furiously  with  ball 
and  bayonet  that  they  soon  recoiled  and  were  pushed  far  back. 

At  that  moment  Arnold  was  at  headquarters  seated  on  his  powerful 
horse,  vainly  bogging  for  re-enforcements.  The  sounds  of  battle  made 
him  exceedingly  impatient,  and  when  it  was  announced  that  the  conflict 
was  indecisive  he  could  no  longer  brook  delay,  but  turning  his  horse's 
head  in  the  direction  of  the  storm,  exclaimed,  "  I'll  soon  put  an  end  to 
it  !"  Putting  spurs  to  his  charger,  he  dashed  away  on  a  wild  gallop, 
followed  by  a  young  staff  officer  (Wilkinson),  who  was  sent  by  Gates  to 
order  the  impetuous  general  back.  The  subaltern  could  not  overtake 
Arnold  before  he  reached  the  scene  of  conflict,  where,  by  words  and 
deeds,  the  gallant  general  animated  his  troops. 

For  three  hours  more  the  battle  raged.  The  Americans  had  almost 
turned  the  British  flank  when  Colonel  Breyman  with  his  German  rifle- 
men, fighting  bravely,  averted  the  blow  that  might  have  been  fatal  to 
the  British  army.  The  combatants  had  surged  in  doubt  backward  and 
forward  across  the  fields  like  the  ebb  and  flow  of  the  tide.  Darkness  fell 
upon  the  scene  and  ended  the  conflict.  The  British  slept  that  night 
upon  their  arms,  and  the  Americans  slumbered  within  their  lines.  The 
American  forces  much  outnumbered  those  of  the  British. 

Petty  jealousies  marked  the  conduct  of  the  opposing  chief  commanders 
in  this  conflict.  Twice  the  German  troops  had  saved  the  British  army 
during  the  battle.  Burgoyne,  regarding  Piedesel  with  envy,  withheld 
the  honor  due  him  in  his  official  report.  Had  Arnold  been  furnished 
with  re-enforcements  when  he  asked  for  them,  no  doubt  he  would  have 
won  a  victory  in  the  morning.  Gates  was  not  seen  on  the  field  during 
the.  day,*  nor  any  other  general  officer  besides  Arnold  but  Learned  ;  and 


*  Tlic  concurrent  testimony  of  contemporaries  plainly  shows  that  Gates  scarcely  left 
his  tent  during  the  d;iy  of  the  battle,  and  that  under  its  shelter  he  freely  indulged  in 
strong  drinks  and  in  unbecoming  remarks  concerning  officers  of  whom  he  Avas  jealous. 


BURGOYNE  HOLDS  A  COUNCIL  OF  WAR.  277 

but  for  the  prowess  and  skill  of  the  former,  all  candid  historians  admit 
that  Bnrgoyne  would  undoubtedly  have  entered  Albany  in  triumph  as  a 
victor  at  the  autumnal  equinox.  Gates,  angry  because  the  army  praised 
Arnold  and  Morgan,  did  not  mention  their  names  in  his  official  report 
of  the  battle  ! 

The  wretched  condition  of  his  army  was  revealed  to  Burgoyne  on  the 
morning  of  the  20th.  He  had  lost  about  six  hundred  men.  He  expected 
an  immediate  renewal  of  the  battle  by  the  Americans.  With  that 
impression  he  hastily  buried  his  dead  in  holes  and  trenches,  and  withdrew 
to  high  ground  about  two  miles  from  the  American  lines.  The  latter 
had  good  reason  for  removing  within  their  lines,  for  their  ammunition 
was  exhausted.  This  fact  was  known  only  to  Gates.  He  was  justified 
in  not  acceding  to  Arnold's  urgent  request  to  attack  the  enemy  on  that 
morning. 

Burgoyne  and  the  whole  army  were  greatly  depressed  in  spirits  by  the 
events  of  the  19th,  yet,  hourly  expecting  good  news  from  Howe  or 
Clinton  below,  he  addressed  his  troops  in  a  cheerful  tone,  and  declared 
that  he  would  either  leave  his  dead  body  on  the  field  or  push  his  way  to 
Albany.  On  the  following  day  he  received  a  despatch  from  Clinton, 
who  was  in  command  at  New  York,  promising  aid  by  attacking  the  forts 
or  the  Hudson  Highlands.  He  also  gave  him  the  cheering  news  of 
Howe's  victory  on  the  Brandy  wine  Creek.  Burgoyne  assured  Clinton 
that  he  could  maintain  his  position  until  October  12th. 

Burgoyne  waited  many  days  for  more  tidings  from  Clinton.  None 
came,  and  on  the  evening  of  October  4th  he  called  a  council  of  officers. 
Phillips  proposed  an  attempt  to  turn  the  American  left  flank  by  a  swift 
circuitous  march.  Riedesel  favored  a  rapid  retreat  to  Fort  Edward. 
Fraser  was  willing  to  fight  then  and  there.  The  latter  course  was  agreed 
upon,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  Tth,  after  liquors  and  rations  for  four 
days  had  been  distributed  to  the  whole  army,  Burgoyne  moved  toward 
the  American  left  with  fifteen  hundred  picked  men,  eight  brass  cannons, 
and  two  howitzers.  He  formed  a  battle-line  behind  a  forest  screen  three 
fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  American  intrenchments.  Generals  Riedesel, 
Phillips,  and  Fraser  were  Avith  the  lieutenant-general,  who  sent  out  a 
party  composed  of  Canadians,  Tories,  and  Indians  to  make  a  circuit 
through  the  woods,  and,  hanging  upon  the  American  rear,  keep  them  in 
check  while  he  should  attack  them  in  front. 

Burgoyne  was  discovered  before  he  was  ready  for  battle.  The  drums 
of  tlie  Americans  beat  to  arms,  and  an  alarm  was  sent  all  along  the  lines. 
They  had  been  re-enforced  by  Lincoln,  and  their  army  now  numbered 
about  ten  thousand  men — nejvrly  double  the  number  of  the  British  force. 


^78  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Oates  inquired  the  cause  of  the  disturbance,  and  when  he  ascertained  the 
truth  he  sent  out  Colonel  Morgan  with  his  riflemen  and  some  infantry  to 
secure  a  position  to  attack  the  flank  and  rear  of  the  British  right  and  to 
^' begin  the  game."  At  the  same  time  New  Hampshire  militia  under 
General  Poor  and  New  York  militia  under  General  Tenbroeck  advanced 
against  the  British  left. 

Meanwhile  the  Canadians  and  Tories  had  turned  the  flank  of  the 
Americans  and  attacked  their  pickets  in  the  rear.  The  British  grenadiers 
soon  joined  these  assailants  and  drove  the  Americans  back  to  their  lines, 
where  a  hot  contest  ensued,  lasting  half  an  hour.  In  that  flght  Morgan 
and  his  men  assailed  the  foe  so  vigorously  that  they  were  driven  back  in 
confusion  to  the  British  line,  which  then  stood  in  battle  order  in  an  open 
field.  Grenadiers  under  Major  Acland  and  artillery  commanded  by 
Major  Williams  formed  the  left  of  the  line  upon  rising  ground.  Tiie 
centre  was  composed  of  Britons  and  Germans  led  by  Phillips  and 
Riedesel,  and  the  extreme  left  of  infantry  under  Earl  Balcarras.  General 
Fraser  at  the  head  of  five  hundred  picked  men  was  a  short  distance  in 
advance  of  the  British  right  ready  to  fall  upon  the  left  front  of  the 
Americans. 

Just  as  Burgoyne  was  about  to  advance,  at  three  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, he  was  astounded  by  the  thunder  of  cannons  on  his  left  and  the 
rattle  of  small  arms  on  his  right.  New  Englanders  under  General  Poor 
had  moved  stealthily  up  the  slope,  upon  the  crown  of  which  were  the 
troops  of  Acland  and  Williams,  and  pressed  through  the  thick  wood 
toward  the  batteries  of  the  latter.  When  the  Republicans  were  dis- 
covered the  British  opened  upon  them  a  heavy  storm  of  musket-balls  and 
grape-shot  with  very  little  eifect,  for  the  missiles  passed  over  their  heads. 
The  Americans  then  sprang  forward  with  a  shout  and  fired  rapid  volleys, 
when  a  fierce  conflict  ensued.  The  Republicans  rushed  up  to  the  mouths 
of  the  cannons  and  engaged  in  a  hand-to-hand  struggle  for  victory  among 
the  carriages  of  the  field-pieces.  Five  times  one  of  the  cannons  was 
taken  and  retaken.  It  finally  remained  with  the  Americans,  and  as  the 
British  fell  back  Colonel  Cilley  mounted  the  gun,  waved  his  sword  high 
in  air,  and  dedicated  the  weaj^on  to  "  the  American  cause." 

In  this  fierce  combat  Major  Acland  was  seriously  wounded  *  and  Major 
AVilliams  was  made  a  prisoner.     Their  men,  panic-stricken,  fled  in  con- 

*  The  wives  of  General  Riedesel,  Major  Acland,  and  others  were  with  their  husbands. 
When  Mrs.  Acland,  a  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Ilchester,  heard  of  her  husband's  con- 
dition^wounded  and  a  prisoner  within  the  American  lines — she  obtained  jxTniission 
from  Burgoyne  to  go  to  him.  She  was  admitted,  and  wjis  at  her  husband's  bed-side  at  a 
house  on  Bemis's  Heights  until  he  recovered  sufficiently  to  proceed  to  New  York. 


GENERAL  ARNOLD  ON  THE  BATTLE-FIELD.         279 

fusion,  and  the  whole  eight  brass  cannons  and  the  field  remained  in  pos- 
session of  the  Americans. 

Morgan  in  the  mean  time  led  an  attack  upon  General  Fraser  and  drove 
him  back  upon  the  British  lines  ;  then  falling  upon  their  right  flank,  he 
broke  their  ranks  and  put  them  in  confusion.  Colonel  Dearborn  attacked 
their  front  with  fresh  troops  and  broke  their  line,  but  it  was  soon  raUied. 

It  was  at  this  moment  that  General  Arnold  reappeared  upon  the  scene. 
Gates's  treatment  of  him  had  so  greatly  irritated  him  that  he  had  de- 
manded a  pass  to  go  to  Washington's  headquarters.  It  was  readily 
granted,  for  Gates,  now  feeling  sure  of  success,  did  not  wish  the  brave 
general  to  have  a  share  in  the  glory  of  the  achievement.  He  did  not 
thereby  actually  take  the  command  of  the  division  from  Arnold,  but  he 
assigned  its  control  to  General  Lincoln,  who  tried  to  reconcile  the  differ- 
ences between  the  two  generals.  The  officers  of  the  latter,  by  personal 
entreaties  and  a  written  address,  persuaded  him  to  remain,  but  Gates 
refused  to  give  him  any  command.  Arnold  had  no  authority  even  to 
fight,  much  less  to  order.  He  was  eager  to  join  in  the  combat  at  the 
begi  nni  n^. 

"  No  man,"  he  exclaimed  to  his  aides,  "  shall  keep  me  from  the  field 
to-day.  If  I  am  without  command  I  will  fight  in  the  ranks  ;  but  the 
soldiers,  God  bless  them  !  will  follow  my  lead." 

Thoroughly  aroused  by  the  din  of  battle  at  the  moment  just  alluded 
to,  Arnold  leaped  into  his  saddle  and  dashed  away  to  the  point  of  conflict 
in  which  his  division  was  engaged,  again  followed  by  one  of  Gates's  aides 
(Armstrong)  with  instructions  to  order  him  back.  The  chase  was  in 
vain.  Arnold  plunged  into  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  where  the  subaltern 
dared  not  follow.  His  troops  welcomed  him  with  shouts.  He  immedi- 
ately led  them  against  the  British  centre,  riding  along  the  lines,  giving 
orders,  and  exposed  to  innninent  peril  every  moment. 

The  Germans  received  the  first  furious  assault  from  Arnold's  troops. 
They  made  a  brave  resistance  and  flung  the  assailants  back  at  first,  but 
when  at  a  second  charge  Arnold  dashed  among  them  at  tlie  head  of  his 
troops,  they  broke  and  fled  in  dismay. 

And  now  the  battle  became  general  all  along  the  line.  Arnold  and 
Morgan  were  the  ruling  spirits  that  cont;rolled  the  storm  on  the  part  of 
the  Americans.  The  gallant  Fraser  was  the  directing  soul  of  the  British 
troops  in  action.  His  skill  and  courage  were  everywhere  conspicuous. 
When  the  lines  gave  way  he  brought  order  out  of  confusion  ;  when  regi- 
ments began  to  waver  he  infused  courage  into  them  by  voice  and 
example.     The  fate  of  the  battle  evidently  depended  upon  him. 

Arnold  perceived  tliis,   and  said  to  Morgan,    "  That  officer  in  full 


280  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

unifonii  is  General  Fraser.  It  is  essential  to  our  success  tliat  he  be  dis- 
posed of.  Direct  tlie  attention  of  some  of  the  sharpshooters  of  your 
riflemen  to  him."  The  order  was  obeyed,  and  very  soon  Fraser  fell 
from  liis  horse  mortally  wounded.  It  is  difficult  for  a  humane  and  gen- 
erous mind  to  accept  any  excuse  for  this  cruel  order  and  the  deed  that 
ensued.* 

Wlien  the  gallant  Fraser  fell  a  panic  ran  along  tlie  Britisli  line.  At 
that  moment  three  thousand  New  York  militia  under  General  Teubroeck 
appeared,  when  the  wavering  line  gave  way  and  the  British  troops, 
covered  by  Pliillips  and  Riedesel,  fled  to  their  intrenchments.  Up  to 
these  works,  in  the  face  of  a  terrible  tempest  of  bullets  and  grape-shot, 
the  Americans  eagerly  pressed,  with  Arnold  at  their  head,  who  was  seen 
at  all  points,  through  the  sulphurous  smoke,  encouraging  his  men.  His 
voice  could  be  heard  above  the  din  of  battle.  With  a  part  of  the 
brigades  of  Generals  Paterson  and  Glover  he  drove  the  troops  of  Earl 
Balcarras  from  an  ahatis  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  and  attempted  to 
force  his  way  into  the  British  camp.  Failing  in  this,  he  led  Learned's 
l)rigade  against  the  British  right.  For  a  while  the  result  was  doubtful, 
but  at  length  the  Britons  gave  way,  leaving  the  Germans  under  General 
Specht  entirely  exposed. 

At  this  moment  Arnold  ordered  up  from  the  left  the  New  York  regi- 
ments of  Colonels  Wessen  and  Livingston  and  Morgan's  riflemen  to  make 
a  general  assault,  while  he,  with  the  Massachusetts  regiment  of  Colonel 
Brooks,  attacked  the  Germans  commanded  by  Colonel  Breyman.  He 
rushed  into  the  sally-port  on  his  horse  and  spread  terror  among  them. 
They  had  seen  him  for  two  hours  in  the  thickest  of  the  flght  unhurt,  and 
they  regarded  him  with  superstitious  awe  as  a  charmed  character.  They 
broke  and  fled.  A  bullet  from  a  parting  volley  which  they  gave  on 
their  retreat  killed  Arnold's  horse  and  -wounded  him  in  the  same  leg  that 
was  badly  hurt  at  Quebec.  Just  then  Gates's  subaltern  overtook  the 
wounded  and  victorious  Arnold  and  gave  his  commander's  order  to  return 
to  camp  !  Gates  had  expressed  a  fear  that  Arnold  might  "  do  some  rash 
thing."  lie  liad  done  a  "rash  thing"  in  achieving  a  decisive  victory 
which  Gates  was  incompetent  to  win.  Yet  the  latter  claimed  and 
received  the  honors  of  the  achievement 


*  General  Fraser  died  ou  the  morning  after  the  battle.  His  body  was  buried  at  the 
evening  twilight  of  the  same  day  within  a  redoubt  upon  a  gentle  eminence,  which  the 
dying  hero  designated  a.s  the  place  of  his  sepulture.  It  was  followed  to  the  grave  by 
Burgoyne  and  a  large  number  of  officers.  As  soon  as  the  solemn  character  of  the  proces- 
sion was  recogni7.ed  by  the  Americans  a  cannonade  which  they  had  begun  ceivsed,  and 
they  fired  minute-guns  in  honor  of  the  memory  of  the  brave  soldier. 


THE   SURRENDER   OF   BURGOYNE. 


281 


The  rout  of  the  Germans  was  complete.  They  threw  down  their  arms 
and  ran,  and  could  not  be  rallied.  Colonel  Breyman  was  mortally 
wounded.     Darkness  ended  the  conflict. 

Bur^oyne,  resolved  to  retreat,  withdrew  his  whole  force  a  mile  north 
of  his  intrench ments,  and  on  the  night  of  the  8th  he  marched,  in  a  cold 
rain-storm,  for  the  heights  of  Saratoga,  where  tlie  troops  arrived,  in  a 
most  .wretched  plight,  on  the  morning  of  the  10th.  They  had  burned  the 
mansion,  mills,  and  other  property 
of  General  Schuyler  on  their  way. 

The  American  army  also  moved 
northward,  and  a  part  of  it  took  a 
position  on  the  hills  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Hudson  directly  op- 
posite Burgoyne's  camp  and  within 
cannon-shot  of  it.  Satisfied  that 
he  could  neither  fight  nor  retreat 
with  safety,  Burgoyne  opened  nego- 
tiations with  Gates  for  a  surrender 
upon  honorable  terms.  A  capitu- 
lation was  signed,  and  on  October 
17th,  1777,  his  troops  laid  down 
their  arms  in  submission  on  the 
plain,  near  the  Hudson,  in  front  of 
(present)  Schuylerville.     Burgoyne 

surrendered  his  sword   to   Gates   at  the  headquarters  of  tlie  latter,  not 
far  from  the  ruins  of  General  Schuyler's  property.* 

The  whole  number  of  troops  surrendered  to  the  Americans  at  Saratoga 
was  five  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-nine,  of  whom  two  thousand 
four  hundred  and  twelve  were  Germans.  Besides  these  there  were 
eighteen  hundred  prisoners  of  war,  including  sick  and  wounded.  The 
entire  loss  of  the  British  army  after  they  entered  the  State  of  New  York, 
including  those  under  St.  Leger,  who  were  disabled  or  captured  at  Fort 
Schuyler  and  Oriskany,  was  almost  ten  thousand  men.     On  Burgoyne's 


/  ' 


PHILIP   SCHUYLER. 


*  The  value  of  the  property  destroyed  was  fully  $50,000.  When  General  Schuyler 
heard  of  his  loss  he  wrote  to  Colonel  Varick  :  "  The  event  [the  victory]  that  has  taken 
place  makes  the  heavy  loss  I  have  sustained  sit  quite  easy  upon  me.  Britain  will  iirob- 
ably  see  how  fruitless  her  attempts  to  enslave  us  will  be." 

After  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne,  Schuyler  entertained  the  captive  general  at  his  house 
in  Albany.  The  latter  spoke  feelingly  of  the  injury  his  troops  had  done  to  the  private 
property  of  General  Schuyler.  "  Say  nothing  about  it,"  responded  Schuyler  ;  "  it  was 
the  fortune  of  war. ' ' 


282 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


staff  were  six  members  of  Parliament.  Among  tiie  spoils  were  forty- 
two  pieces  of  tlie  best  brass  cannon  then  known,  forty-six  hundred 
muskets  and  rifles,  and  a  large  quantity  of  munitions  of  war.  Congress 
awarded  thanks  and  a  gold  medal  to  Gates. 

Yery  generous  terms  were  granted  to  Burgoyne  by  the  capitulation. 
The  troops  were  held  as  prisoners  of  war,  ])ut  allowed  a  free  passage  to 
Europe  for  those  who  wished  to  go  there,  and  free  permission  for  the 
Canadians  to  return  to  their  homes  on  the  condition  that  none  of  the 

troops  surrendered  should  serve 
against  the  Americans.  The  cap- 
tives were  inarched  to  Cambridge, 
near  Boston,  expecting  to  embark 
for  England,  (congress  ratified  the 
generous  terms,  but  Washington 
and  that  body  were  soon  convinced 
by  circumstances  that  Burgoyne 
and  his  officers  intended  to  violate 
the  agreement  at  the  first  oppor- 
tunity. It  Avas  therefore  resolved 
not  to  let  the  captives  go  until  the 
British  Government  should  ratify 
the  terms  of  the  capitulation.  Here 
was  a  dilemma.  That  Government 
could  not  recognize  the  authority 
of  Congress.  So  the  "  convention  troops,"  as  the  captives  were  called, 
were  sent  to  Virginia,  and  they  remained  idle  in  America  four  or  five 
years.  Burgoyne  and  his  chief  officers  were  allowed  to  depart  for.  home. 
The  surrender  of  Burgoyne  was  a  turning-point  in  the  war  in  favor  of 
the  Americans.  It  inspirited  the  patriots  ;  revived  the  credit  of  the 
Continental  Government  ;  the  armies  were  rapidly  recruited,  and  public 
opinion  in  Europe  set  strongly  in  favor  of  the  struggling  patriots.  In 
less  than  four  months  after  this  event  France  had  formed  a  treaty  of 
alliance  with  the  United  States  and  acknowledged  their  independence. 


THE  GATES  MEDAL. 


ATTACKS   ON  FORTS   CLINTON  AND  MONTGOMERY.  283 


CHAPTER   XX. 

While  General  Burgoyne  was  struggling  for  victory  and  conquest  in 
the  upper  valley  of  the  Hudson,  General  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  whom 
Howe  had  left  in  command  at  New  York,  was  making  earnest  endeavors 
to  ai^  him  and  to  gain  possession  of  tlie  country  between  Albany  and  the 
sea. 

At  the  lower  entrance  to  the  Highlands  the  Americans  had  erected 
two  forts— "  Clinton"  and  "Montgomery" — on  the  west  side  of  the 
Hudson.  Thej'^  were  upon  a  high,  rocky  shore,  one  on  each  side  of  a 
small  stream.  Between  these  forts  and  Anthony's  Nose  (a  lofty  hill) 
opposite  they  had  stretched  a  boom  and  chain,  as  we  have  observed,  to 
check  British  vessels  ascending  the  river.  These  forts  were  under  the 
immediate  command  of  Generals  George  and  James  Clinton,  the  former 
then  Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York.  There  was  another  fort 
("  Constitution")  tipon  an  island  opposite  West  Point.  They  were  all 
under  the  chief  command  of  the  veteran  General  Israel  Putnam,  whose 
headquarters  was  at  Peekskill,  just  below  the  Highlands.  The  garrisons 
of  these  posts  were  weak  at  the  beginning  of  October  (1777),  the  aggre- 
gate number  of  troops  not  exceeding  two  thousand. 

Sir  Henry  Clinton  had  waited  at  New  York  very  impatiently  for  the 
arrival  of  re-enforcements.  They  came  at  the  beginning  of  October, 
after  floating  upon  the  bosom  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean  about  three  months. 
On  the  morning  of  the  4tli  he  went  up  the  Hudson  with  between  three 
and  four  thousand  troops,  in  many  armed  and  unarmed  vessels  com- 
manded by  Commodore  Hotham,  and  landed  his  men  at  Yerplanck's 
Point,  a  few  miles  below  Peekskill,  feigning  an  attack  upon  the  latter 
post.  This  feint  deceived  Putnam,  and  he  sent  to  the  Highland  forts 
for  re-enforcements.  But  Governor  Clinton  was  not  deceived,  and  held 
back  all  the  forces  in  the  Highlands. 

At  dawn  on  the  morning  of  October  6th,  under  cover  of  a  dense  fog^ 
Sir  Henry  crossed  the  river  to  Stony  Point  with  a  little  more  than  two 
thousand  men.  He  there  divided  his  forces.  One  party  under  General 
Vaughan,  accompanied  by  the  baronet,  pushed  on  through  a  defile  in 
the  rear  of  tlie  lofty  Donderberg  to  fall  upon  Fort  Clinton.  The  party 
numbered  about  twelve  hundred.  Another  party  nine  hundred  strong, 
under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Campbell,  made  a  longer  march  around  Bear 


284 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


Mountain,  to  fall  npon  Fort  Montgomery  at  the  same  time.  Sir  Henry 
had  ordered  his  war  vessels  to  anchor  within  point-blank  cannon-shot  of 
the  forts  to  co-operate  in  an  attack  upon  them.  On  the  borders  of  Lake 
Sinnipink,  at  the  foot  of  Bear  Mountain,  Vaughan  encountered  some 
troops  sent  out  by  Governor  Clinton,  and  a  severe  but  short  battle  ensued. 
The  Americans  fell  back  to  the  fort.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Campbell  ap- 
peared before  Fort  Montgomery  toward  evening,  when  a  peremptory 
demand  for  tiie  surrender  of  both  posts  was  made.     It  was  refused  with 

words  of  scorn,  when  a  simultaneous 
attack  was  made  upon  both  forts  by 
the  forces  on  land  and  water.  The 
garrisons,  mostly  militia,  held  out 
bravely  until  dark,  when  theysought 
safety  in  the  adjacent  mountains. 
Many  were  slain  or  made  prisoners. 
Governor  Clinton  escaped  across 
the  river,  and  at  midnight  M'as  in 
Putnam's  camp  at  Peekskill.  His 
brother  (General  James  Clinton), 
badly  wounded,  made  his  way  over 
the  mountains  to  his  home  at  New 
Windsor.  The  frigate  Montgomery, 
a  ten-gun  sloop,  and  a  row-galley 
lying  above  the  boom  attempted 
to  escape,  but  could  not  for  want  of 
wind,  so  their  crews  set  them  on  fire  and  abandoned  them.  The  con- 
flagration was  a  magnificent  spectacle.  A  British  officer  wrote  con- 
cerning it  : 

"  The  flames  suddenly  broke  forth,  and  as  every  sail  was  set  the 
vessels  soon  became  magnificent  pyramids  of  fire.  The  reflection  on 
the  steep  face  of  the  opposite  mountain,  and  the  long  train  of  ruddy 
light  which  shone  upon  the  waters  for  a  prodigious  distance,   had  a 


JAMES  CLINTON.* 


*  General  James  Clinton  was  born  in  Orange  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1736,  and  died  there 
in  1812.  He  was  fond  of  military  life.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  lie  was  a  captain 
tnider  Bradstreet  in  the  capture  of  Fort  Frontenac.  He  was  afterward  in  command  of 
four  regiments  for  the  protection  of  the  frontiers  of  Ulster  and  Orange  counties.  When 
the  war  for  independence  began  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  Third  New  York 
Regiment,  and  accompanied  Montgomery  to  Quebec.  He  was  make  a  brigadier- general 
in  August,  1776,  and  was  active  in  the  service  during  a  greater  part  of  the  war.  He 
joined  Sullivan's  expedition  against  the  Indians  in  1779,  and  wjxs  stationed  at  Albany 
most  of  the  time  afterAvard  ;  yet  he  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis.  He 
lield  civil  offices  after  the  war.     General  Clinton  was  the  father  of  De  Witt  Clinton. 


CLINTON'S  BULLET   DESPATCH. 


285 


CLINTON  S  DESPATCH. 


wonderful  effect  ;  while  the  ear  was  awfully  filled  with  the  continued 

eclioes  from  the  rock}'  shores  as  the  flames  gradually  reached  the  loaded 

cannon.     The  whole  was  sublimely  terminated  by  the  explosion,  which 

left  all  again  in  dark- 
ness." 

The  boom  and  chain 

were   broken    by   the 

British  early    on   the 

morning  of   the    7th, 

and  a  flying  squadron 

of  liffht  vessels  com- 

manded  by  Sir  James 

Wallace,  bearing  the 

whole   land    force   of 

Sir    Henry     Clinton, 

went  up  the  Hudson 

to  devastate  its  shores 

and  keep  the  militia 

from    joining    Gates. 

They  took  possession 

of  Fort    Constitution 

on  the  way.     At  the  same  time  Sir  Henry  despatched  a  messenger  with 

a  note  to  Burgoyne,  as  follows  : 

^^JSfous  y  void  [Here  I  am],  and  nothing  between  me  and  Gates.     I 

sincerely  hope  this  little  success  of  ours  may  facilitate  your  operations. 
In  answer  to  your  letter  of  September  28th  by 
C.  C,  I  shall  only  say  I  cannot  presume  to  order, 
or  even  to  advise,  for  reasons  obvious.  I  wish 
you  success. — H.  Clinton." 

This  despatch  was  written  on  tissue  paper  and 
enclosed  in  an  elliptical  hollow  silver  bullet  made 
so  as  to  be  opened  at  the  middle,  and  of  a  size 
to  be  swallowed  conveniently.  The  messenger 
was  sent  up  the  west  side  of  the  river,  and  while 
in  the  camp  of  Governor  Clinton,  near  New 
"Windsor,  lie  was  suspected  of  being  a  spy.  He 
was  arrested,  and  was  seen  to  suddenly  put 
his  mouth  and  swallow  it.     An  emetic  was  administered, 

when  the  silver  bullet  was  discovered  and  its  contents  were  revealed. 

He  was  hanged  as  a  spy  not  far  from  Kingston  while  that  village  was  in 

flames,  kindled  by  the  hands  of  British  incendiaries. 


8ILVE11   15ULLKT. 


something  in 


286  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

The  British  troops  in  tlie  maraudino^  expedition,  thirty-six  hundred 
strong,  were  connnanded  by  General  Vaughan.  Every  vessel  found  on 
the  river  was  burned  or  otherwise  destroyed.  The  houses  of  known 
Whigs  on  tlie  sliores  were  lired  upon,  and  small  parties  landing  from  the 
vessels  desolated  neighborhoods  with  fire  and  sword.  They  penetrated 
as  far  north  as  Kingston  (Ulster  County),  then  the  political  capital  of 
the  State,  and  applying  the  torcli  (October  13th),  laid  almost  every  house 
in  the  village  in  ashes.  The  Legislature  fled  to  Duchess  County,  and 
soon  afterward  resumed  their  sittings  {),t  Pouglikeepsie. 

Leaving  Kingston,  the  marauders  went  up  the  river  as  far  as  Living- 
ston's Manor,  destroying  much  property  at  Rhinebeck  on  the  way. 
They  had  begun  to  desolate  Livingston's  estate  wlien  they  were  arrested 
by  the  alarming  intelligence  of  Burgoyne's  defeat.  Then  they  made  a 
hasty  retreat  to  New  York. 

So  ended  the  efforts  of  the  British  Ministry  for  taking  possession  of 
the  valleys  of  the  Hudson  and  Lake  Champlain.  On  the  surrender  of 
Burgoyne  the  invaders  were  compelled  to  evacuate  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point.  British  power  was  now  prostrated  in  the  northern  section 
of  New  York,  and  the  Americans  were  masters  of  the  territory  of  the 
commonMcalth  from  the  borders  of  Canada  almost  to  the  sea. 

While  the  events  just  recorded  were  occurring  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Hudson  or  North  River,  very  important  events  were  occurring  beyond 
the  Delaware  or  the  South  River.  For  several  weeks  Washington  and 
Howe  confronted  each  other  in  hostile  movements  in  New  Jersey,  each 
doubtful  of  the  intentions  of  the  other.  Finally,  at  the  close  of  June, 
the  British  troops  left  New  Jersey  and  passed  over  to  Staten  Island  ;  and 
on  July  23d  Howe,  leaving  Sir  Henry  Clinton  in  command  at  New 
York,  embarked  with  eighteen  thousand  troops  for  more  southern  waters. 

Suspecting  Howe's  destination  to  be  the  Continental  seat  of  govern- 
ment, Washington,  leaving  a  strong  force  on  the  Hudson,  hastened  to 
Philadelphia,  where  he  was  joined  by  the  young  Marquis  de  Lafayette  as 
a  volunteer.  Hearing  that  the  British  army  had  landed  at  the  head  of 
Chesapeake  Bay,  he  pushed  on  to  meet  Howe.  They  came  in  collision 
on  the  banks  of  the  Brand3'wine  Creek  on  September  11th,  when  a  very 
severe  battle  was  fought.  The  Americans  were  defeated,  and  their 
shattered  bnttalions  retreated  to  Philadelphia. 

So  soon  as  his  troops  were  rested  Washington  recrossed  the  Schuylkill 
and  proceeded  to  confront  Howe,  who  was  slowly  moving  toward  the 
Continental  capital.  Some  skirmishing  occurred,  and  on  the  night  of 
September  20tli  a  detachment  under  General  Wayne  was  surprised  near 
the  Paoli  Tavern  and  lost  about  three  hundred  men. 


CONSPIRACY  AGAINST  WASHINGTON.  287 

While  "Washington  was  engaged  in  securing  his  stores  at  Reading, 
Howe  suddenly  crossed  the  Schuylkill  and  took  possession  of  Philadelphia 
(September  26th,  1777)  without  opposition.  The  Continental  Congress 
fled  at  his  approach,  lirst  to  Lancaster  and  then  to  York,  beyond  the 
Susquehanna.  It  reassembled  at  York  on  September  30th,  and  con- 
tinued its  sessions  there  until  the  following  summer.  The  British  army 
encamped  at  Germantown,  about  four  miles  from  Philadelphia. 

Howe's  troops  had  landed  at  the  head  of  Chesapeake  iiay.  While 
they  were  pressing  on  toward  Philadelphia  the  fleet  that  bore  them  sailed 
round  to  the  Delaware,  but  could  not  pass  obstructions  which  had  been 
placed  in  the  river  just  below  the  city.  Above  these  obstructions  were 
two  forts,  Mifliin,  upon  an  island,  and  Mercer,  upon  the  New  Jersey 
shore.  These  were  captured  by  Britons  and  Germans  sent  from  Howe's 
camp,  after  stout  resistance.  Thoy  took  possession  of  the  forts  before 
the  middle  of  Xovember.  This  conquest  greatly  strengthened  Howe's 
position. 

Meanwhile  the  British  camp  at  Germantown  had  been  attacked  early 
on  the  morning  of  October  4th.  A  severe  battle  ensued,  which  con- 
tinued nearly  three  hours.  The  Americans,  who  became  confused  by  a 
dense  fog  that  began  to  rise  at  dawn,  were  defeated,  and  retired  to  their 
camp  on  Skippack  Creek,  Washington  soon  prepared  to  put  them  into 
winter  quarters  at  Whitemarsh,  only  fourteen  miles  from  Philadelphia. 
Howe  broke  up  his  encampment  at  Germantown,  and  made  Philadelphia 
the  winter  quarters  of  his  army. 

AVashington  did  not  remain  long  at  Whitemarsh,  for  he  found  a  more 
eligible  position.  He  broke  up  the  camp  toward  the  middle  of  December 
and  removed  to,  Valley  Forge,  where  he  was  at  a  greater  distance  from 
his  foe  and  could  more  easily  protect  the  Congress,  and  his  stores  at 
Reading.  For  about  six  months  the  American  army  lay  at  Yalley  Forge, 
and  suffered  intensely  for  want  of  sufficient  food,  clothing,  and  shelter 
during  the  first  half  of  that  period.  It  was  the  severest  ordeal  in  which 
the  patriotism  of  the  soldiers  was  tried  during  the  long  war  for  inde- 
pendence. 

It  was  at  this  period  that  the  conspiracy  of  General  Gates  and  others 
to  deprive  Washington  of  the  chief  command  of  the  x\merican  armies 
was  in  active  operation — a  conspiracy  known  in  history  as  "  Conway's 
Cabal."*     Gates  was  then   president  of  the  Board  of  War,  sitting  at 


*  Count  de  Conway,  of  Irish  birth,  was  among  the  French  brigadiers  in  the  Con- 
tinental service.  He  never  won  the  confidence  of  Washington,  and  when  it  was  proposed 
to  promote  him  to  an  important  command  tlie  commander-in-chief  strenuously  opposed 


288  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

York,  the  residence  of  Congress.  That  Board  planned  a  winter  cam- 
paign against  Canada.  So  feasible  seemed  the  plan  and  so  glorious  were 
the  results  to  be  obtained,  as  set  forth  by  Gates  and  his  friends,  that 
Congress  approved.  The  ardent  Lafayette  was  captivated,  and  strongly 
urged  its  prosecution.  Washington  was  not  consulted.  He,  however, 
obtained  such  valuable  information  from  General  Schuyler,  showing  the 
absurdity  of  the  undertaking,  that  he  not  only  perceived  the  plan  to  be  a 
part  of  the  scheme  to  deprive  him  of  the  chief  command,  but  he  was 
enabled  to  defeat  the  project  iind  thus  save  his  country  from  a  most 
perilous,  if  not  ruinous  undertaking. 

The  Board  of  War,  evidently  hoping  to  win  Lafayette  to  the  support 
of  their  schemes  by  conferring  honors  upon  him,  appointed  him  com- 
mander of  the  expedition.  This  also  was  done  without  consulting  Wash- 
ington. The  shrewd  young  marquis  very  soon  suspected  his  appoiiit- 
jnent  was  a  part  of  the  scheme  to  injure  his  revered  friend,  and  he 
resolved  to  show  his  colors  at  the  tirst  opportunity.  His  suspicions  were 
confirmed  while  on  a  visit  to  York  to  receive  his  instructions.  At  table, 
with  Gates  and  other  members  of  the  Board  of  War,  wine  flowed  freely 
and  many  toasts  were  given.     Lafayette  finally  arose  and  said  : 

"  Gentlemen,  one  toast,  I  perceive,  has  been  omitted,  and  which  I 
will  now  give."  They  filled  their  glasses,  when  he  gave,  "The  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  American  armies."  The  coldness  with  which  the 
sentiment  was  received  confirmed  the  marquis's  worst  opinions  of  the 
men  around  him. 

Lafayette,  with  General  Conway,  who  was  appointed  third  in  com- 
mand, proceeded  to  Albany,  where  he  was  cordially  received  by  General 
Schuyler,  and  became  his  guest.  It  was  evident  that  with  materials  at 
hand  a  successful  expedition  into  Canada  was  iinpossible.  The  marquis 
had  been  promised  three  thousand  men  well  supplied.  There  were  not 
twelve  hundred  men  at  Albany  fit  for  duty,  and  one  fourth  of  these  were 
too  naked  even  for  a  summer  campaign.  Gates  had  assured  him  that 
General  Stark  with  New  England  troops  would  be  at  Ticonderoga  await- 
ing his  coming,  and  that  he  would  have  burned  the  British  fleet  on  Lake 
Champlain  before  his  arrival.  He  only  found  a  letter  from  Stark  inquir- 
ing what  number  of  men,  from  where,  and  at  what  rendezvous  he  desired 
hijn  to  raise. 

The  marquis  now  fully  comprehended  the  vile  trick  of  which  he  had 


the  measure.  Conway  was  offended,  and  became  a  willing  instrument  of  Gates  in  his 
conspiracy.  The  prominent  part  whicli  he  took  in  that  movement  caused  it  to  be  called 
"  Conway's  Cabal." 


COUNCIL  WITH  THE  INDIANS.  289 

been  made  the  victim.  He  had  been  utterly  deceived  by  the  false  utter- 
ances of  Gates.  "I  fancy,"  be  wrote,  "the  actual  scheme  is  to  have 
me  out  of  this  part  of  the  country  and  General  Conway  as  chief  under 
the  immediate  command  of  Gates."  The  conspirators  found  they  could 
not  use  Lafayette.  Congress  abandoned  the  enterprise,  and  the  marquis, 
disgusted  with  the  whole  aJBFair,  returned  to  Washington's  camp  at  Valley 
Forge. 

The  British  held  possession  of  Fort  Niagara  and  exercised  a  powerful 
influence  over  the  Six  Nations,  especially  the  more  western  tribes.  They 
had  nearly  all  become  more  or  less  disaffected  toward  the  American 
cause,  and  at  the  close  of  1777,  so  threatening  became  their  aspect,  that 
Congress  recommended  the  Commissioners  of  Indian  Affairs  of  New 
York  to  hold  a  treaty  with  them,  defining  the  chief  objects  to  be  (1)  to 
induce  the  Indians  to  make  war  upon  their  enemies,  who  were  then 
desolating  the  frontier  settlements  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia,  and 
(2)  to  induce  them  to  surprise  and  capture  the  British  post  of  Niagara. 

The  commissioners  complied.  A  council  was  opened  at  Johnstown 
early  in  March  (1778),  at  which  about  seven  hundred  barbarian  delegates 
appeared.  Lafayette  accompanied  the  commissioners.  James  Deane, 
an  Indian  agent  living  among  the  Oneidas,  was  the  interpreter  of  a 
speech  sent  by  Congress  and  read  by  General  Schuyler,  in  which  the 
power  of  the  United  States  was  asserted  most  emphatically,  and  the 
magnanimous  manner  in  which  they  had  always  treated  the  Six  Nations 
was  recounted.  The  speech  charged  the  Indians  wath  ingratitude, 
cruelty,  and  treachery,  and  demanded  reparation  for  their  crimes.  From 
these  charges  the  Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras  were  exempted. 

The  council  was  not  satisfactory.  The  Mohawks  and  Cayugas  were 
sullen  ;  the  Senecas  refused  to  send  delegates.  An  Oneida  sachem,  con- 
scious of  the  faithfulness  of  his  people  (and  also  of  the  Tuscaroras)  to 
their  pledges  of  neutrality,  spoke  eloquently  in  behalf  of  both,  and  these 
two  nations  renewed  their  pledges.  It  was  clearly  evident,  however, 
that  the  more  powerful  of  the  Six  Nations,  with  Brant  at  their  head, 
were  devising  scliemes  for  avenging  their  losses  at  Oriskany,  and  that  war 
was  inevitable.  "  It  is  strange,"  said  the  Senecas,  by  a  messenger  sent 
to  announce  their  refusal  to  attend  the  conference,  "  that  M'hile  your 
tomahawks  are  sticking  in  our  heads  [referring  to  the  battle  of  Oriskany], 
our  wounds  bleeding,  and  our  eyes  streaming  with  tears  for  the  loss  of 
our  friends,  the  commissioners  should  think  of  inviting  us  to  a  treaty." 

Earnest  efforts  were  made  to  avert  war  with  the  Indians.  Attempts 
to  recruit  four  hundred  warriors  of  the  Six  Nations  for  the  Continental 
service  were  only  partially  successful.     When  the  news  of  the  alliance 


290  THE  EMPIRE'  STATE. 

with  France  was  received,  early  in  May,  it  was  circulated  as  widely  as 
possible  among  the  Iroquois  tribes.  But  little  impression  seemed  to  have 
been  made  upon  the  barbarians,  and  the  white  people  began  at  once  to 
make  preparations  to  meet  hostility.  At  Cherry  Vulley  the  house  of 
Samuel  Campbell,  the  strongest  in  the  settlement,  was  fortified  ;  and  in 
the  Schoharie  Valley  three  buildings  were  intrenched  with  breastworks 
and  block-houses  and  stockaded,  by  order  of  Lafayette.  Each  was 
garrisoned  and  armed  with  a  small  brass  field-piece.  These  were  called 
respectively  the  Upper,  the  Middle,  and  the  Lower  Fort.  To  these 
strongholds  the  women  and  children  might  fly  for  safety.  Forts  Schuyler 
and  Dayton  (the  latter  on  the  site  of  the  village  of  Herkimer)  were 
strengthened,  and  Fort  Plain,  lower  down  the  Mohawk  Valley,  was 
enlarged  and  better  armed. 

These  precautionary  movements  were  not  made  too  soon.  They  were 
keenly  watched  by  Sir  John  Johnson  and  his  kinsmen  and  friends. 
Among  tliom  the  most  active  were  Colonels  John  Butler,  Guy  Johnson, 
and  Daniel  Claas,  the  latter  Sir  John's  brother-in-law.  At  the  same 
time  a  nephew  of  Sir  Guy  Carleton  was  lurking  near  Johnson  Hall  for 
the  same  purpose. 

We  have  observed  that  Brant  returned  from  Canada  in  the  spring  of 
1777  with  a  large  band  of  Mohawk  warriors.  After  the  dispersion  of 
St.  Leger's  invading  force,  in  August,  Brant  and  his  followers  retired  to 
Fort  Niagara,  and  there  during  the  ensuing  winter  and  spring  they  made 
jjreparations  ior  war. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1778  Brant  and  his  warriors  appeared  at 
Oghkwaga,  their  place  of  rendezvous  the  previous  year.  There  he 
organized  scalping  parties  and  sent  them  out  upon  the  borderers,  cutting 
them  ofT  in  detail.  They  fell  like  thunderbolts  upon  isolated  families. 
Very  soon  the  hills  and  valleys  were  nightly  illuminated  by  the  blaze  of 
burning  dwellings  and  made  hideous  by  the  shrieks  of  women  and 
children.  The  inhabitants  stood  continually  on  the  defensive.  Men 
cultivated  the  fields  with  loaded  muskets  slung  upon  their  backs. 
Women  were  taught  the  use  of  fire-arms,  and  half -grown  children 
became  expert  scouts  and  discerners  of  Indian  trails.  Such  was  the  con- 
dition of  the  settlers  in  the  Mohawk  region  and  the  country  south  of  it 
during  a  greater  portion  of  the  war. 

In  May  (1778)  Brant  desolated  Springfield,  at  the  head  of  Otsego 
Lake,  ten  miles  from  Cherry  Valley.  Every  house  was  laid  in  ashes. 
At  the  beginning  of  June  he  was  in  the  Schoharie  Valley  with  about 
three  hundred  and  fifty  Indian  followers,  and  on  the  upper  waters  of  the 
Cobleskill  he  had  a  severe  encounter  with  some  regulars  and  militia  com- 


MASSACRE   AT   CHERRY  VALLEY.  291 

manded  by  Captains  Brown  and  Patrick.  Twenty-two  of  tlio  Repub- 
licans were  killed  and  several  were  wounded.  The  houses  in  that  resrion 
were  phmdered  and  burnt.  A  month  later  the  terrible  tragedy  in  the 
Wyoming  Valley  (to  be  noticed  presently)  occurred. 

The  Johnsons  and  their  Tory  followers  were  the  allies  of  the  barbarians 
in  their  bloody  work  south  of  the  Mohawk  River.  The  most  savage  of 
these  Tories  was  Walter  K.  Butler,  son  of  Colonel  John  Butler,  who 
was  in  command  of  a  detachment  of  his  father's  liaiKjers  and  had  joined 
Brant.  The  latter,  who  was  humane  and  even  generous  toward  women 
and  children  placed  at  his  mercy,*  detested  young  Butler  for  his 
cruelties,  and  at  first  refused  to  serve  with  him.  The  matter  was  finally 
adjusted,  and  at  near  the  middle  of  November  (1778),  during  a  heavy 
storm  of  sleet,  the  two  leaders  and  their  followers  fell  upon  Cherry 
Valley,  the  wealthiest  and  most  important  settlement  on  the  head-waters 
of  the  Susquehanna  River,  in  Isew  York. 

A  fort  had  been  erected  at  Cherry  Valley  around  a  church  by  order  of 
Lafayette,  and  was  garrisoned  by  some  Continental  troops  commanded 
by  Colonel  Ichabod  Alden.  lie  was  forewarned  by  reports  of  approach- 
ing danger,  but  would  not  believe  the  messengers.  He  was  therefore 
unprepared  for  an  attack  when,  early  in  the  morning  of  November  11th, 
snow,  rain,  and  hail  falling  copiously,  the  motley  hosts  of  Brant  and 
Butler  burst  upon  the  settlement.  They  murdered,  plundered,  and 
destroyed  without  stint.  Butler  was  the  arch-fiend  on  that  occasion, 
and  would  listen  to  no  appeals  from  Brant  for  mercy  to  their  victims. 

The  invaders  first  entered  the  house  of  Mr.  Wells,  whose  wife  was  a 
daughter  of  the  venerable  minister,  Mr.  Dnnlap.  They  massacred  the 
whole  family.  Only  his  son  John,  afterward  the  eminent  laM^yer  of 
New  York,  who  was  then  at  school  in  Schenectady,  was  saved.  The 
family  consisted  of  Mr.  Wells,  his  wife  and  four  children,  his  mother, 
brother,  sister,  and  three  servants.  Colonel  Alden,  who  was  in  the 
house  at  the  time,  was  tomahawked  and  scalped.  The  savages  then 
rushed  to  the  dwelling  of  Rev.  Mr.  Dunlap  and  slew  his  wife  before  his 


*  Many  instances  of  Brant's  humanity  are  related.  When,  in  1780,  he  and  Sir  John 
Johnson  desolated  the  Mohawk  and  Schoharie  valleys  an  infant  was  carried  off.  The 
frantic  mother  pursued,  but  could  not  recover  her  babe.  A'  day  or  two  afterward 
General  Van  Rensselaer,  in  command  of  Fort  Hunter,  received  a  visit  from  a  young 
Indian  bearing  the  infant  in  his  arms,  and  a  letter  from  Brant,  who  wrote  :  "  Sir  :  I 
send  you  by  one  of  my  runners  the  child  which  he  will  deliver,  that  you  may  know  that 
whatever  others  may  do,  /do  not  make  war  upon  women  and  children.  I  am  sorry  to 
say  that  I  have  those  engaged  with  me  who  are  more  savage  than  the  savages  them- 
selves."     He  named  the  Butlers  and  others. 


293  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

ejes.  His  own  life  and  tliat  of  his  daughter  were  saved  by  the  inter- 
position of  a  Mohawk  chief.* 

Thirty-two  of  the  inhabitants  of  Cherry  Valley,  mostly  women  and 
children,  were  murdered  ;  also  sixteen  soldiers  of  the  garrison  there. 
Nearly  forty  men,  women,  and  children  were  led  away  captives,  march- 
ing down  the  valley  that  night  in  the  cold  storm,  huddled  together,  half 
naked,  with  no  shelter  but  the  leafless  trees,  and  no  resting-place  but  the 
cold,  wet  ground. t  With  the  destruction  of  Cherry  Valley  all  hostile 
movements  ceased  in  Tryon  County,  and  were  not  resumed  until  the 
following  spring. 

A  few  months  before  this  event  the  dreadful  tragedy  in  the  Wyoming 
Valley  occurred,  in  which  the  chief  actors  were  Tories  and  Iroquois 
Indians  from  New  York.  That  valley  is  a  beautiful  and  picturesque 
region  of  Pennsylvania,  lying  between  lofty  ranges  of  mountains  and 
watered  by  the  Susquehanna  Hiver,  which  flows  through  it.  Its  inhab- 
itants were  mostly  from  Connecticut.  At  the  close  of  June  (1778) 
Colonel  John  Butler,  with  over  a  thousand  Tories  and  Indians,  entered 
the  valley  from  the  north  and  made  his  headquarters  at  the  house  of 
Wintermoot,  a  Tory.  He  had  been  guided  by  some  Tories  of  the  valley, 
who  had  joined  them.  Butler  had  captured  a  little  fort  in  the  upper 
part  of  the  valley. 


*  Unfortunately,  Brant  was  not  in  chief  command  of  the  expedition.  Walter  Butler 
was  the  commander.  Brant  did  all  in  his  power  to  prevent  the  shedding  of  innocent 
blood.  On  the  morning  of  the  attack  he  left  the  Indians  and  endeavored  to  reach  the 
families  of  Mr.  Wells,  Mr.  Dunlap,  and  others,  to  give  them  warning,  but  could  not  do 
it  in  time.  He  entered  dwellings  to  give  the  women  warning.  In  one  the  woman 
engaged  in  household  duties  replied  to  his  advice  to  tiy  to  some  place  of  safety  :  "  I  am 
in  favor  of  the  king,  and  the  Indians  won't  hurt  me." 

"  That  plea  will  not  save  you,"  Brant  replied. 

"  There  is  one,  Joseph  Brant,"  said  the  woman  ;  "he  will  protect  me." 

"  I  am  Joseph  Brant,  but  I  have  not  the  command,  and  I  may  not  be  able  to  save 
you,"  he  replied. 

At  that  moment  he  saw  the  Senecas  approaching.  "Get  into  bed  quick,"  he  said, 
"  and  feign  yourself  sick." 

The  woman  did  so,  and  so  he  saved  her.  Then  he  gave  a  shrill  signal,  which  rallied 
the  Mohawks,  when  he  directed  them  to  paint  his  mark  upon  the  woman  and  her 
children. 

"  You  are  now  probably  safe,"  said  Brant,  and  departed. 

f  Among  the  captives  were  the  wife  and  four  children  of  Colonel  Samuel  Campbell, 
whose  liouse  had  been  fortified.  He  was  absent  at  the  time,  and  on  his  return  he  found 
his  property  laid  waste  and  his  family  carried  into  captivity.  They  were  taken  through 
the  wilderness  to  Fort  Niagara.  They  were  treated  kindly  by  the  Senecas,  and  were 
held  as  hostages  for  the  safety  and  exchange  of  the  family  of  Colonel  John  Butler,  who 
were  then  in  the  custody  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  at  Albany. 


DESOLATION  OF  THE  WYOMING  VALLEY.  293 

The  whole  military  force  to  oppose  this  invasion  was  composed  of  a 
small  company  of  regulars  and  a  few  militia.  When  the  alarm  was 
given  the  whole  population  flew  to  arms.  Aged  men,  boys,  and  even 
women  seized  such  weapons  as  were  at  hand  and  joined  the  soldiery. 
Colonel  Zebulon  Butler,  an  officer  of  the  Continental  Army,  happened  to 
be  at  home,  and  by  common  consent  he  was  made  commander-in-chief 
of  the  defenders.  Forty  Fort,  a  short  distance  above  Wilkesbarre,  was 
the  place  of  general  rendezvous,  and  in  it  were  gathered  the  women  and 
children  of  tlie  valley. 

On  July  3d  Colonel  Butler  led  his  little  band  of  patriots — citizens  and 
soldiers — to  attempt  a  surprise  of  the  camp  of  the  invaders  at  Winter- 
moot's.  The  latter,  informed  of  the  movement,  were  ready  to  receive 
them.  The  Tories  formed  the  right  of  the  line  of  the  intruders,  resting 
on  the  river  ;  the  Indians,  led  by  Gi-en-gwa-tah,  a  Seneca  chief,*  were 
on  the  left  on  a  line  that  extended  to  a  swamp  at  the  foot  of  the  moun- 
tain. Upon  the  latter  the  defenders  struck  the  first  blow,  when  a 
general  battle  ensued.  For  half  an  hour  it  raged  furiously,  when,  just 
as  the  Indians  were  about  to  give  way,  a  mistaken  order  caused  the 
Republicans  to  retreat  in  much  confusion.  The  infuriated  barbarians 
sprang  forward  like  wounded  tigers  and  gave  no  quarter.  The  patriots 
were  slaughtered  by  scores.  Only  a  few  of  them  escaped  to  the  moun- 
tains and  were  saved.  In  less  than  an  hour  after  the  battle  began  two 
hundred  and  twenty-five  scalps  were  in  the  hands  of  the  Seneca  braves. 

Terror  now  reigned  at  Forty  Fort,  to  which  the  women  and  children 
had  fled.  They  had  heard  the  fearful  yells  of  triumph  of  the  Indians. 
Colonel  Dennison,  who  had  reached  the  valley  that  morning,  had  escaped 
to  the  fort  and  prepared  to  defend  its  inmates  to  the  last  extremity. 
Colonel  Zebulon  Butler  had  reached  Wilkesbarre  fort  in  safety. 

*  The  earlier  historians  of  this  event  asserted  (and  believed)  that  Brant  and  the  Mohawks 
were  the  chief  actors  in  this  dreadful  tragedy.  Brant  denied  it,  but  the  testimony  of 
history  was  against  him.  Campbell,  in  his  poem,  "  Gertrude  of  Wyoming,"  published  in 
1809,  misled  by  the  historians,  makes  an  Oneida  chief  say  : 

"  'Gainst  Brant  himself  I  went  to  battle  forth  ; 
Accursed  Brant !  he  left,  of  all  my  tribe, 
Nor  man,  nor  child,  nor  thing  of  living  birth — 
No  !  not  the  dog  that  watched  my  household  hearth 
Escaped  that  night  of  blood  upon  the  plains." 

In  1823  John  Brant,  son  of  the  chief,  being  in  England,  opened  a  correspondence  with 
Campbell  on  the  subject  of  the  injustice  done  to  his  father  in  the  poem.  Partial  justice 
was  accorded  in  the  next  edition  of  "  Gertrude  of  Wyoming."  The  poet,  after  noting 
in  a  note  the  proofs  of  error  which  had  been  furnished  him,  .said  :  "  The  name  of  Brant, 
therefore,  remains  in  my  poem  a  pure  and  declared  character  of  flctioe."  He  did  not 
alter  the  poem,  however,  and  so  it  remains. 


2M 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


Darkness  put  an  end  to  the  conflict,  but  increased  the  horrors  of  the 
scene.  Prisoners  were  tortured  and  murdered.  Sixteen  of  them  were 
arranged  around  a  low  rock,  and  while  held  by  strong  men  were  nearly 
all  murdered  by  a  tomahawk  and  club  used  alternately  by  a  half-blood 
woman  called  Queen  Esther.  Two  of  them  threw  off  the  barbarians  who 
lield  them  and  escaped  to  the  mountains. 

On  the  following  morning  Forty  Fort  was  surrendered.  Colonel  John 
Butler  promised  the  inmates  protection  of  their  persons  and  property, 
and  they  went  back  to  their  homes  ;  but  so  soon  as  the  Tory  leader  left 
tlie  valley  tlie  Indians  who  lingered  spread  over  the  plain,  and  with 
torch,  tomahawk,  and  scalping-knifesoon  made  it  an  absolute  desolation. 

Scarcely  a  dwelling  or  an 
outbuilding  was  left  uncon- 
sunied.  Not  a  field  of  grain 
was  left  standing ;  not  a 
life  was  spared  which  the 
barbarians  could  reach.  The 
inhabitants  who  had  not  fled 
during  the  previous  night 
were  slauglitered  or  nar- 
rowly escaped.  Those  who 
departed  made  their  .way 
toward  Connecticut.  Many 
perished  in  the  great  swamp 
on  Pocono  Mountains,  ever 
since  known  as  "  The 
Shades  of  Death." 

Tlie  details  of  the  deso- 
lation of  the  beautiful  Wy- 
oming Valley  and  of  tlie 
horrors  of  the  flight  of  the  survivors  of  the  massacre  form  one  of  the 
darkest  chapters  in  human  history.  The  British  secretary  for  the  colonies 
(Lord  George  Germaine)  praised  the  barbarians  for  their  prowess  and 
humanit}',  and  resolved  to  direct  a  succession  of  similar  raids  upon  the 
frontiers,  and  to  devastate  the  older  American  settlements.  "After- 
ward among  the  cxtraordinaries  of  the  army,"  said  a  bishop  in  the  House 
of  Lords,  "  was  an  order  for  seal  ping- knives." 

Very  important  events  outside  of  the  State  of  New  York  occurred 
during  the  year  1778.  In  general  interest  the  most  important  was  the 
arrival,  at  the  beginning  of  May,  of  the  cheering  news  that  a  treaty  of 
alliance  between  Franco  and  the  United  States  had  been  signed  at  Paris 


«3*?S^ 


INDIAN   "WAR    IMPLEMENTS. 


THE   BRITISH   FORCES   LEAVE   PENNSYLVANIA.  295. 

on  February  6tb.  The  glad  tidings  greatly  inspirited  the  Americans. 
Almost  simultaneously  appeared  a  gleam  of  hope  emanating  from  the 
British  throne  and  Parliament.  The  general  failure  of  the  campaign  of 
1777,  ending  in  the  capture  of  Burgoyne's  army,  made  the  English 
people  and  a  powerful  minority  in  Parliament  clamorous  for  peace. 
Commissioners  were  sent  to  America  to  attempt  a  settlement  of  the  dis- 
pute. They  were  authorized  to  treat  with  Congress  as  a  competent 
body  ;  but  the  conciliatory  measures  they  were  empowered  to  agree  to 
did  not  include  a  proposition  for  the  independence  of  the  United  States. 
Their  mission  was  therefore  a  failure. 

The  English  ministry,  regarding  the  alliance  with  France  as  equivalent 
to  a  declaration  of  war  on  the  part  of  tliat  country,  felt  much  anxiety 
for  the  safety  of  their  army  at  Philadelphia  and  their  navy  on  the  Dela- 
ware River,  especially  Avhen  informed  that  the  French  were  fitting  out  a 
fleet  for  American  waters.  Orders  were  sent  to  Howe  to  evacuate  Phila- 
delphia, and  to  his  brother  (the  admiral)  to  leave  the  Delaware  and  pro- 
ceed to  New  York.  The  land  and  naval  forces  were  ordered  to  concen- 
trate there.  The  French  Government  sent  twelve  ships  of  the  line  and 
four  frigates,  under  the  Count  d'Estaing,  to  blockade  the  British  fleet  on 
the  Delaware.  The  latter  had  escaped  to  sea  a  few  days  before  the 
arrival  of  D'Estaing  at  the  mouth  of  that  river,  and  found  safety  on  the 
waters  of  Amboy  or  Raritan  Bay,  into  which  the  h.eavy  French  vessels 
could  not  enter. 

General  Sir  Henry  Clinton  had  succeeded  General  Sir  William  Howe 
in  command  of  the  army  at  Philadelphia  when  the  order  came  for  the 
evacuation  of  that  city.  He  instantly  obeyed  the  order,  and  on  June 
18th  (1778)  passed  the  Delaware  with  eleven  thousand  troops,  and 
attempted  a  flight  across  New  Jersey  to  New  York  by  way  of  New 
Brunswick  and  Amboy.  His  design  was  frustrated  by  Washington, 
who  left  Yalley  Forge  with  a  renovated  army  stronger  in  numbers  than 
that  of  his  foe,  crossed  the  Delaware,  and  compelled  Clinton  to  turn  his 
face  toward  Sandy  Hook. 

Washington  pushed  on  vigorously  in  pursuit  of  the  fugitive  army. 
He  overtook  the  British  near  Monmouth  Court-House,  and  there  a 
sanguinary  battle  was  fought  on  Sunday,  June  28tli — an  exceedingly  hot 
day.  Darkness  ended  the  conflict  without  any  decisive  result.  The 
Americans  slept  on  their  arms,  determined  to  renew  the  struggle  the 
next  morning  ;  but  Clinton  stole  away  silently  in  the  darkness  at  mid- 
night unobserved  by  the  wearied  Americans,  reached  Sandy  Hook  in 
safety,  and  proceeded  to  New  York  by  water.  Washington  did  not 
pursue.     He  marched  to  the  Hudson  River,  crossed  into  Westchester 


296  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Coiintj,  remained  there  until  the  autumn,  and  then  recrossed  into  New 
Jersey,  and  made  his  winter  quarters  at  Middlebrook,  on  the  Raritan. 
Clinton  lost  about  six  hundred  men  by  desertion  during  his  flight  across 
New  Jersey. 

At  this  time  the  British  were  in  possession  of  Rhode  Island.  At  the 
request  of  Washington,  D'Estaing  proceeded  to  Newport  to  assist  Gen- 
erals Sullivan  and  Lafayette  in  driving  them  from  the  island.  On  the 
arrival  of  the  fleet  the  Americans  crossed  over  from  the  main  to  Rhode 
Island  and  pressed  on  toward  the  British  camp.  At  that  moment  Howe, 
with  a  strongly  re-enforced  fleet,  appeared.  D'Estaing  went  out  to  meet 
him.  A  terrible  storm  dispersed  and  shattered  both  fleets.  The  French 
vessels  hastened  to  Boston  for  repairs,  leaving  the  Americans,  who  had 
been  promised  four  thousand  troops  from  the  Gallic  ships,  in  a  perilous 
situation.  Tliey  fell  back  to  the  northern  end  of  the  island  pursued  by 
the  British.  A  severe  battle  was  fought  upon  Quaker  Hill  (August 
29th),  in  which  the  Americans  were  victorious.  The  next  morning  the 
latter  withdrew  to  the  main,  leaving  the  British  still  in  possession  of  Rhode 
Island  ;  but  they  were  in  the  real  position  of  prisoners.  Such  also  was 
their  position  at  New  York  until  D'Estaing  sailed  for  the  West  Indies 
late  in  the  autumn,  when  Sir  Henry  Clinton  sent  two  thousand  troops, 
under  Colonel  Campbell,  to  invade  Georgia,  then  the  weakest  member  of 
the  Confederacy.  After  some  resistance  the  British  took  possession  of 
Savannah,  and  it  became  the  headquarters  of  the  British  army  in  the 
South  for  some  time. 


BRITISH  EXPEDITION  UP  THE  HUDSON.  297 


CHAPTER  XXL 

Sib  Henry  Clinton  *  was  in  command  of  a  force  of  over  sixteen 
thousand  men  in  the  spring  of  1779,  yet  his  instructions  confined  him  to 
a  predatory  warfare  upon  the  coasts.  In  May  a  squadron  commanded 
by  Sir  George  Collier  conveyed  transports  and  galleys  bearing  twenty- 
five  hundred  troops,  under  General  Matthews,  to  the  waters  in  South- 
eastern Virginia.  The  commanders  sent  out  parties  against  Norfolk  and 
other  places  on  the  Elizabeth  River  and  the  neighborhood,  to  seize  or 
destroy  an  immense  quantity  of  naval  and  military  stores  and  other  prop- 
erty gathered  there.  That  whole  region  was  ravaged  and  made  a  scene 
of  plunder  and  conflagration.  Soon  afterward  these  forces  appeared  at 
New  York  to  join  Sir  Henry  Clinton  in  an  expedition  up  the  Hudson 
River. 

After  the  capture  of  Forts  Clinton  and  Montgomery  in  the  Highlands, 
"West  Point  and  Constitution  Island  opposite  were  strengthened  by  forti- 
fications, and  forts  were  erected  upon  Stony  Point  and  Verplanck's 
Point  opposite,  a  few  miles  lielow  the  Highlands.  Fort  Fayette,  upon 
Yerplanck's  Point,  was  completed  in  the  early  summer  of  1779,  but  that 
on  Stony  Point  was  then  unfinished.  These  forts  were  to  serve  the 
double  purpose  of  protecting  the  King's  Ferry,  on  the  Hudson,  the  most 
direct  and  convenient  communication  between  the  Eastern  and  Middle 
States,  and  of  disputing  the  passage  of  British  vessels  through  the  High- 
lands, 

At  the  close  of  May,  Collier's  vessels,  seventy  in  number,  great  and 
small  (and  one  hundred  and  fifty  flat-boats),  bore  Sir  Henry  Clinton  and 
a  land  force,  under  General  Vaughan,  up  the  Hudson,  to  attempt  the 
capture  of  the  two  posts  last  mentioned.  The  troops  were  landed  before 
dawn  on  May  31st,  a  part  of  them,  under  Vaughan,  a  few  miles  below 
Verplanck's  Point,  and  the  remainder,  led  by  the  baronet,  a  little  below 
Stony  Point.     The  handful  of  men  at  the  latter  place  set  tire  to  the 

*  Sir  Henry  Clinton  was  a  son  of  Admiral  Sir  George  Clinton,  colonial  Governor  of 
New  York,  and  born  in  1738.  He  died  in  1795.  He  entered  the  army  when  quite 
young,  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  major-general  in  1775,  when  he  was  sent  to  America  with 
Howe  and  Burgoyne.  He  was  active  during  the  war  with  the  American  colonies  until 
1782,  when  he  returned  to  England.  He  had  succeeded  Sir  William  Howe  as  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  British  forces  in  America  in  1778. 


298  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

block-lioTise  there,  abandoned  tlie  unfinished  fort,  and  fled  to  the  moun- 
tains. Heavy  artillery  was  dragged  to  the  crest  of  the  rocky  promontor}' 
and  turned  upon  Fort  Fayette,  wliile  Yaughan's  troops  and  tlie  vessels 
joined  in  an  attack  upon  that  post.  The  little  garrison  of  seventy  men 
v/ere  compelled  to  surrender.  Sir  Henry  garrisoned  both  posts,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  finish,  arm,  and  man  the  fort  at  Stony  Point. 

Meanwhile  "Washington,  believing  Sir  Henry's  object  to  be  the  seizure 
of  the  Highland  forts,  had  advanced  his  army  toward  the  river  moun- 
tains, and  made  his  headquarters  at  New  Windsor,  above  the  Highlands. 
This  movement  checked  Sir  Henry's  designs.  He  soon  returned  to 
New  York,  and  sent  Collier's  vessels  on  a  marauding  expedition  to  the 
shores  of  Connecticut,  They  bore  about  twenty-five  hundred  British 
and  Hessian  (as  the  (xermans  were  called)  marauders,  commanded  by  ex- 
Governor  Tryon,  who  seemed  to  find  the  errand  congenial  to  his  nature 
He  made  the  Hessians  his  incendiaries  and  executors  of  his  most  cruel 
work. 

The  expedition  left  New  York  on  the  night  of  July  3d  (1779),  and  in 
the  space  of  a  week  laid  waste  and  carried  away  a  vast  amount  of  private 
property,  and  cruelly  abused  the  inhabitants.  They  plundered  New 
Haven  on  the  5th  ;  laid  East  Haven  in  ashes  on  the  6th  ;  destroyed 
Fairfield  by  fire  on  the  8th,  and  plundered  and  burned  Norwalk  on  the 
12th.  The  soldiers  were  given  free  license  to  abuse  and  oppress  the 
defenceless  inhabitants.  While  Norwalk  was  in  flames  Tryon  sat  in  a 
rocking-chair  upon  a  hill  in  the  neighborhood,  a  delighted  spectator  of 
the  ruin  wrought  by  his  orders.  In  allusion  to  this  and  kindred  expedi- 
tions Trumbull,  in  his  "  McFingal,"  makes  Malcolm  say  : 

"  Behold  !  like  whelp  of  British  lion, 
Our  warriors,  Clinton,  Vuiighan,  and  Tryon, 
Marc;h  forth  with  patriotic  joy 
To  ravish,  plunder,  and  destroy. 
Great  generals,  foremost  in  their  nation. 
The  journeymen  of  Desolation, 
Like  Samson's  foxes,  each  assails. 
Let  loose  with  firebrands  in  their  tails, 
And  spread  destruction  more  forlorn 
Than  they  among  Philistines'  corn." 

The  British  finished,  armed,  and  garrisoned  the  fort  on  Stony  Point 
early  in  July.  The  Americans  resolved  to  capture  it.  The  impetuous 
General  Wayne  *  was  then  in  command  of  some  infantry  in  the  High- 

*  Autliony  Wayne  was  born  in  Chester  County,  Penn.,  January  1st,  1745  ;  diwl  at 
Presque  Isle  (now  Erie),  Penn.,  December  ir)th,  1796.     His  father  was  commander  of  a 


THE   AMERICANS   CAPTURE   STONY   POINT. 


299 


y  PZ 


lands.     He  proposed  to  surprise  tlie  garrison  and  take  the  foi-t  l^y  storm. 
^'  Can  you  do  it  ?"  asked  Washington. 

"  I'll  storm  hell  if  you'll  plan  it,"  said  Wayne. 

Washington  gave  him  permission  to  undertake  Stony  Point  first. 
Leading  a  few  hundred  men  secretly  through  a  mountain  pass,  AVayne 
was  within  half  a  mile  of  the  rocky 
promontory  on  the  evening  of  July 
15tli.  They  stealthily  approached 
the  only  accessible  way  to  the  fort, 
across  a  marshy  strait  by  a  narrow 
causeway  in  the  rear.  They  reached 
that  point  at  midnight.  After  pass- 
ing the  causeway  the  little  force  was 
divided  into  two  columns  to  make 
the  attack  at  different  points.  With 
loaded  nmskets  and  fixed  bayonets 
they  marched  up  to  the  attack,  pre- 
ceded by  a  "  forlorn  hope"  of  picked 
men  to  make  openings  in  an  abatis 
at  designated  points  of  assault. 

The  assailants  had  nearly  reached 
the  abatis  before  they  were  discov- 
ered. The  alarmed  sentinels  fired 
their    muskets,    when    the    startled 

garrison  flew  to  arms.  The  stillness  of  that  hot  summer  night  was  sud- 
denly broken  by  the  rattle  of  musketry  and  the  roar  of  cannons  from  the 
ramparts.  In  tiie  face  of  a  terrible  tempest  of  bullets  and  grape-shot  the 
assailants  forced  their  way  into  the  fort  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 
Wayne,  who  led  one  of  the  divisions  in  person,  had  been  brought  to  his 
knees  by  a  stunning  blow  from  a  musket-ball  that  grazed  his  head. 


GENERAT,  ANTHONY  WAYNE. 


squadron  of  dragoon-s  under  William  III.  of  England  at  the  battle  of  the  Boyne.  After 
hi.s  marriage  Anthony  became  a  farmer  and  a  .surveyor.  He  wa.s  a  member  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Legislature  in  1774-75  ;  became  a  colonel  in  the  Continental  army  in  1776  ;  went 
with  his  regiment  to  Canada  in  that  year  ;  was  wounded  in  battle,  and  early  in  1777  was 
commis.sioned  a  brigadier.  He  was  in  the  battle  of  Brandywine,  September  11th,  1776. 
and  a  few  nights  afterward  his  camp,  near  the  Paoli  Tavern,  on  the  road  between  Phila- 
delphia and  Lancaster,  was  assailed  by  a  British  force,  and  many  of  his  men  were  slain. 
He  was  in  the  battles  of  Germantown  and  Monmouth,  and  he  captured  Stony  Point,  on 
the  Hudson,  in  July,  1779.  Wayne  did  admirable  service  in  the  Southern  States  during 
the  remainder  of  the  war.  In  1792  he  became  general-in-chief  of  the  armies  of  the  United 
States.  He  brought  the  Indians  in  the  North-west  to  peaceful  relations,  and  was  stationed 
at  Presque  Isle  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Brave  almost  to  rashness,  he  received  the  title 
of  "  Mad  Anthony." 


300 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


Believing  himself  mortally  wounded,  he  exclaimed  :  "  March  on  ! 
Carry  me  into  the  fort,  for  1  will  die  at  the  head  of  my  column."  He 
soon  recovered,  and  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  he  wrote  to  Wash- 
ington : 

''  The  fort  and  garrison,  with  General  Johnston,  are  ours.  Our 
officers  and  men  behaved  like  men  determined  to  be  free."  Wayne  also 
wrote  in  a  subsequent  despatch  :  "  The  humanity  of  our  bra.ve  soldiers, 


FAC-SIMTLE   OF   WAYNE's  DESPATCH. 


who  scorned  to  take  the  lives  of  a  vanquished  foe  when  calling  for 
mercy,  reflects  the  highest  honor  on  them,  and  accounts  for  the  few  of 
the  enemy  killed  on  the  occasion." 

Johnston,  the  commander  of  the  fort,  and  five  hundred  and  forty- 
three  men  were  made  prisoners.  He  had  sixty-three  killed.  The 
Americans  lost  one  hundred  men  killed  and  wounded.  The  British 
shipping  lying  in  the  river  near  by  slipped  their  cables  and  moved  down 
the  stream.     The  Americans  attempted  to  capture  Fort  Fayette,  but 


WAR   WITH   THE   INDIANS   IN  THE   INTERIOR.  301 

failed.  Unable  to  hold  and  garrison  the  fort  in  Stony  Point,  they 
removed  the  heavy  ordnance  and  stores  to  West  Point  and  abandoned 
the  post.     The  British  repossessed  it  a  few  days  afterward. 

The  terrible  atrocities  of  bands  of  the  Six  Nations  in  1778  around  the 
head-waters  of  the  Susquehanna  and  their  vicinity  and  in  the  valley  of 
Wyoming  impelled  the  Americans  to  the  exercise  of  vengeance  against 
them  in  the  most  effectual  manner.  All  of  these  nations,  excepting  the 
Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras,  had  been  won  over  to  the  side  of  the  crown  by 
British  emissaries  among  them,  employed  by  the  Johnson  family,  and 
the  task  of  chastising  them  would  be  hard  and  perilous.  A  question  of 
life  or  death  of  the  frontier  settlements  was  involved,  and  the  people  did 
not  hesitate.  They  cheerfully  joined  in  an  expedition  to  penetrate  the 
heart  of  the  Iroquois  country,  for  the  purpose  of  spreading  desolation  with 
fire  and  sword,  and  conquering  and  securing  peace  by  the  force  of  terror. 

In  the  spring  of  1779  some  preliminary  movements  to  this  end  were 
undertaken.  The  first  was  against  the  Onondagas.  Between  five  and 
six  hundred  troops,  led  by  Colonels  Goose  Van  Schaick  and  Marinus 
Willett,  left  Fort  Schuyler  on  April  19th,  and  penetrated  the  heart  of 
the  Onondaga  nation  south  of  (present)  Syracuse.  They  took  the  bar- 
barians by  surprise,  destroyed  three  of  their  villages,  burned  their  pro- 
visions, and  slaughtered  their  live-stock.  It  was  an  unfortunate  expedi- 
tion, for  it  exasperated  the  Indians  and  did  not  spread  terror  among 
them,  as  was  anticipated.  Three  hundred  Onondaga  braves  were  imme- 
diately sent  out  upon  the  war-path  charged  with  the  vengeance  of  the 
nation.  They  spread  terror  and  desolation  far  and  near  in  conjunction 
with  other  members  of  the  Confederacy.  They  pushed  southward  to 
the  watei^  of  the  Delaware  and  the  borders  of  Ulster  County. 

On  the  night  of  July  19th,  Brant,  with  sixty  Mohawks  and  a  band  of 
Tories  disguised  as  Indians,  fell  upon  the  settlement  of  Minisink,  on  the 
Neversink  River,  in  the  western  part  of  Orange  County,  at  the  foot  of 
the  Shawangunk  Mountains.  They  destroyed  the  growing  crops,  burned 
the  church  and  ten  houses,  mills,  and  barns  in  the  neighborhood,  and 
retired  with  considerable  plunder  without  attempting  further  violence. 

When  Colonel  Tusten,  at  Goshen,  heard  of  this  raid  he  hastened  with 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men  (many  of  them  volunteers)  to  the  scene  of 
desolation.  They  held  a  council,  when  it  was  concluded  to  pursue  the 
marauders.  Colonel  Ilathorn  had  arrived  with  a  few  recruits,  and  took 
command  of  the  pursuing  party.  They  overtook  the  main  body  of  them 
near  the  mouth  of  Lackawaxen  Creek  (July  22d),  when  Brant  by  a  quick 
movement  threw  his  force  in  liathorn's  rear,  placing  the  republicans  in 
an  ambush.     More  than  fifty  men  were  separated  from  the  main  body, 


802 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


leaving  tlie  remainder  to  sustain  the  shock  of  a  furious  attack.  A  severe 
conflict  ensued,  lasting  from  eleven  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  sunset. 
The  republicans  were  beaten,  and  were  murdered  after  they  were  made 

prisoners.  Only  thirty  of 
the  nearly  three  hundred 
pursuers  survived  to  tell 
the  sad  story  of  the  massa- 
cre. Forty-three  years  af- 
terward the  citizens  of 
Orange  County  caused  the 
bones  of  the  slain  to  be 
gathered  and  buried  near 
the  centre  of  the  Green  in 
the  village  of  Goshen,  and 
over  them  a  neat  white 
marble  monument  was 
erected,  bearing  the  names 
of  the  slain.  A  more  elegant 
monument  commemorative 
of  the  event  was  erected  by 
order  of  the  supervisors  of 
Orange  County  in  1862.  It 
was  the  gift  of  the  late  Dr. 
M.  H.  Cash. 

A  more  powerful  instru- 
ment for  the  chastisement  of  the  offending  Iroquois  was  formed  in  the 
summer  of  1779.     General  Washington  ]3laced  General  John  Sullivan  * 


MONUMENT  AT  GOSIIEN. 


*  John  Sullivan  was  born  "at  Berwick,  Me.,  February  ITth,  1740  ;  died  at  Durham. 
N.  II.,  January  23d,  1795.  lie  was  a  lawyer,  a  member  of  the  first  Continental  Congress, 
and  in  December,  1774,  with  John  Langdon,  led  a  patriot  force  against  Fort  William  and 
Mary,  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  and  took  from  it  one  hundred  barrels  of  gunpowder,  flft^-u 
cannons,  many  small-arms  and  stores.  In  June,  1775,  Sullivan  was  appointed  one  of  the 
four  brigadier-generals  of  the  Continental  army  ;  commanded  a  portion  of  the  troops  that 
liesieged  Boston,  and  after  the  evacuation,  in  the  spring  of  1776,  he  went  witli  troops  to 
re-enforce  tlu;  patriot  army  in  Canada.  On  the  death  of  General  Thomas  there  he  took 
the  command  of  the  army  ;  skilfully  effected  a  retreat  from  that  province  ;  was  made 
prisoner  in  the  battle  on  Long  Island  in  August  ;  w^as  exchanged,  and  joined  Washington 
in  Westchester  County  ;  did  good  .service  in  the  battles  at  Trenton  and  Princeton,  at 
Bnindywine  and  Germantown,  and  in  Rhode  Island.  After  his  expedition  against  the 
Lillians  in  the  State  of  New  York  he  left  the  army  on  account  of  shattered  health,  and 
took  a  seat  in  Congres.s  late  in  1780.  He  was  attorney-general  of  New  Hampshire  from 
1783  to  1786,  and  president  of  that  commonwealth  from  1786  to  1789.  From  the  latter 
date  until  his  death  he  was  United  States  Judge  of  New  Hampshire. 


Sl'LLIVAN'S   DESOLATING   CAMPAIGN. 


303 


in  command  of  a  force  of  Continental  soldiers  gatliered  in  the  Wyoming 
Valley,  where  tlie  horrible  massacre  occurred  the  previous  year.  He  was 
instructed  to  penetrate  the  heart  of  the  Iroquois  country  and  desolate  it. 

Sullivan  left  the  valley  with  three  thousand  men  at  the  close  of  July, 
marched  up  the  Susquehanna  River,  and  arrived  at  Tioga  Point  on 
August  22d.  There  he  was  joined  hy  General  eTames  Clinton  with 
about  sixteen  hundred  men,  who  came  down  from  Canajoharie,  on 
the  Mohawk  River,  by  way  of  Otsego  Lake,  debarking  on  the  site 
of  Cooperstown.  The  combined 
forces  numbered  about  five  thou- 
sand, consisting  of  the  brigades  of 
Generals  Clinton,  Hand,  Maxwell, 
and  Poor,  with  Proctor's  artille- 
ry and  a  corps  of  riflemen.  So 
tardily  had  the  expedition  moved 
that  the  British  authorities  had 
time  to  send  regulars  and  Tories 
from  Canada  and  Niagara  to  assist 
the  Indians  in  opposing  it. 

Marching  up  the  eastern  bank 
of  the  Chemung  River  on  the 
morning  of  August  29th,  the 
invaders  destroyed  the  growing 
crops,  and  at  length  encountered 
a  force  of  regulars,  Tories,  and 
Indians,  strongly  fortified,  not  far 

from  the  site  of  (present)  Elmira.  The  Indians  were  commanded 
by  Brant,  and  the  remainder  by  Sir  John  Johnson,*  the  Butlers,  and 
Captain  McDonald.  A  fierce  engagement  ensued,  and  it  was  long 
doubtful  which  party  would  win  the  laurels  of  victory.  It  was  finally 
decided  for  Sullivan  when  Proctor's  artillery  was  brought  into  play  and 
dispersed  the  terrified  barbarians.  The  invading  army  rested  on  the 
battle-ground  that  night,  and  the  next  morning  pushed  on  in  pursuit  of 
the  fugitives. 

That  pursuit  was  quick  and  distressing.      The  army  after  a  perilous 


JOHN   SULLIVAN. 


*  Sir  John  .Johnson,  .son  of  Sir  William,  was  born  in  1742.  His  mother  was  a  German 
girl.  He  wtis  a  stanch  and  active  loyalist ;  fled  to  Canada  with  several  hundred 
followers  ;  in  connection  with  the  Indians  desolated  the  Mohawk  Valley  and  its  neighbor- 
hood, and  was  defeated  by  General  Van  Rensselaer  in  1780.  He  went  to  England  after 
the  war,  but  soon  returned  to  Canada,  where  he  remained  in  the  capacity  of  Super 
intendent  of  Indian  Affairs  until  his  death  in  1830. 


304  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

marcli  encamped  before  Catharine's  Town,  near  the  liead  of  Seneca  Lake, 
on  the  morning  of  September  2d,  and  destroyed  the  viUage,  the  sur- 
rounding crops  of  corn,  and  the  orchards.  The  flying  campaign,  charged 
witli  the  forces  of  destruction,  had  now  fairly  begun.  "  The  Indians 
shall  see,"  said  Sullivan,  "  that  there  is  malice  enough  in  our  hearts  to 
destroy  everything  that  contributes  to  their  support."  His  men,  burn- 
ing with  indignation,  eagerly  sought  to  avenge  the  cruelties  of  the  bar- 
barians and  ToriQS  who  had  made  the  region  of  the  Mohawk  a  "  dark 
and  bloody  ground."  The  Indians  fled  before  them  like  frightened 
deer  to  cover,  and  the  wail  of  desolation  was  heard  throughout  their 
pleasant  land,  from  the  Susquehanna  to  the  Genesee. 

On  September  14th  General  Sullivan  and  his  army  encamped  before 
Genesee,  the  capital  of  the  Senecas,  in  the  beautiful  Genesee  Valley — 
the  paradise  of  the  Six  Nations.  There  everything  indicated  the  pres- 
ence of  civilization.  There  was  not  a  wilderness  feature  in  the  scene. 
The  rich  intervales  presented  the  appearance  of  cultivation  for  many 
generations,  and  the  farms,  gardens,  and  orchards  bespoke  a  degree  of 
comfort  and  refinement  that  would  be  creditable  to  any  civilized  com- 
munity. But  a  terrible  doom  hung  over  the  smiling  country.  The 
Genesee  "  Castle"  was  destroyed  and  the  capital  was  laid  in  ashes. 
"  The  town,"  wrote  Sullivan,  "  contained  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight 
houses,  mostly  large  and  very  elegant.  It  was  beautifully  situated, 
almost  encircled  with  a  clear  flat  extending  a  number  of  miles,  over 
which  extensive  fields  of  corn  were  waving,  together  with  every  kind  of 
vegetable  that  could  be  conceived." 

The  work  of  destruction  now  spread  over  the  whole  valley  and  the 
surrounding  country.  Forty  Indian  villages  were  burned  ;  one  hundred 
and  sixty  thousand  bushels  of  corn  in  the  fields  and  in  granaries  were 
destroyed  ;  a  vast  number  of  the  finest  fruit-trees,  the  product  of  years 
of  tardy  growth,  were  cut  down  ;  liundreds  of  gardens  were  desolated  ; 
the  inhabitants  were  driven  into  the  forests  to  starve,  and  were  hunted 
like  wild  beasts  ;  their  altars  were  overturned  ;  their  graves  were 
trampled  upon  by  strangers,  and  a  beautiful,  well-watered  country, 
teeming  with  a  prosperous  people  and  just  rising  to  the  level  with  the 
productive  regions  of  civilization,  was  desolated  and  thrown  back  a  cen- 
tury within  the  space  of  a  fortnight. 

This  chastisement  awed  the  barbarians  for  the  moment,  but  it  did  not 
crush  them.  In  the  reaction  they  had  greater  strength.  It  kindled  the 
fires  of  deep  liatred,  which  spread  like  a  conflagration  far  among  the 
tribes  upon  the  borders  of  the  great  lakes  and  in  the  valley  of  the  Ohio. 

After  Sullivan's  campaign  very  few  military  operations  occurred  at 


SIR  JOHN  JOHNSON  AT  HOME.  305 

the  North  during  the  remainder  of  the  year.  Lafayette  had  been  in 
France  during  the  summer,  and  had  induced  the  French  Government  to 
promise  to  send  a  more  powerful  fleet  and  several  thousand  troops  to  aid 
the  Americans.  Whispers  of  this  intention  reached  the  ears  of  the 
British  Cabinet,  when  the  evacuation  of  Rhode  Island  and  tlie  concentra- 
tion of  British  troops  at  iS'ew  York  were  ordered. 

A  land  force  under  General  Lincoln  and  troops  sent  ashore  from  the 
French  fleet  of  D'Estaing  made  an  attack  upon  Savannah,  Ga.,  in  Sep- 
tember, and  carried  on  a  siege  until  the  second  week  in  October,  when 
it  M'as  abandoned  in  consequence  of  the  sudden  withdrawal  of  the  French 
troops.  Lincoln  was  compelled  to  cross  tlie  Savannah  River  into  South 
Carolina  and  retreat  to  Charleston.  Toward  that  city  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
sailed  from  New  York  at  the  close  of  the  year  with  five  thousand  troops, 
to  open  a  vigorous  campaign  in  the  Carolinas. 

In  September  the  intrepid  John  Paul  Jones,  in  command  of  the 
frigate  Bonhommne  Richard^  fitted  out  in  a  French  port,  gained  a  deci- 
sive victory  in  one  battle  over  two  British  frigates,  the  Serajns  and  the 
Countess  of  Scarborough.  They  fought  in  the  waters  of  the  North  Sea, 
off  the  north-eastern  coast  of  England. 

Sir  John  Johnson  took  advantage  of  the  hot  indignation  of  the 
Iroquois,  kindled  by  Sullivan's  chastisement,  to  make  a  raid  into  the 
Mohawk  Yalley  with  five  hundred  Tories  and  Indians,  in  May,  1780. 
He  penetrated  the  country  from  Crown  Point  to  the  Sacandaga  River, 
and  on  Sunday  night.  May  ITtli,  he  arrived  at  Johnstown.  Between 
midnight  and  dawn  his  force,  divided,  began  to  devastate  that  region, 
burning  every  house  excepting  tliose  wdiich  belonged  to  Tories.  In  the 
coarse  of  this  raid  many  persons  were  slain  and  homes  desolated.  Such 
wild  terror  was  spread  all  over  that  region  that  Sir  John  was  enabled  to 
accomplisli  the  chief  object  of  his  visit — namely,  the  recovery  of  his 
family  plate,  wliich  was  buried  near  Johnson  Hall  when  he  fled  to  Canada 
in  ITTO.  lie  recovered  twenty  of  his  negro  slaves,  one  of  whom  was 
the  man  who  buried  the  treasure.  It  filled  two  barrels,  and  when  it  was 
exhumed  it  w^as  carried  away  in  the  knapsacks  of  forty  soldiers.  With  this 
property,  his  slaves,  some  prisoners,  and  much  booty,  Sir  John  was  allowed 
by  the  panic-stricken  people  to  leave  for  Canada  without  molestation. 

On  hearing  of  this  invasion,  Governor  Clinton,  then  at  Poughkeepsie, 
ordered  a  pursuit.  He  led  a  division  in  person  to  Ticonderoga,  where 
he  was  joined  by  some  militia  from  Yerraont.  Eiglit  hundred  militia, 
under  Colonel  Yan  Schaick,  pursued  the  fugitives  from  Johnstown  ;  but 
Sir  John  had  such  a  start  that  he  escaped.  He  had  w^isely  avoided  the 
lakes  on  his  retreat,  and  passed  through  the  interior  of  the  country. 


30G 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


In  August  the  Canajoharie  and  Fort  Plain  *  settlements  were  deso- 
lated by  Brant  and  live  hundred  Indians  and  Tories.  Fifty-three 
dwellings  and  many  barns  were  burned  ;  sixteen  inhabitants  were  killed  ; 
between  fifty  and  sixty  persons,  chiefly  women  and  children,  were  made 
captive  ;  implements  of  husbandry  were  destroyed,  and  over  three 
hundred  cattle  and  horses  were  driven  away. 

In  the  autumn  of  1780  an  extensive  expedition  against  the  settlements 
in  Tryon  County  was  planned.  The  Indians  were  thirsting  for  revenge 
for  the  wrongs  and  misery  inflicted  upon  them  by  Sullivan.     The  leaders 

in  the  expedition  were  Sir  John  Johnson, 
Joseph  Brant,  and  a  famous  half-breed 
Seneca  chief  named  Corn  Planter.  The 
Indians  rendezvoused  at  Tioga  Point, 
and  at  Unadilla  they  formed  a  junction 
with  Sir  John  and  his  forces — regulars, 
Tories,  and  Indians — who  came  from 
Niagara  and  Canada  by  way  of  Oswego, 
bringing  with  them  some  light  artillery. 
Their  plan  was  to  desolate  the  Schoharie 
Valley  to  the  Mohawk,  and  then  devastate 
that  beautiful  and  bountiful  region  down 
to  Schenectady. 

The  invaders  reached  the  Schoharie 
Valley  at  the  middle  of  October.  The 
inhabitants  were  taken  by  surprise.  Their 
bams  were  filled  with  the  products  of  a  bountiful  harvest,  and  stacks  of 
hay  and  grain  were  abundant.  The  invaders  besieged  the  forts,  but 
failed  to  capture  them.  Believing  them  to  be  stronger  than  he  had 
supposed,  and  fearing  re-enforcements  were  coming.  Sir  John  ordered 
his  forces  to  sweep  the  A'alley  with  the  besom  of  destruction  to  the 
Mohawk.  Everywhere  they  applied  the  torch.  Every  house,  barn,  and 
stack  belonging  to  a  Whig  was  laid  in  ashes.  Fully  one  hundred  thousand 
bushels  of  grain  were  destroyed  during  that  one  day's  march.  So  soon 
as  the  invaders  had  departed  the  exasperated  Whigs  burned  the  spared 


FORT   PLAIN   BLOCK-HOUSE. 


*  After  the  desolation  of  the  Mohawk  and  Schoharie  valleys  in  1778,  Fort  Plain  was 
erected  near  the;  mouth  of  the  Osquaga  Creek,  and  Ixjcame  an  important  fortress.  It 
stood  upon  a  hill  at  the  (present)  village  of  Fort  Plain.  It  was  an  irregular  quadrangle  in 
form,  with  earth  and  log  bastions.  It  finally  had  a  block-house  (built  in  1780)  three 
stories  in  height  pierced  for  musketry,  the  lower  story  for  cannon.  It  was  built  of  hewn 
logs.  Each  story  projected  about  five  feet  beyond  the  one  below  it.  The  powder  maga- 
zine was  under  it. 


OPERATIONS   IN   THE   MOHAWK  VALLEY. 


307 


houses  and  other  property  of  the  Tories.  The  Schoharie  Yalley  was 
made  a  smoking  ruin.  Several  persons  were  slain  during  the  raid.  Sir 
John  remained  two  days  at  Fort  Hunter,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Schoharie 
Creek,  and  destroyed  everything  belonging  to  the  Whigs  in  the  neighbor- 
hood ;  and  on  October  18th  he  began  a 
destructive  march  up  the  Mohawk  Yalley. 
He  burned  Caughnawaga  and  every  dwell- 
ing on  both  sides  of  the  river  as  far  as 
Fort  Plain.  On  the  morning  of  the  19th 
he  sent  a  detachment  to  attack  a  small 
stockade  called  Fort  Paris,  in  Stone  Ara- 
bia, about  three  miles  north  of  the  river. 

When  Governor  Clinton  (then  at 
Albany)  heard  of  the  invasion  of  the 
Schoharie  Yalley  he  hastened  with  a 
strong  body  of  militia,  accompanied  by 
General  Kobert  van  Pensselaer,  to  the 
aid  of  the  people  of  the  smitten  region. 
They  arrived  at  Caughnawaga  while  it  was 
in  flames.  There  Clinton  gave  the  chief 
command  of  the  troops  to  Van  Rensselaer. 
The  latter,  apprised  of  the  intended  at- 
tack upon  Fort  Paris,  ordered  its  com- 
mander, Colonel  Brown  (distinguished 
in  former  campaigns),  to  march  out  and 

meet  the  invaders.  He  did  so  about  a  mile  from  (present)  Palatine 
Bridge,  was  overpowered  by  superior  mimbers,  and  with  forty  of  his 
soldiers  was  slain.     The  remainder  of  his  troops  fled  to  Fort  Plain.* 


COLONEL   brown's  MONUMENT. 


*  Colonel  John  Brown  was  a  citizen  of  Massachusetts,  a  graduate  of  Yale  College,  and 
a  lawyer  by  profession.  He  accompanied  the  expedition  to  Canada  in  1776,  and  was 
specially  distinguished  in  the  capture  of  Fort  Charably.  He  hung  on  the  rear  of 
Burgoyne's  army  in  1777,  destroying  his  stores,  and  so  efficiently  assisting  in  the  work  of 
his  capture.  No  mention  was  made  of  these  services  in  official  reports,  as  Arnold,  who 
had  at  that  time  the  ear  of  Gates,  prejudiced  that  officer  against  him.  Colonel  Brown 
and  his  slain  companions  wei'e  buried  in  the  grounds  adjoining  the  church  in  Stone 
Arabia,  and  fifty-six  years  afterward  (1836),  on  the  anniversary  of  the  battle,  a  small 
monument  erected  on  the  spot  by  Mr.  Henry  Brown,  a  son  of  Colonel  Brown,  of  Berk- 
shire, Mass.,  was  dedicated.  There  was  a  large  concourse  of  citizens  assembled  in  the 
church  on  the  occasion,  when  an  address  was  pronounced  by  Mr.  Gerrit  L.  Roof,  then  a 
young  lawyer  of  Canajoharie,  and  afterward  a  clergyman.  The  above  engraving  is  from 
a  drawing  made  for  the  late  Dr.  Franklin  B.  Hough,  who  wrote  an  interesting  and  valu- 
able narrative  of  "  The  Northern  Invasion,"  of  which  only  eighty  copies  were  printed  by 
the  "  Bradford  Club,"  of  New  York. 


308  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

Sir  John  desolated  Stone  Arabia.  He  halted  to  rest  at  a  place  called 
"  Klock's  Field."  General  Van  Rensselaer  was  in  pursuit  of  him  with 
fifteen  hundred  men,  including  a  body  of  Oneidas,  led  by  Chief  Louis, 
whom  Congress  had  commissioned  a  colonel.  Van  Rensselaer's  move- 
ments were  so  tardy  that  the  invaders  were  rested  before  he  was  ready 
to  attack  them.  Toward  evening  a  general  battle  began,  when  a  furious 
charge  made  by  the  patriots  caused  the  invaders  to  give  way  and  fly.  It 
was  now  twilight,  and  Van  Rensselaer  would  not  allow  his  impatient 
troops  to  pursue  until  the  next  morning,  when  the  fugitives  were 
followed  by  the  whole  body  of  the  victors  as  far  as  the  German  Flats, 
where  they  halted. 

Yan  Rensselaer  ordered  the  Oneidas  and  Captain  McKean,  with  some 
volunteers,  to  press  on  in  advance,  promising  to  follow  immediately  in 
their  support.  They  had  nearly  overtaken  the  fugitives  when  the  pur- 
suers learned  that  Van  Rensselaer  had  abandoned  the  pursuit.  They 
retraced  their  steps  as  an  act  of  safety,  and  Sir  John  and  his  invading 
party,  who  had  inflicted  such  unutterable  miseries  upon  the  inhabitants 
of  Tryon  County,  were  allowed  to  escape  to  Canada  by  way  of  Oswego. 

Meanwhile  Major  Carleton  of  the  British  army,  with  one  thousand 
regulars,  Tories,  and  Indians,  went  up  Lake  Champlain,  captured  and 
burned  Fort  Anne,  between  tlie  head  of  the  lake  and  the  Hudson,  and 
sent  forward  marauding  and  incendiary  parties  toward  Fort  Edward. 
At  the  same  time  Carleton  himself  pushed  on  to  the  head  of  Lake 
George,  and  captured  and  destroyed  Fort  George  there.  A  part  of  the 
expedition  had  landed  at  Crown  Point  and  made  its  way  through  the 
forest  to  attack  Schenectady,  but  proceeded  no  farther  than  the  settle- 
ment at  Ballston,  which  they  desolated.  At  about  the  same  time 
another  expedition  sent  out  from  Canada  fell  upon  the  upper  settlements 
of  the  Connecticut  Valley.  These  expeditions  avoided  doing  injury  to 
the  inhabitants  on  the  ^ew  Hampshire  Grants  (Vermont),  because  the 
leaders  of  those  people  were  then  coquetting  with  the  British  authorities 
in  Canada.     For  what  purpose  will  appear  hereafter. 

"When  Sir  Henry  Clinton  sailed  for  the  South  at  the  close  of  1779  he 
left  the  German  General  Knyphausen  in  comnumd  at  New  York.  The 
fleet  of  Admiral  Arbuthnot,  carrying  two  thousand  marines,  bore  Clinton's 
troops.  Tliey  went  first  to  the  coast  of  Georgia,  but  soon  proceeded  to 
Charleston  Harbor  and  prepared  to  besiege  that  city,  where  General 
Lincoln  was  in  command  of  a  considerable  body  of  troops.  Tlie  city, 
the  army,  citizens,  four  hundred  cannons,  and  a  large  quantity  of  stores 
were  surrendered  on  May  12th.  The  Baron  de  Kalb  had  been  sent  with 
troops  to  assist  Lincoln,  but  did  not  arrive  in  time. 


THE  BRITISH   IN  SOUTH  CAROLINA.  309 

The  fall  of  Charleston  paralyzed  the  people  of  South  Carolina.  Three 
British  detachments  proceeded  to  take  possession  of  the  State.  Lord 
Cornwallis  M'as  appointed  to  the  chief  command  in  that  region.  Clinton 
proclaimed  a  general  truce,  and  pardon  and  protection  for  all  who  should 
accept  it.  The  silence  of  fear  overspread  the  country  for  a  while.  Mis- 
takincr  this  lull  in  the  storm  of  resistance  for  absolute  submission  and 
permanent  tranquillity,  Clinton,  with  a  large  part  of  his  army,  sailed  in 
the  fleet  of  Arbuthnot  for  jS^ew  York  early  in  June. 

Cornwallis  unwisely  began  a  reign  of  terror  to  overawe  the  panic- 
stricken  patriots.  His  course  aroused  their  fiercest  indignation,  and  so 
soon  as  an  army,  first  under  De  Kalb  and  then  commanded  by  Gates, 
approached  the  borders  of  their  State  they  flew  to  arms.  Energetic 
partisan  leaders  like  Marion,  Sumter,  Pickens,  and  others  now  appeared, 
and  South  Carolina  and  Upper  Georgia  became  a  theatre  of  active  war- 
fare, until  Gates  was  beaten  and  his  army  was  dispersed  in  a  battle  with 
Cornwallis,  near  Camden.  This  disaster  seemed  again  to  paralyze  the 
people,  and  the  State  lay  prone  for  a  while  at  the  feet  of  the  invader. 

Cornwallis,  now  confident  of  his  power,  proceeded  to  invade  North 
Carolina.  It  was  begun,  but  was  soon  checked  by  the  defeat  of  a  body 
of  Tory  militia,  led  by  Major  Patrick  Ferguson,  in  a  battle  on  King's 
Mountain  (October  Tth),  by  the  mountaineers  of  the  Carolinas.  At  the 
same  time  Marion  and  Snmter  were  keeping  British  regulars  and  Tories 
exceedingly  lively  in  an  attitude  of  defence,  until  they  became  thoroughly 
alarmed.  The  British  called  Marion  the  "  Swamp  Fox"  and  Sumter  the 
''  South  Carolina  Game  Cock." 

While  these  operations  were  going  on  in  the  South  and  in  the  State  of 
New  York  the  American  people  were  inspirited  by  the  presence  on  their 
shores  of  a  large  land  and  naval  force  sent  by  France  to  aid  them.  They 
arrived  at  Newport,  E.  1.,  on  July  10th,  1780.  The  fleet  was  com- 
manded by  Admiral  Ternay.  It  bore  six  thousand  troops,  commanded 
by  Lieutenant-General  Count  de  Rochambeau.  This  event  made  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  more  circumspect  and  cautious.  He  had  been  trying  to 
entice  Washington,  after  he  left  his  winter  quarters  at  Morristown, 
N.  J.,  to  fight  ;  now  he  changed  his  course  of  action,  and  endeavored  to 
gain,  by  coniplotting  with  a  traitor,  what  he  had  failed  to  do  by  arms. 


310 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


Benedict  Arnold  was  in  command  of  tlie  important  post  of  West 
Point,  in  the  Hudson  Higldands,  late  in  the  summer  of  1780.     He  was 

a  brave  soldier,  and  had  fought 
nobly  for  the  independence  of  his 
country.  But  he  was  never  a  true 
patriot,  or  he  would  never  have 
become  a  traitor.  He  lacked  vir- 
tue, and  became  the  slave  and  the 
victim  of  passions  unrestrained  by 
conscience. 

Arnold  was  jnilitary  governor  at 
Philadelphia  in  the  sunnner  of  1778. 
lie  there  married  a  beautiful  maiden 
(Miss  Shippen),  only  cigliteen  years 
of  age.  He  was  forty- eight.  He 
lived  in  splendor  at  an  expense  far 
beyond  his  means,  became  involved 
in  debt,  and  to  meet  the  demands 
of  his.  creditors  he  engaged  in  practices  which  caused  him  to  be  charged 
with  dishonesty  and  malfeasance  in  office.     He  was  tried  by  a  court- 


BENEDICT   ARNOLD.* 


*  Benedict  Arnold,  a  brave  soldier  who  became  a  conspicuous  traitor,  was  born  At 
Norwich,  Conn.,  January  3d,  1741  ;  died  in  London,  June  14th,  1804.  Apprenticed  to 
an  apothecary,  he  ran  away  ;  enlisted  as  a  soldier  ;  deserted  ;  engaged  a  few  years  in  the 
business  of  a  bookseller  and  druggist  in  New  Haven,  and  a  trader  with  the  West  Indies. 
After  the  affair  at  Lexington  he  raised  a  company  of  volunteers,  and  accompanied  Allen 
in  the  capture  of  Ticouderoga.  He  jxirformed  gallant  service  in  naval  warfare  on  Lake 
Champlain  the  following  year.  Meanwhile  he  had  made  a  perilous  march  through  the 
wilderness  from  the  Kennebec  River  to  Quebec  ;  engaged  in  the  siege  of  that  city  ;  was 
badly  wounded  ;  was  chiefly  instrumental  in  winning  the  battles  that  resulted  in  the 
surrender  of  Burgoync,  and  was  again  wounded  in  these  conflicts.  While  in  command 
as  military  governor  at  T»hiladelphia  he  opened  a  treasonable  correspondence  with  the 
British.  His  altompt  to  betray  West  Point  failed,  and  he  escaped  to  the  British  lines. 
He  served  in  the  British  army  in  jircdatory  warfare  upon  his  countrymen  ;  went  to 
England,  where  he  was  despised  by  all  honorable  men  ;  became  for  a  while  a  resident  of 
St.  Jolins,  New  Brunswick,  where  he  was  hung  in  effigy.  He  soon  returned  to  England, 
where  he  lived  in  obscurity.  One  of  his  sons  became  a  lieutenant-general  in  the  British 
armv. 


THE  TREASON  OF  GENERAL  ARNOLD.  311 

martial,  and  sentenced  to  be  reprimanded  by  tbe  commander-in-chief  of 
the  armies.     It  M-as  done  by  Washington  in  the  most  delicate  manner. 

Vengeful  feelings  took  possession  of  the  heart  and  mind  of  Arnold, 
which  led  him  to  make  an  attempt  to  betray  his  country.  He  made 
treasonable  overtures  secretly  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  and  held  treasonable 
correspondence  for  several  months,  under  assumed  names,  with  Major 
Andre,  Clinton's  adjutant-general.  Before  they  met  face  to  face  Arnold 
promised  to  surrender  the  post  of  West  Point  and  its  dependencies  (of 
which,  on  his  earnest  solicitation,  he  had  been  made  commander  in 
August)  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The  possession  of  West  Point 
by  the  British  would  secure  the  control  of  the  Hudson  ;  cut  off  !N^ew 
England  from  the  rest  of  the  States  ;  facilitate  intercourse  with  Canada, 
and  lead  to  the  speedy  accomplishment  of  all  that  the  expeditions  of 
Burgoyne  and  St.  Leger  were  expected  to  effect.  Arnold  agreed  to 
strike  this  deadly  blow  at  the  liberties  of  his  patriotic  countrymen  for  the 
consideration  of  a  brigadier's  commission  in  the  royal  army  and  $50,000 
in  gold. 

The  time  chosen  for  the  consummation  of  this  unholy  bargain  was  late 
in  September,  1780,  when  Washington  would  be  in  Hartford,  Conn., 
conferring  with  the  French  officers.  Arrangements  were  made  for  a 
personal  interview  between  Arnold  and  Andre  to  conclude  a  final  settle- 
ment of  the  details.  The  place  selected  by  Arnold  for  the  interview 
was  a  lonely  spot  not  far  below  Haverstraw,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Hudson,  and  the  time  midnight,  September  20th. 

Andre  ascended  the  river  on  the  sloop-of-war  Vultwe,  and  was  taken 
ashore  in  a  boat  *  sent  by  Arnold,  in  charge  of  his  friend,  Joshua  Hett 
Smith,  who  lived  between  Haverstraw  and  Stony  Point.  The  com- 
plotters  met  in  the  dark.  Andre's  uniform  was  concealed  by  a  surtout. 
He  had  been  instructed  to  neither  carry  nor  fetch  any  papers.  The  con- 
ference was  j)rotracted.  Day  dawned  and  it  was  not  ended.  Arnold 
persuaded  Andre  to  accompany  him  to  Smith's  house  to  complete  the 
arrangements,  without  informing  him  that  the  dwelling  was  within  the 
American  lines.  Meanwhile  the  Vulture  had  been  driven  down  the 
river  by  cannonading  from  Teller's  Point,  on  the  eastern  shore. 

*  On  the  morning  at  first  fixed  for  his  execution  (October  1st,  1780)  Major  Andre  made 
a  pen-and-ink  sketch  representing  his  conveyance  to  the  shore  from  the  Vulture  in  a 
small  boat.  There  are  two  jMjrsons  in  the  boat  besides  the  oarsman.  This  sketch,  with 
"  J.  A.,  fecit,  Oct.  1,  1780,"  w-ritten  in  a  corner,  was  found  on  his  table  after  his  execu- 
tion, on  October  2d  ;  also  a  pen-and-ink  sketch  of  his  own  portrait  sitting  at  a  table. 
His  servant  delivered  these  sketches  to  Colonel  Crosbie,  of  the  Twenty-second  Regiment, 
on  his  return  to  New  York. 


312  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

At  Smith's  house  the  final  arrangements  were  made.  Chnton  was  to 
ascend  the  river  with  a  powerful  force,  when  Arnold,  after  making  a 
show  of  resistance,  should  surrender  the  post,  pleading  as  an  excuse  the 
weakness  of  the  garrison. 

This  wicked  scheme  perfected,  Andre  was  anxious  to  return  to  tlie 
Vulture  that  night,  but  Smith  refused  to  go  so  far  down  the  river,  and 
it  was  arranged  for  the  adjutant-general  to  return  to  New  York  by  land. 
Exchanging  his  uniform  for  a  suit  supplied  by  Smith,  and  accompanied 
bj  that  gentleman,  he  crossed  the  river  at  the  King's  Ferry  at  twilight, 
bearing  tlie  following  passport  : 

"Permit  Mr.  Jolin  Anderson  [an  assumed  name]  to  pass  the  guards 
to  the  White  Plains,  or  below,  if  he  chooses,  he  being  on  public 
business.  B.   Arnold,  M.  G.  " 

In  violation  of  his  instructions,  Andre  had  received  from  Arnold  some 
papers  explanatory  of  the  condition  of  "West  Point  and  its  dependencies, 
and  concealed  them  in  liis  stockings  beneath  liis  feet.  He  and  his 
attendants  passed  the  night  near  the  Croton  River.  The  next  morning 
he  journeyed  on  alone  on  horseback,  and  soon  reached  the  neutral 
ground  in  Westchester  County. 

Near  Tarrytovvn  three  young  militiamen — John  Paulding,  Isaac  van 
Wart,  and  David  Williams — were  playing  cards  on  the  edge  of  a  wood 
when  Andre  approached.  Paulding,  dressed  in  a  British  trooper's  coat, 
stepped  into  the  road  and  liailed  him.  Tlie  young  man  had  been  a 
prisoner  a  short  time,  and  had  been  stripped  of  his  better  fanner's  coat 
and  given  the  old  red  one  he  had  on.  The  traveller,  misled  by  this  coat, 
said  : 

"  Gentlemen,  I  hope  you  belong  to  onr  party." 

"  Which  party  ?"  asked  Paulding. 

"  The  lower  party. " 

"We  do." 

Thus  completely  thrown  off  his  guard,  Andr^  avowed  himself  to  be  a 
British  officer,  when  they  said  : 

"  We  are  Americans." 

Astonished  and  alarmed,  Andre  now  exhibited  Arnold's  passport. 
The  young  men  shook  their  heads.  He  had  avowed  himself  a  British 
officer.  His  speech  confirmed  the  truth  of  that  avowal.  Their  sus- 
picions that  he  might  be  a  spy  were  aroused.  They  invited  him  to  dis- 
mount, and  then  proceeded  to  search  him.  Pulling  ofiE  his  boots,  the 
tell-tale  papers  were  discovered. 

"  My  God  !"  exclaimed  Paulding,  "  he  is  a  spy  !" 

The  major  offered  the  young  men  large  bribes  if  they  would  let  hira 


TREASONABLE  DESIGNS  FRUSTRATED. 


313 


pass  on.  They  refused,  and  delivered  liim  to  Colonel  Jameson,  then  in 
command  of  a  post  at  North  Castle.  Jameson  sent  the  papers  found  in 
Andre's  boot  by  express  to  Washington,  who  was  returning  with  his 
suite  from  Hartford.  Andre,  still  maintaining  the  role  of  an  American, 
begged  the  colonel  to  inform  his  (Andre's)  commander  at  West  Point 
that  John  Anderson,  though  bearing  his  passport,  was  detained  a  pris- 
oner. This  Jameson  thoughtlessly  did,  and  so  Arnold  was  informed  of 
his  own  peril  in  time  to  allow  him  to  escape. 

Arnold's  headquartere  were  at  the  country-house  of  Beverly  Eobinson, 
opposite  West  Point.     Mrs.  Arnold  had  lately  arrived  there  with  her 


THE  ROBINSON  HOUSE. 


infant  son.  On  the  morning  of  September  25th  Washington,  with 
Generals  Knox  and  Lafayette,  arrived  in  the  vicinity  two  days  earlier 
than  they  were  expected.  Word  was  sent  to  Arnold  that  they  would 
breakfast  with  him.  Washington  and  the  two  generals  turned  aside  to 
inspect  some  redoubts,  while  Colonel  Hamilton  and  others  rode  on  to  tell 
Mrs.  Arnold  not  to  detain  breakfast  for  the  generals.  It  was  the  very  day 
(September  25th)  that  had  been  fixed  for  Clinton  to  ascend  the  river  and 
receive  the  surrender  of  West  Point.  Washington's  early  return  frus- 
trated the  treasonable  designs. 

While  Arnold  and  his  guests  were  at  breakfast  a  courier  arrived  with 
Jameson's  letter,  which  revealed  to  Arnold  the  temble  fact  that  Andre 


314  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

was  a  prisoner  ;  that  all  was  known — that  all  was  lost.  "With  marvellous 
self-possession  the  traitor  excused  himself  to  his  guests,  retired,  ordered  a 
horse,  and  then  going  to  Mrs.  Arnold's  room,  sent  for  her.  In  a  few 
words  he  told  her  of  his  peril, 

"  I  must  fly  instantly,"  he  said.  "  My  life  depends  upon  my  reach- 
ing the  British  lines  without  detection." 

Pie  then  returned  to  the  breakfast-room,  and  again  excusing  himself 
witli  the  plea  that  he  must  hasten  to  West  Point  to  prepare  for  the 
reception  of  Washington,  he  leaped  into  the  saddle  on  his  horse  at  the 
door  and  dashed  down  a  path  to  the  river,  where  his  six-oared  barge  was 
moored.  Quitting  his  horse,  he  hurried  into  his  boat,  with  his  pistols  in 
his  hands,  and  ordered  the  oarsmen  to  pull  to  the  middle  of  the  stream 
and  then  to  row  with  speed  to  Teller's  (now  Croton)  Point,  saying  he 
nmst  hasten  and  return  to  meet  General  "Washington.  iSTear  that  point, 
sitting  in  the  bow  of  his  barge,  Arnold  raised  a  white  handkerchief,  and 
ordered  his  men  to  row  to  the  Vulture,  lying  within  sight.  They  did 
so,  and  the  traitor,  reaching  her  deck,  was  safe  from  pursuit.  The 
barge  was  retained  and  the  crew  were  sent  on  shore. 

Washington  took  a  late  breakfast  at  Arnold's  quarters,  and  then 
crossed  over  to  West  Point,  expecting  to  meet  the  general  there.  He 
had  not  been  there  for  two  days  !  Still  unsuspicious,  the  commander- 
in-chief  did  not  return  until  about  noon.  He  was  met  by  Colonel 
Hamilton,  who  put  into  his  liands  evidences  of  Arnold's  treason.  Orders 
had  already  been  issued  to  attemj)t  to  intercept  the  flight  of  the  guilty 
fugitive.     It  was  too  late. 

Arnold  had  left  his  wife  lying  in  a  swoon.  She  had  not  been  dis- 
covered until  some  time  after  her  husband's  departure.  Recovering 
consciousness,  she  became  frenzied,  and  for  a*  long  time  refused  to  be 
comforted.  Washington  went  to  her  room,  and  succeeded  in  soothing 
lier.  He  assured  her  of  the  personal  safety  of  her  husband,  of  his  own 
tender  regard  for  her,  and  also  of  the  personal  safety  of  herself  and 
child.  He  comprehended  the  gravity  of  the  situation,  but  seemed  undis- 
turbed. To  General  Knox  he  said  sadly  :  "  Arnold  is  a  traitor  ;  who 
can  we  trust  now  ?" 

Andre  was  conveyed  first  to  West  Point,  and  thence  to  Tappan,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Hudson,  then  the  headquarters  of  the  army,  where 
a  board  of  inquiry  was  organized  (Septeniber  3()th),  composed  of  fourteen 
general  officers,  to  consider  the  prisoner's  case.  They  unanimously 
reported  that  "  Major  Andre,  adjutant-general  of  the  British  army, 
ought  to  be  considered  as  a  spy  from  the  enemy,  and  that,  agreeable  to 
the  law  and  usage  of  nations,  it  is  their  opinion  he  ought  to  suffer  death." 


THE   FATE   OF  ARNOLD   AND   ANDRfi.  315 

He  was  accordingly  executed  on  October  2d,  1T80.     Andr6  was  not  then 
twenty-nine  years  of  age. 

Great  efforts  were  made  to  save  tlie  life  of  Major  Andre.  It  was 
known  tliat  he  did  not  voluntarily  become  a  spy,  and  almost  universal 
sympathy  was  then,  and  has  been  ever  since,  evinced  for  him.  Wash- 
ington would  have  saved  him  had  the  stern  rules  of  war  allowed.  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  might  have  saved  him  had  honor  permitted  him  to 
exchange  Arnold  for  Andre.*  His  king  pensioned  his  family  and 
knighted  his  brother  ;  a  mural  monument  to  his  memory  was  placed  in 
"Westminster  Abbey,  and  in  1882  a  granite  memorial  stone  was  erected 
b}'-  a  citizen  of  New  York  (Cyrus  W.  Field)  on  the  spot  where  he  was 
hanged  as  a  spy,  to  commemorate  that  event.  It  was  destroyed  by  a 
miscreant  with  dynamite  on  the  evening  of  November  2d,  1885.  It 
bore  an  inscription  written  by  the  late  Dean  Stanley,  of  London. 

The  captors  of  Andre  were  each  awarded  a  silver  medal  and  an 
annuity  of  $200  for  life.  Arnold  received  his  stipulated  reward  for 
his  treasonable  endeavors,  and  served  as  a  British  general  in  cruel 
marauding  expeditions  against  his  countrymen.  None  of  the  British 
officers  would  serve  with  him  in  the  regular  army.  He  was  forever 
afterward  shunned  and  despised  by  all  honorable  men  on  both  sides  of 
the  ocean. 

A  few  weeks  after  the  execution  of  Andre  a  stirring  military  event 
occurred  on  Long  Island.  Some  refugee  Tories  from  Rhode  Island  had 
taken  possession  of  the  St.  George's  Manor-house  on  Smith's  Point  and 
fortified  it,  and  were  cutting  wood  for  the  supply  of  the  British  at  New 
York.  Late  in  November  Major  Benjamin  Tallmadge  crossed  Long 
Island  Sound  in  whale-boats  from  Fairfield,  Conn.,  with  eighty  dis- 
mounted dragoons,  and  at  dawn  (November  23d)  appeared  before  the 
Manor-house,  burst  through  the  stockade,  rushed  across  the  parade,  and 
assailed  the  garrison  on  three  sides,  shouting,  ''  Washington  and  glory  !" 
The  garrison  surrendered  without  resistance.  Having  secured  three 
hundred  prisoners,  they  were  returning  to  their  boats  when  they  made  a 
detour,  and  at  Coram  destroyed  three  hundred  tons  of  hay  gathered  there 
for  the  use  of  the  British  in  New  York.     The  expedition  returned  to 


*  An  attempt  was  made  to  abduct  Arnold  from  Clinton's  headquarters  at  No.  1  Broad- 
way, New  York,  and  carry  him  to  Washington's  headquarters  at  Tappan.  Sergeant 
Champe,  of  Lee's  Legion,  was  allowed  to  play  the  rdle  of  a  deserter.  He  was  met  by  the 
traitor  with  much  cordiality.  Arrangements  were  made  for  a  party  to  seize  Arnold  while 
walking  in  the  garden  at  the  British  headquarters  with  Champe,  at  evening  of  the  day 
preceding  the  execution  of  Andre.  The  quasi-deserter  was  foiled  by  being  sent  away 
with  a  party  of  British  to  Chesapeake  Bay  on  that  day. 


316  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

Connecticut  witliout  losing  a  man.  Congress  thanked  the  victors,  and 
Washington  warmly  commended  their  A-alor.* 

Civil  events  in  the  region  known  as  the  New  Hampshire  Grants  created 
much  uneasiness  not  only  in  Xew  York,  but  throughout  the  Confederacy 
in  1780.  The  controversy  between  New  York  and  the  Grants  paused, 
as  we  liave  observed,  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  for  independence  ;  but 
the  spirit  of  liberty  among  the  settlers  east  of  Lake  Champlain  continued 
conspicuously  all  through  the  period  of  that  war.  They  had  assumed  a 
provisional  independent  political  organization,  and  in  1776  had  petitioned 
the  Continental  Congress  to  admit  them  into  the  union  as  such.  New 
York  so  vehemently  opposed  their  pretensions  that  their  petition  was 
rejected. 

At  a  popular  convention  held  at  Westminster  in  January,  1777,  the 
people  of  the  Grants  declared  their  domain  an  independent  State,  for- 
ever tliereafter  to  be  "  known  and  distinguished  by  the  name  of  New 
Connecticnt,  alias  Vermont."  This  position  they  maintained  until 
Vermont  was  admitted  into  the  tTnion  in  1791. 

The  State  of  Vermont  was  much  strengthened  by  the  annexation  of 
sixteen  towns  laying  east  of  the  Connecticut  River,  which  were  claimed 
as  part  of  the  domain  of  New  Hampshire.  The  latter  State  protested  ; 
New  York  denied  the  authority  of  Vermont  as  independent  of  lier  juris- 
diction, whilst  Congress,  appealed  to,  could  do  nothing. 

In  the  southern  portion  of  Vermont  was  the  county  of  Cumberland, 
one  of  the  fourteen  political  divisions  of  New  York.  Over  tin's  county 
New  York  exercised  authority.  Vermont  claimed  it  as  her  own,  and 
Massachusetts  put  in  a  claim  for  it  and  a  portion  of  New  York,  truth- 
fully asserting  that  the  boundary  between  the  Bay  State  and  New  York 
had  never  been  settled.  The  inhabitants  themselves  claimed  to  belong 
to  New  York,  and  in  1779  Governor  Clinton  gave  commissions  to  persons 
in  that  county,  whereupon  Vermont  ordered  Colonel  Ethan  Allen  to 
raise  a  militia  force,  march  into  the  disputed  district,  and  assert  her 
authority  there.     Governor  Clinton  directed  the  people  to  remain  firm 

*  A  similar  gallant  feat  by  soldiers  from  Connecticut  had  been  performed  on  Long 
Island  in  the  spring  of  1777.  Colonel  R.  J.  Meigs  was  sent  from  Guilford  with  one 
hundred  and  seventy  men  in  whale-boats,  accompanied  by  two  armed  schooners,  to 
destroy  British  stores  at  Sag  Harbor,  on  the  eastern  end  of  Long  Islantl.  At  night  they 
crossed  over  a  portion  of  Long  Island  to  Peconic  Bay,  carrying  their  boats  with  them, 
and  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  attacked  tbe  British  guards.  An  armed  schooner 
opened  fire  upon  tliem.  The  fire  was  returned  with  spirit,  and  the  Americans  killed  or 
captured  the  whole  British  force,  destroyed  twelve  brigs  and  sloops,  one  hundred  tons  of 
hay,  a  large  quantity  of  rum  and  other  stores  and  merchandise,  and  returned  to  Guilford 
with  ninety  prisoners.     Congress  thanked  Meigs,  and  gave  him  an  elegant  sword. 


VERMONT   COQUETS   WITH   THE   BRITISH.  317 

in  their  allegiance  to  Kew  York,  and  promised  them  military  assistance 
if  required.  Congress,  having  been  appealed  to,  advised  the  four  claim- 
ants to  authorize  that  body  to  determine  the  respective  boundaries  ;  but 
really  independent  Yermont  paid  no  attention  to  the  recommendation, 
and  nothing  was  then  done. 

At  this  juncture  a  question  of  greater  magnitude  than  these  local  dis- 
putes presented  itself.  The  British  authorities  in  Canada  liad  eagerly 
Avatched  the  progress  of  the  quarrel  with  Yermont,  and  now  entertained 
hopes  that  the  latter  would  he  so  far  alienated  from  the  "  rebel  "  cause, 
by  the  opposition  of  New  York  and  the  injustice  of  Congress,  as  to  be 
induced  to  return  to  its  allegiance  to  the  British  crown.  Accordingly  in 
the  spring  of  1780  Colonel  Beverly  Robinson  wrote  to  Ethan  Allen  from 
New  York,  making  overtures  to  that  effect.  The  letter  was  delivered  to 
Allen  in  the  street  at  Arlington  by  a  spy  disguised  as  a  New  England 
farmer. 

Allen  laid  the  letter  of  Robinson  before  Governor  Chittenden  and 
others,  who  advised  silence.  In  February,  1781,  Robinson  wrote 
another  letter  to  Allen,  enclosing  a  copy  of  the  former.  Allen  made  no 
reply,  but  early  in  March  he  sent  Robinson's  letter  to  Congress,  with 
one  from  himself,  which  closed  with  the  words  : 

"  I  am  as  resolutely  determined  to  defend  the  independence  of 
Yermont  as  Congress  is  that  of  the  United  States  ;  and,  rather  than  fail, 
I  will  retire  with  the  hardy  Green  Mountain  Boys  into  the  desolate 
caverns  of  the  mountains  and  wage  war  with  human  nature  at  large." 

Meanwhile  information  of  the  first  letter  written  by  Robinson,  and 
the  sending  of  a  delegation  from  Congress  to  Yermont,  had  alarmed  the 
authorities  of  New  York.  Governor  Clinton,  suspecting  a  combination 
against  his  State,  wrote  to  James  Duane  (October  29th,  1780)  that  in 
the  event  of  a  certain  contingency  the  New  York  delegates  would  be 
withdrawn  from  Congress,  "  and  the  resources  of  the  State,  which  have 
hitherto  been  so  lavishly  afforded  the  Continent,  be  withheld  for 
the  defence  of  New  York."  Clinton  called  the  attention  of  Washing- 
ton to  the  apparent  danger,  when  the  latter  issued  orders  to  General 
Schuyler  to  arrest  Allen.  Schuyler  shared  in  Clinton's  apprehensions, 
and  wrote  from  Albany  to  the  governor  at  Poughkeepaie  (October  31st), 
saying  : 

''  The  conduct  of  some  people  to  the  eastward  is  alarmingly  mys- 
terious. A  flag,  under  pretence  of  settling  a  contest  with  Yermont,  lias 
been  on  the  Grants.  Allen  has  disbanded  his  militia,  and  the  enemy,  in 
number  upward  of  six  liundred,  are  rapidly  advancing  toward  us.  The 
night  before  last  they  were  at  Putnam's  Point.     Entreat  General  Wash- 


318 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


ington  for  more  Continental  troops,  and  let  me  l»eg  of  your  Excellency 
to  hasten  up  here." 

This  was  in  alhision  to  a  conference  between  Allen  and  Colonel 
Dundas  at  Isle  aux  Noix  concerning  an  exchange  of  prisoners.  At  that 
conference  Dundas,  under  the  direction  of  Governor  llaldiniand,  made 
verbal  proposals  to  Allen  similar  to  those  made  by  Robinson.*  Allen  now 

saw  the  opportunity  for  Yermont. 
lie  received  the  overtures  with 
apparent  favor.  Ilaldimand  and 
Dundas  were  delighted  with  their 
apparent  skill  in  diplomacy,  and 
readily  agreed  to  a  proposition, 
from  Allen  not  to  allow  hostili- 
ties on  the  Vermont  frontier 
until  after  the  meeting  of  the 
Legislature.  Hence  the  dismis- 
sal of  Allen's  militia. 

The  coquetry  of  the  brothers 
Allen  (Ethan  and  Ira)  and  six  or 
eight  other  leaders  in  Vermont 
with  the  British  authorities  in 
Canada  continued  until  the  peace 
in  1Y83,  when  dissimulation  was 
no  longer  necessary.  The  con- 
clusion of  tlic  whole  matter  may  be  stated  in  a  few  words.  The  shrewd 
diplomatists  of  Vermont  had  been  working  for  a  twofold  object — 
namely,  to  keep  the  British  troops  from  their  territory  and  to  induce 
Congress  to  admit  the  independence  of  their  domain  as  a  State  of  the 
Union.  They  outwitted  the  Britons,  hoodwinked  Congress,  and  finally 
gained  their  point.f 

*  Beverly  Robinson,  a  stanch  royalist,  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1734  ;  died  an  exile  at 
Thornbury,  England,  in  1792.  lie  was  a  major  under  Wolfe  at  Quebec.  He  married  a 
daughter  of  Frederick  Philipse.  Up  to  the  Declaration  of  Independence  he  opposed  the 
measures  of  the  British  Government ;  then  he  espoused  the  cause  of  the  crown.  He  took 
an  active  though  generally  a  secret  part  in  the  plot  of  Arnold  and  Andre.  He  accom- 
panied the  latter  on  his  voyage  up  the  Hudson  in  the  Vulture  to  have  an  interview  with 
Arnold,  who  occupied  Robinson's  house  as  headquarters  at  that  time.  He  fled  to  England, 
and  his  property  was  confiscated.  The  British  Government  allowed  him  $80,000  as  an 
indemnity  for  his  losses.  His  wife  died  iu  England  in  1822,  at  the  age  of  ninety-four 
years. 

f  Ethan  and  Ira  Allen  were  remarkable  men.  They  were  both  born  in  Connecticut, 
Ethan  in  1737,  and  Ira  in  1751.  The  latter  was  Ethan's  younger  brother.  Ethan  was 
one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  iron  works  at  Salisbury,  Conn.,  in  1762.     In  1766  he  went 


BEVERLY  ROBINSON. 


A  LONG  DISPUTE  SETTLED.  319 

Yet  the  difficnlties  between  New  York  and  Yermont  were  not  settled. 
Yiolent  measures  had  ceased  forever.  Both  parties,  however,  were 
unwilling  to  yield.  Finally  the  Legislatures  of  the  two  States  appointed 
commissioners  late  in  1789  to  settle  all  matters  of  controversy.  The 
only  serious  difficulty  that  remained  related  to  compensation  for  the 
lands  claimed  by  citizens  of  N^ew  York  which  had  been  granted  to  them 
by  Yermont.  It  was  finally  agreed  that  the  State  of  Yermont  should 
pay  to  the  State  of  N^ew  York  $30,000  in  settlement  of  their  claims. 
All  other  matters  in  dispute  were  adjusted,  and  so,  amicably,  was  ended  a 
bitter  controversy  which  had  been  carried  on  for  more  than  twenty-six 
years,  at  times  threatening  immediate  civil  war.  In  the  spring  of  1791 
Yermont  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  an  independent  but  not  a 
sovereign  State. 

The  Americans  were  not  subdned  at  the  close  of  1780,  but  their  cause 
was  in  great  peril  because  of  the  extreme  weakness  of  material  props  and 
the  absence  of  an  efficient  civil  government.  The  Continental  paper 
money,  which  had  hitherto  greatly  assisted  in  sustaining  the  cause,  had 
become  almost  worthless.  "  A  wagon-load  of  money,"  said  a  contem- 
porary, "  M'ould  not  buy  a  wagon-load  of  provisions."  The  several 
States  were  urged  to  supply  quotas  of  funds  for  the  common  use.  Their 
responses  were  slow  and  feeble,  for  there  was  no  central  power  compe- 
tent to  levy  taxes  or  demand  forced  loans.  The  idea  of  State  sovereignty 
was  all-controlling.  Finally  a  plan  of  government  which  had  been  dis- 
cussed in  Congress  since  1775  was  adopted  late  in  1777,  and  submitted  to 
the  State  Legislatures  for  ratification.  It  was  yet  unratified,  and  the 
Continental  Congress  had  but  a  shadow  of  power  independent  of  the 
States,  whose  supremacy  was  made  potential  by  the  new  constitution  of 
government,  which  was  entitled  "  Articles  of  Confederation." 

to  the  New  Hampshire  Grants,  then  almost  a  wilderness,  and,  as  we  have  observed,  was 
a  bold  leader  in  the  controversy  with  the  settlers  and  the  authorities  of  New  York.  He 
wrote  several  pamphlets  during  that  controversy.  He  was  outlawed  by  the  authorities 
of  New  York  ;  took  a  conspicuous  place  in  the  opening  scenes  of  the  Revolution  ;  was 
carried  a  prisoner  to  England  ;  was  exchanged  in  1778,  and  invested  with  the  chief  com- 
mand of  the  Vermont  militia.  He  was  a  leading  coquette  with  the  Canadian  authorities  ; 
served  as  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  Vermont  and  a  delegate  in  Congress  after  the 
war,  and  died  at  Burlington,  Vt.,  and  was  buried  there  in  February,  1789. 

Ira  Allen  was  also  an  active  patriot  during  the  old  war  for  independence  in  military 
and  civil  affairs.  He  was  Secretary  of  State  and  member  of  the  Council  of  Vermont. 
As  senior  major-general  of  Vermont,  in  1795  he  was  sent  to  Europe  to  purchase  arms  for 
his  commonwealth.  On  his  way  homeward,  with  muskets  and  cannons,  he  was  captured 
and  taken  to  England  as  a  French  emissary  intending  to  supply  the  Irish  with  arms.  He 
was  .soon  released.  He  died  in  Philadelphia  in  1814.  Allen  wrote  a  National  and 
Political  nistory  of  Vermont. 


320 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


Thoughtful  men  were  alarmed  and  perplexed.  The  young  Alexander 
Hamilton  (then  in  Wasliington's  military  family),  in  a  letter  to  James 
Duane,  one  of  the  four  New  York  members  of  Congress,  denounced 
this  scheme  of  government  as  "  neither  fit  for  war  nor  peace.  The 
uncontrollable  sovereignty  in  each  State,"  he  wrote,  "  will  defeat  the 
powers  of  Congress  and  make  our  union  feeble  and  precarious."  In 
his  letter  to  Duane  he  proposed  a  convention  of  all  the  States,  for  the 
purpose  of  constructing  a  national  government  under  the  superintendence 
of  one  supreme  head,  and  he  proposed  a  plan,  in  the  form  of  suggestions, 

which  was  substantially  adopted 
several  years  afterward. 

There  were  no  military  opera- 
tions of  great  importance  in  the 
State  of  New  York  in  1781  be- 
fore the  arrival  of  the  French 
troops,  under  Rochambeau,*  from 
Rhode  Island,  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  Hudson  River,  early  in  July. 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  had  sent  the 
traitor  Arnold,  at  the  liead  of 
about  sixteen  hundred  British 
and  Tory  marauders,  into  Virgi- 
nia. Anxious  to  serve  his  royal 
master,  Arnold  was  exceedingly 
active.  He  ascended  the  James 
River  to  Richmond,  burned  it,  with  a  very  large  quantity  of  public 
and  private  property,  and  then  made  a  plundering  raid  down  the  river. 
Alarmed  by  information  that  the  French  fleet  from  Rhode  Island  had 
sailed  for  Chesapeake  Bay,  he  fled  up  the  Elizabeth  River  and  took 
post  at  Portsmouth,  opposite  Norfolk.  Great  efforts  were  made  to 
seize  him.  Lafayette  was  sent  t(»  Virginia  with  troops  to  assist  the 
Baron  von  Steuben, f  then  in  command  there.  The  Virginia  militia  turned 
out  in  large  numbers  to  oppose  the  traitor. 

*  Count  de  Rochambeau  was  born  at  Vendome,  France,  in  1725  ;  died  in  May,  1807. 
He  entered  the  army  in  his  youth,  and  rose  rapidly  to  distinction.  With  the  commission 
of  lieutenant-general  he  came  to  America  with  troops  to  assist  the  patriots  in  their 
struggle  with  British  power.  After  the  capture  of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown,  in  1781,  he 
remained  .some  time  in  America,  returning  to  France  late  in  1782.  In  1791  he  was  made 
a  marshal  of  France  and  placed  in  command  of  the  Army  of  the  North.  He  narrowly 
escaped  the  guillotine.  Bonaparte  pensioned  him  in  1804,  and  gave  him  the  decoratiou 
of  the  Cress  of  Grand  Officer  of  the  Legion  of  Honor. 

f  Frederick  W.  A.  (Baron)  von  Steuben  was  a  native  of  Prussia,  born  at  Magdeburg, 


COUNT  DE  ROCHAMBEAU. 


CORNWALLIS   IN  VIRGINIA. 


321 


Governor  Jefferson  offered  a  reward  of  $25,000  for  liis  capture,  and  a 
portion  of  the  French  fleet  shut  him  up  in  the  Elizabeth  River.  The 
fleet  was  soon  compelled  to  retreat,  after  a  conflict  with  Admiral 
Arbuthnot. 

General  Phillips  soon  afterward  joined  Arnold  with  two  thousand  men, 
and  took  the  chief  command.  Finally  Lord  Cornwallis  entered  Yirginia 
from  North  Carolina,  joined  the  forces  of  Phillips  and  Arnold,  and 
attempted  the  subjugation  of  that  State.  He  was  driven  back  to  the 
coast  early  in  the  sum 

mer   by   the    forces    of  __  _^  , 

Steuben  and  Lafayette, 
and  took  post  at  and 
fortified  Yorktown,  on 
the  York  River.  Clin- 
ton had  ordered  him  to 
be  near  the  sea,  in  order 
to  re-enforce  the  garri- 
son at  ]^ew  York,  if 
necessary.  It  was  then 
seriously  menaced  by  the 
combined  American  and 
French  forces. 

The  Count  de  Grasse, 
a  distinguished  admiral,  was  then  in  command  of  a  French  fleet  in  the 
West  Indies,  and  Washington  was  assured  that  he  was  ready  to  co-op- 
erate M'ith  the  allied  armies  in  any  undertaking  that  promised  success. 
Meanwhile  Rochambeau  had  led  the  French  troops  from  New  England 
to  the  Hudson  River,  and  the  junction  of  the  Americans  .and  their  allies 
took  place  near  Dobb's  Ferry  on  July  6th.  Washington  was  then  con- 
teni plating  an  attack  upon  the  British  in  the  city  of  New  York,  but 
before  De  Grasse  was  ready  to  co-operate  with  him  Sir  Henry  received 

in  1730.  He  held  a  distinguished  place  in  the  Prussian  army,  and  rose  to  the  office  of 
grand  marshal  in  1764.  He  joined  the  Continental  army  in  America  in  1777,  and  was 
appointed  inspector-general,  doing  excellent  service  until  the  close  of  the  war.  For  his 
services  the  State  of  New  York  gave  him  sixteen  thousand  acres  of  wild  land  in  Oneida 
County,  where  he  built  a  log-house  for  himself.  The  National  Government  gave  him  an 
annuity  of  $2500.  He  withdrew  from  society,  and  dwelt  on  his  domain  until  his  death, 
in  November,  1794.  By  his  will  he  parcelled  his  estates  among  his  aides  (Colonels  North, 
Popham,  and  Walker)  and  twenty  or  thirty  tenants.  The  State  of  New  Jersey  also  gave 
him  a  small  farm.  He  was  kind,  generous,  and  witty,  and  possessed  polished  manners. 
Over  his  grave  in  the  town  of  Steuben,  about  seven  miles  north-west  of  Trenton  Falls,  a 
plain  monument  was  erected,  by  private  subscription,  in  1826 — simply  a  recumbent  slab 
with  his  name  upon  it. 


STEUBEN  S  MONUMENT. 


322 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


re-enforcements  (August  lltli)  of  three  thousand  troops  from  England. 
At  about  the  same  time  Washington  was  informed  that  De  Grasse  could 
not  leave  the  "West  Indies  just  then. 

Lafayette  had  written  to  Washington  that  Cornwallis  liad  made  a  great 
mistake  in  intreneliing  hiu)self  at  Yorktown,  and  urged  the  commander- 
in-chief  to  march  into  Virginia.  "  Should  a  French  fleet  enter  Hampton 
Roads,"  he  wrote,  "  tlie  British  army  would  be  compelled  to  surrender." 
For  six  weeks  the  allied  armies  lay  in  Westchester  County,  waiting  for 
the  arrival  of  De  Grasse  to  attack  New  York.  When,  a  few  days  after 
the  arrival  of  Clinton's  re-enforcements,  Washington  was  informed  that 
De  Grasse  was  about  to  sail  for  the  Chesapeake,  he  resolved  to  march  to 

Virginia  and  assist  Steuben  and 
Lafayette  in  opposing  Cornwal- 
lis. He  wrote  misleading  letters 
to  General  Greene  in  New  Jer- 
sey, and  sent  them  so  as  to  be 
intercepted  by  Sir  Henry.  Gen- 
eral Schuyler  also  wrote  a  letter 
to  Washington  for  the  same  pur- 
pose. These  letters  so  adroitly 
concealed  Washington's  real  in- 
tentions that  it  was  ten  days  after 
the  allies  had  crossed  the  Hudson 
and  were  marching  for  the  Dela- 
ware and  beyond  before  Clinton 
was  convinced  the  movement  was* 
not  a  feint  to  cover  a  sudden 
descent  upon  New  Yoi  k.  It  was 
then  too  late  to  intercept  or  suc- 
cessfully to  pursue  the  allies,  and  he  sent  Arnold  with  a  band  of  maraud- 
61*8  to  desolate  the  New  England  coast,  hoping  to  recall  the  Americans. 

Washington  was  in  chief  command  of  the  allied  armies,  and  bearing 
the  commission  of  lieutenant-general  from  the  King  of  France.  He 
arrived  before  Yorktown  with  twelve  thousand  troops  on  September 
28th,  and  soon  began  a  siege.  De  Grasse  had  already  arrived,  and  was 
guarding  the  entrance  to  Chesapeake  Bay.  The  siege  was  carried  on 
vigorously,  and  on  October  19th  Cornwallis  was  compelled  to  surrender 
to  Washington  and  De  Grasse,  himself  and  about  seven  thousand  troops, 
the  post  with  all  its  ordnance  and  supplies,  his  shipping  and  seamen.  A 
vast  concourse  of  people,  equal  in  number,  it  was  said,  to  the  military, 
was  assembled  from  the  surrounding  country  to  participate  in  the  event 


BABON   VON    STEUBEN. 


EFFECTS   OF   THE    SURRENDER   OF   CORNWALLIS.  323 

SO  joyful  to  tlie  Americans.  Ciinton  appeared  at  the  entrance  of  Chesa- 
peake Bay  a  few  days  afterward  with  seven  thousand  troops  to  re- 
enforce  Cornwallis.  It  was  too  late,  and  he  sailed  back  to  New  York 
amazed  and  disheartened. 

The  surrender  of  Cornwallis  filled  the  hearts  of  patriotic  Americans 
witii  joy,  for  it  was  a  prophecy  of  peace  and  independence.  That 
prophecy  was  soon  fulfilled.  The  desire  for  peace,  Avhich  had  long 
burned  in  the  hearts  of  the  British  people,  now  found  such  potential 
expression  that  it  was  heeded  by  the  British  Ministry. 

The  news  from  Yorktown  fell  like  a  lighted  bombshell  in  the  midst  of 
the  war  party  in  Parliament,  and  public  opinion  found  immediate  and 
vehement  expression  in  both  Houses.  Lord  North,  the  premier,  who 
had  misled  the  nation  for  twelve  years,  retired  from  office  (March  20th, 
1782),  the  advocates  for  peace  came  into  power,  and  early  in  May 
ensuing  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  who  had  succeeded  Clinton  as  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  British  forces  in  America,  arrived  at  New  York  with  propo- 
sitions for  a  reconciliation. 

Measures  were  immediately  taken  by  Congress  and  the  British  Gov- 
ernment to  arrange  a  treaty  of  peace.  Commissioners  were  appointed 
by  the  high  contracting  powers,  in  which  France,  an  ally  of  the  Ameri- 
cans, was  included,  and  on  November  30th  a  preliminary  treaty  was 
signed  at  Paris.  A  definitive  treaty  was  signed  at  the  same  place  on 
September  3d,  1783,  by  which  the  independence  of  the  United  States 
was  acknowledged  by  the  King  of  Great  Britain. 

War  had  raged  in  the  South  during  1781.  General  Nathaniel  Greene 
had  succeeded  General  Gates  in  comnmnd  of  the  Southern  army,  and 
with  the  main  body  took  post  at  Cheraw,  east  of  the  Pedee  River. 
Among  his  most  active  lieutenants  was  General  Daniel  Morgan,  who 
with  a  thousand  men  occupied  the  region  near  the  confluence  of  the 
Pacolet  and  Broad  rivers. 

Cornwallis  was  about  to  march  into  North  Carolina,  when  he  found 
himself  between  two  fires.  He  sent  the  energetic  Colonel  Tarleton  to 
capture  or  disperse  Morgan's  men.  The  belligerents  met  in  battle  at 
the  Cowpens,  in  Western  South  Carolina  (January  17th,  1781),  where 
Tarleton  was  defeated  with  much  loss.  Congress  rewarded  Morgan  with 
a  gold  medal,  and  his  two  lieutenants,  Colonels  Howard  and  Washington, 
with  a  silver  medal  each. 

Morgan  started  for  Virginia  with  his  five  hundred  prisoners  and  much 
spoil.  Cornwallis  attempted  to  intercept  or  overtake  him,  but  failed. 
Morgan  crossed  the  Catawba  before  him,  and  on  the  banks  of  tlie  Yadkin 
he  was  joined  by  Greene  and  his  escort. 


324  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Now  began  the  famous  retreat  of  the  American  army,  under  General 
Greene,  from  the  Catawba  through  North  Carolina  into  Virginia,  Corn- 
wallis  had  been  detained  by  the  sudden  swelling  of  the  Catawba  by  a 
heavy  rain.  lie  reached  the  Yadkin  (February  8d)  just  as  the  Ameri- 
cans were  safely  landed  on  the  opposite  shore.  Swelling  floods  again 
arrested  him.  Tlie  patriots  pressed  onward,  and  Cornwallis  was  soon 
again  in  full  pursuit.  At  Guilford  Court-House  Greene  was  joined  by 
his  main  army  from  Cheraw,  but  lie  was  not  strong  enough  to  fight. 
They  all  continued  the  flight,  and  after  many  escapes  the  Americans 
reached  the  Dan  (February  13tli),  and  crossed  the  rising  waters  into  the 
friendly  bosom  of  Halifax,  in  Virginia.  Cornwallis,  again  foiled  by  a 
flood,  abandoned  the  chase,  and  moved  sullenly  southward  through 
North  Carolina. 

Greene  soon  recrossed  the  Dan,  to  prevent  Cornwallis  organizing  the 
Tories  in  North  Carolina.  Recruits  had  swelled  his  ranks,  and  at  the 
beginning  of  March  he  found  himself  in  command  of  about  Ave  thousand 
troops.  He  sought  an  engagement  with  Cornwallis,  and  on  March  IStli 
they  fought  a  very  severe  battle  near  Guilford  Court-House.  Although 
the  British  remained  masters  of  the  field,  the  victory  was  almost  as 
destructive  for  Cornwallis  as  a  defeat.  "Another  such  a  victory," 
said  Charles  J.  Fox,  in  the  House  of  Commons,  "  will  ruin  the  British 
army."  The  battalions  of  Cornwallis  were  so  shattered  that  he 
could  not  maintain  the  advantage  he  had  gained.  Thoroughly  dis- 
pirited, he  abandoned  Western  North  Carolina,  and  moved  with  his 
whole  army  to  Wilmington,  leaving  Lord  Rawdon  in  command  of  a 
British  force  at  Camden.  Cornwallis  soon  afterward  marched  into 
Virginia. 

Greene  with  all  his  force  pursued  Cornwallis  some  distance,  and  then 
marched  for  Camden.  He  encamped  upon  Hobkirk's  Hill,  within  a 
mile  of  liawdon's  encampment,  where  he  was  surprised  by  the  British 
forces  on  the  morning  of  April  25th,  After  a  sharp  battle  of  several 
hours  Greene  was  defeated,  but  on  his  retreat  he  carried  away  all  his 
artillery  and  baggage  and  fifty  British  prisoners. 

Greene's  army  began  to  increase,  when  Rawdon,  alarmed  for  the 
safety  of  his  posts  in  the  lower  country,  abandoned  Camden  and  took 
position  at  Nelson's  Ferry,  on  the  Santee.  Within  the  space  of  a  week 
the  Americans  seized  four  important  posts,  and  Greene  was  making  rapid 
marches  toward  Fort  Ninety-Six,  on  the  site  of  the  (present)  village  of 
Cambridge,  in  Abbeville  District.  In  all  these  operations  Greene  was 
greatly  aided  by  Colonel  Henry  Lee  ("  Light  Horse  Harry")  and  his 
famous  Legion.     At  the  beginning  of  June  the  British  possessed  only 


GREENE'S  OPERATIONS  IN  SOUTH  CAROLINA.        325 

three  posts  in  South  Carohna — namely,  Charleston,  ]S"elson's  Ferry,  and 
Ninety-Six, 

General  Greene  began  tlie  siege  of  Ninety-Six  on  May  22d,  but  on 
the  approach  of  Eavvdon  with  a  strong  force  he  was  compelled  to 
abandon  it  on  June  19th,  Meanwhile  Lee,  Pickens,  and  others  had 
gained  victories  on  the  Savannah  Eiver.  They  captured  Fort  Galphin, 
below  Augusta,  on  May  21st,  and  after  a  siege  of  eleven  days  and  a  final 
assault  Augusta  was  surrendered  to  Lee  and  Pickens.  Then  the  victors 
hastened  to  join  Greene  before  Ninety-Six,  and  with  him  they  retreated 
beyond  the  Saluda  River.  The  Americans  finally  crossed  the  Congaree, 
and  the  main  body  encamped  during  the  hot  and  sickly  season  on  the 
High  Hills  of  Santee,  in  Santee  District. 

Pavvdon  left  his  army  at  Orangeburg  with  Colonel  Stewart  and 
returned  to  England.  Re-enforced  by  North  Carolina  troops,  Greene 
crossed  the  Wateree  at  the  close  of  August,  and  marched  upon  Orange- 
burg, when  Stewart  retreated  to  Eutaw  Springs,  near  the  Santee.  Greene 
pursued  and  overtook  him  there,  and  on  the  morning  of  September  8th 
they  fought  a  sanguinary  battle.  The  ximericans  were  victorious  at 
first,  but  lost  the  prize  for  which  they  contended,  by  imprudence.  Unex- 
pectedly the  British  renewed  the  conflict,  and  after  a  severe  struggle  for 
several  hours  the  Americans  were  defeated.  Stewart,  however,  thought 
it  prudent  to  retreat  toward  Charleston  during  the  night,  and  on  the  9th 
Greene  took  possession  of  the  battle-field.  Congress  rewarded  him  with 
a  gold  medal  and  other  honors. 

Annoyed  by  the  active  partisan  corps  in  South  Carolina,  the  British 
soon  afterward  evacuated  their  interior  posts  and  retired  to  Charleston. 
At  the  close  of  1781  they  w^ere  confined  to  the  cities  of  Charleston  and 
Savannah. 


326 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

The  Americans  did  not  relax  their  vigilance  while  negotiations  for 
peace  were  in  progress.  The  army  was  kept  intact,  for  British  troops 
seemed  still  disposed  to  be  aggressive.  The  last  blood  shed  in  the  Kevo- 
hition  was  spilled  in  a  skirmish  with  a  British  foraging  party  not  far  from 
Charleston  in  August,  1782.  Already  the  British  troops  had  evacuated 
Savannah  (July  11th),  but  they  held  Charleston  until  December  14th, 


KOOM    IN   WASHINGTON  S  HEADQUARTERS. 

when  they  left  it  forever,  and  the  city  of  New  York  alone  was  then  in 
possession  of  the  Britons.     They  remained  there  almost  a  year  longer. 

Meanwhile  the  State  of  l^ew  York  became  the  theatre  of  most 
important  events  in  the  career  of  the  Continental  army,  encamped  between 
Newburgh  and  New  Windsor,  above  the  Hudson  Highlands.  The  head- 
quarters of  the  army  was  at  Newburgh.*     In  the  autumn  of  1Y82  it  was 


*  The  quaint  old  stone  lionse  at  Newburj^h  used  by  Wasliington  as  headquarters  is  yet 
standinij;,  and  is  preserved  in  its  original  form  outside  and  in.     It  is  the  property  of  the 


PATRIOTISM  EXPOSED   TO   TEMPTATION.  327 

temporarily  transferred  to  Verplanck's  Point,  below  the  Highlands,  to 
meet  the  French  troops  on  their  return  from  Virginia,  preparatory  to 
their  marching  into  New  England  to  embark  for  France.  At  that  time 
the  Continental  army  numbered  about  ten  thousand  men. 

The  joy  inspired  by  the  prospects  of  peace  was  mingled  by  gloomy 
forebodings  concerning  the  future.  The  army,  which  through  the  most 
terrible  sufferings  had  been  faithful  and  become  a  conqueror,  was  soon 
to  be  disbanded,  and  thousands  of  soldiers,  many  of  them  made  invalids 
by  their  hard  service  in  the  field,  would  be  compelled  to  seek  a  liveli- 
liood  in  the  midst  of  the  desolation  which  war  had  produced. 

For  a  long  time  the  public  treasury  had  been  empty,  and  neither 
officers  nor  private  soldiers  had  received  any  pay  for  several  months. 
Murmurings  of  discontent  were  heard  throughout  the  army.  The  weak- 
ness of  the  Confederation  was  ascribed  to  its  republican  form,  and  many 
men  sighed  for  a  stronger  government.  A  change,  to  be  wrought  by 
the  army,  was  actually  proposed  by  Colonel  Nicola,  a  meritorious  foreign 
officer  of  the  Pennsylvania  line.  In  a  well  written  letter  addressed 
(May,  1782)  to  the  commander-in-chiaf  at  his  headquarters  at  Newbui*gh, 
he  not  only  urged  the  necessity  of  a  monarchy,  but  endeavored  to 
persuade  Washington  to  become  King,  by  the  voice  of  the  army,  in 
imitation  of  the  actions  of  the  Poman  legions.  The  sharp  rebuke  admin- 
istered by  the  commander-in-chief  in  his  reply  checked  all  further  move- 
ments in  that  direction. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  winter  of  1783  the  discontent  in  the  army 
assumed  a  more  formidable  shape.  The  officers  had  asked  Congress  to 
make  a  full  settlement  of  all  accounts,  past  and  present.  That  body, 
feeble  in  resources,  would  not  make  any  definite  promises  of  present 
relief  or  future  justice.  This  increased  the  discontent,  and  early  in  the 
spring  (March  11th)  a  well-written  anonymous  address,  purporting  to  be 
from  a  suffering  veteran,  M^as  circulated  through  the  American  camp. 
It  advised  the  army  to  take  matters  into  its  own  hands,  and  make  a 
demonstration  that  should  alarm  the  people  and  Congress,  and  thus 
obtain  justice.  It  declared  that  to  be  tame  in  their  present  situation 
would  be  worse  than  weakness  on  the  part  of  the  soldiers,  and  it 
exhorted  them  to  "  suspect  the  man  who  could  advise  to  more  modera- 
tion and  longer  forbearance."  The  tenor  of  the  whole  address  was 
inflammatorv.  With  it  was  privately  circulated  a  notification  of  a  meet- 
State  of  Xew  York,  <and  in  the  custody  of  the  corporation  of  Newburgh.  It  presents  the 
remarkable  feature  in  one  room  (which  Wasliington  used  as  a  dining-room)  of  seven  doors 
and  only  one  window,  with  a  huge  fireplace,  which  is  large  enough  to  admit  of  roasting 
a  small  bullock  whole.     The  house  is  filled  with  relics  of  the  Revolution. 


328 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


ing  of  officers  at  a  large  building  called  the  Temple,  which  had  been 
erected  for  tiie  use  of  public  gatherings  and  the  Free  Masons  of  the  army. 
These  papers  were  brought  to  the  notice  of  Washington  on  the  day 
they  were  issued.  He  referred  to  them  in  general  orders  the  next 
morning  ;  expressed  his  disapproval  ;  invited  tlie  general  and  field- 
officers  of  the  army  to  assemble  at  the  Temple  at  noon  on  the  19th 
(March,  1783),  and  requested  General  Gates  to  preside  at  the  meeting. 
There  was  a  full  attendance.  Washington  stepped  upon  the  platform  to 
read  an  address  which  he  had  prepared  for  the  occasion.  As  he  put  on 
liis  spectacles  he  remarked  :  "  You  see,  gentlemen,  I  have  not  only 

grown  gray  but  Ijlind  in  your 
service."  These  words  touched 
a  tender  chord  of  sympathy  in 
all  hearts. 

The  address  was  a  model — 
compact  in  construction,  digni- 
fied and  patriotic  in  sentiment, 
mild  yet  severe  in  its  strictures, 
and  abounding  with  the  most 
important  suggestions  concerning 
the  best  interests  of  the  army, 
represented  by  the  men  before 
him,  the  citizens,  the  Republic, 
and  human  freedom.  On  clos- 
ing his  address  Washington  im- 
mediately  retired,  leaving  the 
officers  to  discuss  the  subject 
unrestrained  by  his  presence. 
The  deliberations  of  the  officers  were  brief.  They  unanimously  con- 
demned the  addresses  ;  voted  thanks  to  their  chief  for  the  course  he  had 
pursued  ;  expressed  their  unabated  attachment  to  his  pei-son  ;  declared 
their  unshaken  confidence  in  the  good  faith  of  Congress,  and  their 
determination  to  bear  with  patience  their  grievances  until  they  should 
be  redressed. 

The  author  of  the  seditious  addresses  was  Major  John  Armstrong,  a 
member  of  Gates's  military  family  and  a  young  man  then  twenty-five 
years  of  age.     lie  was  Secretary  of  War  in  Madison's  Cabinet  in  1814. 

A  few  weeks  later  the  disbanding  of  the  Continental  army  began  at 
New  Windsor  and  its  vicinity.  Congress  proclaimed  a  cessation  of 
hostilities  on  April  19th.  The  soldiers  who  had  enlisted  "  for  the  war" 
claimed  the  right  to  go  home.     Congress  insisted  that  their  terms  of 


LP:MtIEIi  COOK. 


LxiTEST   SURVIVOR   OF   THE   CONTINENTAL  ARMY, 


329 


enlistment  would  not  expire  before  a  definitive  treaty  of  peace  should  be 
effected.  Washington  exercised  the  office  of  mediator  and  pacificator. 
He  issued  long  and  really  indefinite  furloughs  to  all  the  soldiers  excepting 
those  who  re-enlisted  until  a  peace  establishment  should  be  organized. 
The  furloughed  soldiers  went  home  and  never  returned.  A  definitive 
treaty  of  peace  was  signed  at  Paris  on  September  3d  (1783),  and  on 
October  J8th  Congress,  by  proclamation,  discharged  the  soldiers  of  the 
Continental  army.* 

Before  the  beginning  of  the  disbandment  of  the  army  in  June  (1783) 
the  officers,  at  the  suggestion  of  General  Knox,  formed  an  association  at 
their  cantonment,  near  Newburgh,  having  for  its  chief  objects  the  promo- 
tion of  cordial  friendship  and  indissoluble  union  among  themselves,  and 
to  extend  benevolent  aid  to  such  of  its  members  as  might  need  assistance. 
They  named  the  organization  the   Society  of   the  Cincinnati.     Wash- 

*  The  number  of  the  soldiers  of  the  Continental  army  at  its  disbandment,  and  its  con- 
dition, was  much  the  same  as  it  was  at  the  time  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  seven 
years  before.  On  July  4th  it  consisted  of  7754  men  present  and  fit  for  duty,  including 
one  regiment  of  artillery.  Their  arms  were  in  a  wretched  condition.  Nearly  one  half 
the  muskets  of  the  infantry  were  without  bayonets.  During  the  war  231,771  soldiers 
were  enrolled  in  the  Continental  army.  These  were  furnished  by  the  respective  States, 
each  in  number,  as  follows  : 


New  Hampshire 12,497 

Massachusetts 67,907 

Bhode  Island 5,908 

Connecticut 31,ft39 

NewYork    17,781 

New  Jersey 10,726 

Pennsylvania 2.5,678 


Delaware 2,386 

Maryland 13,912 

Virginia 26,678 

North  Carolina 7,263 

South  Carolina 6,417 

Georgia 2,679 

Total 331,771 


The  last  two  survivors  of  the  Continental  army  were  Lemuel  Cook,  of  New  York,  and 
William  Hutcliings,  of  Maine.  Cook  was  born  at  Plymouth,  Lichfield  County,  Conn., 
in  1764,  and  died  at  Clarendon,  Orleans  County,  N.  Y.,  May  20th,  1866,  at  the  -age  of 
one  hundred  and  two  years.  Hutcliings  was  born  at  York,  Maine,  October  6th,  1764, 
and  died  May  2d,  1866,  also  nearly  one  hundred  and  two  years  of  age.  Lemuel  Cook 
enteretl  the  military  service  of  his  country  in  the  spring  of  1781,  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years,  and  was  with  the  allied  armies  in  the  campaign  against  Cornwallis  in  Virginia. 
He  was  one  of  the  regulars,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Second  Regiment  of  Light 
Dragoons,  commanded  by  Colonel  Sheldon,  but  was  soon  mustered  into  the  infantry. 
At  the  end  of  the  war  he  was  discharged  at  Danbury,  Conn.  He  soon  afterward  married 
Hannah  Curtis,  of  Cheshire,  Conn.,  by  whom  he  had  seven  sons  and  four  daughters. 
He  married  a  second  wife  when  he  was  seventy  years  of  age.  In  his  earlier  years  he 
lived  in  the  then  almost  wilderness  region  of  Utica,  N.  Y.  Most  of  his  children  were 
born  in  Connecticut.  He  moved  into  Central  New  York  with  his  young  family,  and 
lived  at  Clarendon  about  thirty  years  previous  to  his  death.  He  was  a  farmer  all  his  life. 
In  1863  his  annual  pension  was  increased  from  $100  to  $200,  and  the  last  year  of  his  life 
to  $300.  New  York  has  the  distinction  of  having  as  a  citizen  the  Imt  siirnving  soldier  of 
the  Continental  army. 


330 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


ington  was  chosen  its  president  and  General  Henry  Knox  its  secretary. 
This  was  called  the  General  Society.  State  societies  were  formed 
auxiliary  to  the  general  society.  To  perpetuate  the  association,  its  con- 
stitution entitled  the  eldest  masculine  de- 
scendant of  an  original  member  to  wear 
the  order,  or  badge,  and  enjoy  the  priv- 
ileges of  the  society.* 

The  last  act  in  the  drama  of  the  old 
war  for  independence  was  performed  at  the 
city  of  New  York  late  in  1783.  The 
opening  scene  was  the  flight  of  the  Loyal- 
ists, or  Tories.  These  supporters  of  the 
crown  were  numerous  and  active,  especially 
in  New  York  City  and  State.  They  had 
aroused  the  most  intense  indignation — nay, 
hatred,  of  the  Whigs  against  them  by  their 
oppressive  conduct,  civil  and  military,  and 
when  it  was  known  that  the  British  troops 
were  soon  to  leave  the  city  of  New  York 
they  hastened,  with  the  utmost  consterna- 
tion, to  fly  to  some  place  of  refuge  from 
the  impending  wrath  of  the  patriots. 

In  October  a  fleet  of  transports  conveyed 
hundreds  of  Loyalists,  or  Tories,  to  Nova 
Scotia,  and  at  the  evacuation  (which  was 
delayed  for  want  of  vessels  to  transport 
them)  other  hundreds  fled  to  the  same 
British  province. 

The  property  of  many  Loyalists  in  the 
State  of  New  York  was  confiscated  by  laws 
passed  for  the  purpose  during  the  war,  but 
after  peace  and  independence  were  estab- 
lished justice  and  policy  required  a  general 
anmesty.  The  harsh  laws  were  repealed, 
and  much  of  the  confiscated  property  was 
restored.  Many  of  the  refugees  in  Nova  Scotia  who  could  procure  the 
means  to  do  so  came  back,  and  in  the  course  of  a  score  of  vears  the 


OKDER   OF   THE   SOCIETY   OF   THE 
CINCINNATI. 


*  Tli6  order  or  badge  of  tlie  society  consisted  of  a  golden  spread  eagle,  with  enamel- 
ling, suspended  on  a  ribbon.  On  the  brea.st  of  tlie  eagle  is  a  medallion  with  a  device  repre- 
senting Cinciunatus  at  his  plough  receiving  the  Roman  senators  who  came  to  offer  him 
the  chief  magistracy  of  Rome. 


EVACUATIO^^   OF   NEW   YORK   BY   THE   BKITISH.  331 

social  animosities  engendered  bj  the  war  were  healed  or  greatly  modi- 
fied. 

The  time  fixed  for  the  evacuation  of  New  York  was  November  25th. 
On  the  morning  of  that  day  General  Washington  and  his  staff  and  Gov- 
ernor Clinton  and  staff,  escorted  by  General  Knox  and  some  troops  who 
came  down  from  West  Point,  appeared  at  tlie  (present)  junction  of  Third 
and  Fourth  avenues — the  "  head  of  the  Bowery  Lane" — and  halted  there 
until  noon.  At  one  o'clock,  when  the  British  had  withdrawn  to  the 
water's  edge  for  embarkation,  the  Americans  marched  into  the  city,  the 
general  and  governor  at  their  head,  and  before  three  o'clock  General 
Knox  had  taken  possession  of  Fort  George,  at  the  foot  of  Broadway,  amid 
the  acclamations  of  thousands  of  citizens  and  the  roar  of  artillery.  Then 
Washington  and  his  oflicers  retired  to  Fraunce's  Tavern.*  Governor 
Clinton  and  the  civil  oflicers  w^ent  to  the  City  Hall  and  re-established 
civil  government,  and  at  evening  the  chief  magistrate  gave  a  public  din- 
ner at  Fraunce's  Tavern.  The  last  sail  of  the  British  fleet  that  bore 
away  the  army  and  the  Loyalists  did  not  disappear  beyond  the  Narrows 
before  twilight. 

The  final  scene  in  the  last  act  was  now  performed.  Washington  as- 
sembled his  oflicers  in  a  large  room  in  Fraunce's  Tavern  on  December 
4th,  and  there  bade  them  farewell.  He  entered  the  room,  and  taking  a 
glass  of  wine  in  his  hand,  said  : 

"  With  a  heart  full  of  love  and  gratitude  I  now  take  leave  of  you.  I 
most  devoutly  wish  that  your  latter  days  may  be  as  prosperous  and 
happy  as  your  former  ones  have  been  glorious  and  honorable."  Having 
tasted  the  wine,  he  continued  :  "  1  cannot  come  to  each  of  you  to  take 
my  leave,  but  shall  be  obliged  to  you  if  each  will  come  and  take  me  by 
the  hand." 

A  tender  scene  ensued.  Tears  moistened  the  war-worn  cheeks  of  the 
veterans  before  him  as  each  pressed  the  hand  of  their  beloved  commander 
and  received  from  his  lips  a  kiss  upon  their  foreheads.  Then  Wash- 
ington left  the  room  in  silence,  passed  through  a  corps  of  light  infantry, 
walked  to  Whitehall  (now  the  Staten  Island  Ferry),  followed  by  a  large 
multitude  of  grateful  citizens,  and  at  two  o'clock  p.m.  entered  a  barge  that 


*  This  building,  yet  standing,  is  on  the  corner  of  Broad  and  Pearl  streets.  It  was 
partially  destroyed  by  tire  in  .June,  1852.  Samuel  Fraunce,  the  proprietor,  had  a  dark 
complexion,  and  was  called  "Black  Sam."  When  President  Washington  resided  in 
New  York  Fraunce  became  the  caterer  for  the  Presidential  mansion.  Freneau,  in  his 
"  Hugh  Gaine's  Petition,"  makes  that  time-server  allude  to  the  cannonade  of  the  Asia, 
man-of-war,  and  say  : 

"  At  first  we  supposed  it  was  only  a  sham 
Till  he  drove  a  round  ball  through  the  roof  of  Black  Sara." 


332 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


conveyed  liim  to  Paulus'  Hook  (now  Jersey  City),  wlience  he  journeyed 
first  to  Philadelphia  and  thence  to  Annapolis,  where  the  Continental 
Congress  was  in  session.  To  that  body,  assembled  in  the  Senate  Chamber 
of  the  old  State  House,  at  noon  on  December  23d  (1783),  he  resigned 
his  commission  of  commander-in-chief  of  the  armies,  which  he  received 
from  them  more  than  eight  years  before. 

From  x\nnapolis  Washington  journeyed  to  Mount  Yernon  in  liis  own 
carriage,  accompanied  by  his  wife,  where  he  arrived  on  Christmas  eve. 
Then  he  laid  aside  his  sword  and  military  garments,  and,  joyfully  resign- 

^1      ^ 


FIRST  GREAT   SEAL  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK. 


ing  the  cnrcs  of  public  life,  like  Cincinnatus,  returned  to  his  plough — a 
farmer  on  the  banks  of  the  Potomac. 

During  all  the  stormy  period,  from  the  foundation  of  the  State  Govern- 
ment, in  the  summer  of  1777,  until  the  departure  of  the  last  liostile  foot 
from,  its  shores,  in  1783,  New  York  liad  been  laying  the  foundations  of 
its  future  greatness  strong  and  deep,  and  at  the  same  time  it  had  been 
just  and  generous  in  its  fraternal  relations  with  its  sister  States.  It 
grappled  the  great  task  before  it  with  energy  and  wisdom.  It  held 
a  commanding  position.  The  prominent  part  it  had  taken  in  the  mighty 
struggle  just  ended  ;  the  fact  that  it  alone  of  all  the  States  had  promptly 


CAPITAL   OF  THE   STATE   AND   SEALS. 


333 


met  every  requirement  of  tlie  Provisional  General  Government,  and  even 
made  advances  on  its  own  credit  to  supply  the  deficiencies  of  other 
States  ;  its  extensive  commerce  and  large  territory,  and  the  ability  and 
patriotism  of  its  leading  statesmen,  entitled  it  to  special  consideration, 
and  gave  it  great  weight  in 
the  councils  of  the  nation. 

The  sessions  of  the  State 
Legislature  were  held  alter- 
nately at  Poughkeepsie,  New 
York,  and  Albany,  after  the 
fliffht  from  Kin2:ston  in  the 
fall  of  1777,  until  the  begin- 
ning of  1798 — a  period  of 
about  twenty  years.  At  that 
time  Albany  became  the  per- 
manent political  capital  of  the 
State,  and  a  new  great  seal 
was  adopted.* 

The  first  care  of  the  Leg- 
islature   after    the    war    was 
the  adjustment  of  boundaries, 
land  claims,  etc.     In  this  par- 
ticular New  York  found  itself  in  a  peculiar  situation,  because  of  rival 
claims  to  its  soil.     Of  the  territory  which,  by  the  treaty  of  peace,  was 
ceded  by  Great  Britain  to  the  United  States  in  their  collective  capacity, 
each  of  the  individual  States  claimed  such  portions  as  were  compre- 


SECOKD  GKEAT  SEAL  OF  THE  STATE  OP  NEW  YORK. 


*  Three  great  seals  of  the  State  of  New  York  have  been  made.  The  first  two  were 
pendant,  and  the  third  is  incumbent.  The  first  great  seal,  adopted  in  1777  by  the  con- 
vention that  framed  the  State  Constitution,  was  rudely  engraved  on  brass.  It  bore  on 
one  side  a  rising  sun  ;  motto,  Excelsior  ;  legend,  The  Great  Seal  of  the  State  of 
New  York.  On  the  other  side  a  rock  in  the  midst  of  the  ocean,  and  the  word  Frustra. 
The  above  engraving  is  from  a  drawing  of  an  impression  made  on  beeswax  and  attached 
to  a  commission  signed  by  Governor  Clinton.  It  shows  the  method  of  attaching  pendant 
seals  to  the  parchment.  It  is  three  and  a  quarter  inches  in  diameter  and  about  three 
eighths  of  an  inch  in  thickness.  A  second  seal  was  authorized  in  1798,  and  the  description 
was  recorded,  January  22d,  1799,  as  follows  :  "  The  arms  of  the  State  complete,  with 
supporters,  crest,  and  motto  ;  round  the  same.  The  Great  Seal  op  the  State  of  New 
York.  On  the  reverse  a  rock  and  waves  beating  against  it ;  motto,  '  Frustra  above  ; 
1798  below.'  "     The  obverse  of  the  seal  is  delineated  above. 

In  1809  the  great  seal  (incumbent)  now  in  use  was  ordered,  and  was  first  attached  to  a 
document  in  November  of  that  year.  It  bears  the  arms  of  the  State  of  New  York,  a  little 
modified  in  the  design.  In  the  second  seal  the  supporters  are  standing  ;  in  the  third  they 
are  sitting.     In  both  the  crest  is  the  same — an  eagle  preparing  to  soar  from  a  demi-globe. 


334  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

liended  within  their  original  grants  or  charters.  Massachusetts  conse- 
quently laid  claim  to  a  strip  of  land  equal  to  its  own  extent  north  and 
south,  and  extending  westward  to  "the  South  Sea,"  or  tlie  Pacific 
Ocean.  This  included  all  the  territory  of  New  York  between  the 
latitude  of  Troy  on  the  north  and  the  northern  part  of  Ducliess  County 
on  the  south.  Connecticut  made  a  similar  claim  on  the  same  pretext. 
This  would  have  included  nearly  all  southern  New  York.  Before  con- 
sidering these  claims,  let  us  take  a  brief  notice  of  the  rights  of  older 
and  more  legitimate  possessors  and  actual  occupants  of  the  soil  of  Kew 
York — the  Six  Nations, 

The  conditions  of  peace  with  the  Six  Nations  were  settled  between 
them  and  the  United  States  at  a  treaty  held  at  Fort  Stanwix  (Schuyler, 
now  Rome)  in  October,  1784,  at  which  Oliver  Wolcott,  Richard  Butler, 
and  Arthur  Lee  represented  the  United  States.  By  that  treaty  the 
western  boundary  of  the  Six  Nations  was  fixed  at  the  longitudinal  par- 
allel of  Buffalo.  Red  Jacket,  afterward  the  great  Seneca  chief,  then 
first  appeared  as  an  orator  in  opposition  to  the  treaty,  which  deprived 
the  Confederacy  of  their  hunting-grounds  north  of  the  Ohio.  The  Six 
Nations  were  guaranteed  the  peaceable  possession  of  their  lands  eastward 
of  the  boundary  named,  excepting  a  reservation  of  six  miles  square 
around  Fort  Oswego. 

From  time  to  time  after  1785  the  State  and  individuals  procured  lands 
from  the  Indians  by  cession  or  by  purchase.  The  Tuscaroras  and 
Oneidas  first  parted  with  some  of  their  territories  in  1785.  In  1788 
both  the  Oneidas  and  the  Onondagas  disposed  of  all  their  lands,  except- 
ing some  reservations,  and  in  1789  the  Cayugas  ceded  all  their  lands  to 
the  State,  excepting  a  reservation  of  one  hundred  square  miles  exclusive 
of  Cayuga  Lake.  In  each  case  the  right  of  free  hunting  and  fishing  in 
all  the  counties  was  reserved. 

The  Senecas  parted  with  most  of  their  territory  in  1797.  The  same 
year  the  Mohawks,  most  of  whom  fled  to  Canada  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
relinquished  all  their  lands  to  the  State  for  a  consideration.  So  late  as 
1819  there  were  about  five  thousand  of  the  Six  Nations  in  the  State,  in 
possession,  in  eleven  reservations,  of  two  hundred  and  seventy-one 
thousand  acres  of  land.  In  1838  tliese  lands  had  been  disposed  of, 
nearly  all  the  titles  extinguished,  and  the  Indian  population  had  removed 
westward,  some  of  them  beyond  the  Mississippi  River.  Such  was  the  final 
act  in  the  drama  of  the  once  powerful  barbarian  republic  in  the  State  of 
New  York — the  great  Iroquois  League.  It  now  disappeared  from  the 
face  of  the  earth  and  entered  the  realm  of  past  history. 

The  claim  of  Massachusetts  to  a  part  of  the  territory  of  New  York 


DISPOSITION  OF  NEW  YORK  TERRITORY.  335 

was  amicably  adjusted  by  a  conventiou  held  at  Hartford  in  December, 
1786,  when  it  was  agreed  that  the  Bay  State  should  cede  to  New  York 
all  claims  to  "government,  sovereignty,  and  jurisdiction"  over  about 
six  million  acres  of  the  soil,  including  what  is  known  as  "  Western  New 
York."  The  domain  extended  from  a  line  drawn  north  and  south 
between  Pennsylvania  and  Canada  on  the  meridian  of  Seneca  Lake  to  the 
western  boundary  of  the  territory  of  the  Six  Nations,  already  defined. 
At  the  same  time  New  York  ceded  to  Massachusetts  and  to  her  grantees 
and  their  heirs  the  right  of  pre-emption  of  the  soil  from  the  native 
Indians,  and  "all  other  estate,  right,  title,  and  property,"  excepting 
government,  sovereignty,  etc.  The  claim  of  Connecticut  was  summarily 
rejected.* 

Massachusetts  proceeded  to  sell  the  right  of  pre-emption  of  this  tract. 
In  1T8S  Oliver  Phelps  and  Nathaniel  Gorham  bargained  for  the  whole 
tract,  agreeing  to  pay  $1,000,000.  Unable  to  fulfil  the  conditions,  they 
took  two  million  six  hundred  thousand  acres.  Between  that  time  and 
1793  the  remainder  of  the  domain  was  disposed  of  to  several  purchaser8,f 
and  settlements  were  soon  afterward  begun. 

After  the  peace  (1783)  Congress,  considering  measures  for  meeting  the 
claims  of  public  creditors,  invited  the  several  States  to  vest  in  that  body 
power  to  levy  duties  on  imports  within  their  respective  jurisdictions. 
All  the  States  had  acceded  to  this  request  in  1786  excepting  New  York. 
This  State  reserved  that  right  to  itself,  and  refused  to  make  the  col- 
lectors amenable  to  and  removable  by  Congress.  It  also  made  the  duties 
payable  in  tiie  bills  of  credit  issued  by  the  State.  At  this  juncture 
Congress  asked  Governor  Clinton  to  call  a  special  session  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, for  the  purpose  of  passing  a  law  conformable  to  those  of  other  States 
concerning  the  public  revenue.      The    governor   refused   compliance. 

*  Under  this  claim  Connecticut  made  some  grants  to  settlers  within  the  State  of  New 
York,  also  in  Pennsylvania  and  in  Ohio.  The  Wyoming  Valley  was  settled  by  Con- 
necticut people,  so  also  was  the  region  in  Ohio  known  as  the  Western  Reserve. 

f  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  titles  of  the  subdivisions  of  the  Massaclmsetts  domain  in 
Western  New  York  purchased  of  the  Indians,  with  the  number  of  acres  in  each  : 

PMps  and  Gorham  tract,  2,600,000  ;  Moms  Reserve,  500,000  ;  Triangular,  87,000 ; 
Connecticut,  100,000  ;  Craffie,  50,000  ;  Ogden,  50,000  ;  Cottinger,  50,000  ;  Forty  Thousand 
Acre,  40,000  ;  Sterritt,  150,000  ;  Church,  100,000  ;  Morris's  Honorary  Creditors,  58,570  ; 
Holland  Company's  Purchase,  3,600,000  ;  Boston  Ten  Towns,  230,400.  Before  the  close 
of  the  last  century  a  larger  portion  of  the  soil  of  Northern  New  York  was  in  the  posses- 
sion of  land  speculators.  Among  them  xVlexander  Macomb,  father  of  General  Macomb, 
was  the  most  extensive  holder,  in  Franklin,  St.  Lawrence,  Jefferson,  LewiS;  Oswego,  and 
Herkimer  counties.  He  purchased  over  two  million  tive  hundred  thousand  acres  for 
eighteen  cents  an  acre,  on  a  long  credit,  without  interest.  This  reckless  squandering  of 
the  public  domains  by  the  commissioners  of  the  Land  Office  was  severely  condemned. 


33G  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Tin's  independent  action  of  ^New  York  made  the  inherent  weakness  of 
the  Articles  of  Confederation,  as  a  form  of  national  government,  very 
conspicuous.  New  York  had  already  taken  official  action,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  giving  to  Congress  more  power  for  the  collecting  of  revenue  than 
had  yet  been  proposed.* 

Washington  had  observed  with  great  anxiety  the  tendency  toward  ruin 
of  the  new  government,  and  he  now  proposed  a  convention  of  represen- 
tatives of  the  States  to  consider  amendments  of  the  Articles.  A  conven- 
tion was  called  at  Annapolis  in  September,  1780.  Only  five  States 
responded.  Kew  York  was  one  of  them,  and  was  represented  by  Alex- 
ander Hamilton.  Nothing  was  done  except  to  recommend  the  assem- 
bling of  another  convention  at  Philadelphia  in  May  the  next  year.  It 
was  done.  All  the  States  but  New  Hampshire  and  Rhode  Island  were 
represented.  Robert  Yates,  John  Lansing,  Jr.,  and  Alexander  Ham- 
ilton represented  New  York.  Washington,  a  delegate  from  Virginia, 
was  chosen  president  of  the  convention.  He  was  ably  supported  by 
eminent  statesmen  from  the  several  commonwealths.  The  convention 
was  in  session  from  May  until  September,  1787.  It  framed  a  new  Con- 
stitution— the  one  (with  some  amendments)  under  which  the  Republic 
has  ever  since  been  governed.  Copies  of  the  instrument  were  sent  to 
the  Legislatures  of  the  several  States,  to  be  submitted  by  them  to  conven- 
tions of  delegates  chosen  by  the  people  for  approval  or  disapproval. 

Now  came  the  tug  of  war.     Differences  of  opinion  concerning  the  new 

*  "  It  is  the  glory  of  New  York,"  says  Bancroft,  "  that  its  Legislature  was  the  first  to 
impart  the  sanction  of  a  State  to  the  great  conception  of  a  Federal  Convention  to  frame  a 
constitiUion  for  the  United  States."  The  chief  instrument  in  bringing  about  such  action 
b}'  the  Legislature  of  New  York  was  the  then  foremost  character  in  the  State,  General 
Philip  Schuyler,  assisted  by  his  son-in-law.  Colonel  Alexander  Hamilton.  From  the  very 
beginning  of  the  discussion  of  plans  for  a  national  government  Schuyler  had  deprecated 
the  essential  weakness  of  the  proposed  Articles  of  Confederation,  and  urged,  on  all  occa- 
sions, the  absolute  necessity  of  u  strong  general  government.  At  length  the  (Continental 
Congress,  in  May,  1782,  considering  the  desperate  condition  of  the  finances  of  the  country, 
appointed  delegates  to  explain  the  common  danger  to  the  authorities  of  all  the  States. 
Governor  Clinton  called  an  extra  session  of  the  State  of  New  York  to  receive  the  delega- 
tion which  had  been  sent  North.  They  met  at  Poughkeepsie  in  July.  Hamilton  repaired 
thither  and  lield  consultations  with  the  members  of  the  Legislature,  especially  with  his 
father-in-law.  On  motion  of  Schuyler  the  Legislature  resolved  itself  into  a  Committee 
of  the  Whole  on  the  State  of  the  Nation.  They  adopted  a  series  of  resolutions,  drafted, 
it  is  believed,  by  Hamilton,  declaring  the  necessity  for  a  stronger  national  government, 
that  should  have  power  to  provide  it.self  with  a  sufficient  revenue  for  the  public  use. 
The  Legislatm-e  incited  Congress,  for  the  common  welfare,  "to  recommend  and  each 
State  to  adopt  the  measure  of  assembling  a  general  convention  of  the  States  specially 
authorized  to  revise  and  amend  the  Confederation,  reserving  the  right  of  the  respective 
Legislatures  to  ratify  their  determinations." 


POLITICAL  PARTIES   IN   NEW  YORK. 


337 


Constitution  everywhere  prevailed.  Radical  differences  in  sentiment 
had  been  conspicuous  in  the  convention  that  framed  it.  The  adherents, 
respectively,  of  the  idea  of  a  strong  central  government  and  of  State 
supremacy  were  apparently  irreconcilably  antagonistic. 

Two  of  the  Kew  York  delegates — Yates  and  Lansing — were  decidedly 
favorable  to  the  doctrine  of  State 
supremacy,  while  Hamilton*  as 
etrongly  advocated  the  plan  of 
a  powerful  Federal  Government 
wielding  supreme  authority.  Ilarii- 
ilton's  opinions  prevailed  in  the 
convention.  Yates  and  Lansing 
were  so  dissatisfied  with  the  evi- 
dent sentiment  of  the  convention 
that  they  withdrew,  leaving  Ham- 
ilton the  sole  representative  of 
]S^ew  York  in  the  convention. 

This  was  the  birth-time  of  the 
stalwart  twins — the  first  two  op- 
posing political  parties  in  the 
United  States — the  Federalists 
and  the  Anti- Federalists.  These 
parties  were  of  a  more  pronounced 
and  violent  type  in  New  York 
than    elsewhere.       Hamilton    was 

the  acknowledged  leader  of  the  Federalists,  and  Governor  George  Clin- 
ton of  the  Anti-Federalists. 

On  January  ITth,  1788,  Egbert  Benson  f  offered  in  the  Legislature  of 


ALEXANDER  HAMILTON.   AFTER  CARRACI. 


*  Alexander  Hamilton  was  born  at  Nevis,  West  Indies,  January  11th,  1757.  He  was 
of  Scotch  descent.  Educated  at  King's  (now  Columbia)  College,  New  York,  he  engaged 
in  the  political  controversy  preceding  the  Revolution  ;  became  a  captain  of  artillery  in 
March,  1776  ;  a  member  of  Washington's  military  family  in  the  spring  of  1777,  and 
served  as  his  secretary  and  trusted  confidant  until  1781.  He  was  of  essential  service  to 
Washington.  Hamilton  married  a  daughter  of  General  Philip  Schuyler  late  in  1780. 
He  was  colonel  of  a  regiment  of  New  York  troops  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown,  soon  after 
which  he  left  the  army,  studied  law,  and  soon  became  eminent  in  his  profession.  He 
served  as  a  member  of  Congress  and  of  the  New  York  Iicgislature  ;  was  a  member  of  the 
convention  that  framed  the  National  Constitution,  and  was  one  of  its  chief  advocates 
through  the  press.  Washington  appointed  him  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  in  1789,  which 
post  he  resigned  in  1795.  When  in  1798  war  with  France  seemed  probable,  he  was  made 
second  to  Washington  in  command  of  the  armies  of  the  United  States.  On  July  12th, 
1804,  Hamilton  died  of  wounds  received  in  a  duel  with  Aaron  Burr. 

f  Egbert  Benson  was  one  of  the  most  active  and  useful  men  in  New  York  at  this  time. 


338  THE   EMPIRE   STATE. 

New  York  a  resolution  providing  for  a  State  convention  of  representa- 
tives chosen  by  the  people  to  consider  the  new  National  Constitution. 
This  resolution  elicited  much  and  warm  debate,  but  was  finally  adopted 
by  both  branches  of  the  Legislature. 

From  the  moment  when  the  new  Constitution  was  published  in  New 
York  spirited  and  sometimes  violent  contests  between  the  advocates  and 
opposers  of  the  instrument  occurred  at  public  gatherings  and  in  the 
public  prints.  Acrimonious  publications  appeared  in  newspapers  and  in 
pamphlets  during  the  canvass  and  the  sittings  of  the  convention.  On 
the  one  hand  it  was  urged  by  the  opponents  of  the  proposed  Constitution 
that  by  its  adoption  a  fatal  blow  would  be  struck  at  the  so-called  "  inde- 
pendent sovereignty"  of  the  States,  by  the  gradual  absorption  of  the 
principal  functions  of  government  by  the  central  power  ;  that  the  wealth 
and  immense  resources  of  New  York  especially,  instead  of  being  devoted 
to  the  development  of  its  vast  territory  and  possibilities,  would  be  largely 
given  to  the  accumulation  of  the  wealth  and  power  of  the  National 
Government,  and  that  its  political  influence  would  be  greatly  diminished. 
It  was  argued  that  the  inevitable  tendency  of  such  a  state  of  things 
would  be  the  establishment  of  a  virtually  monarchical  government. 

To  these  arguments  the  advocates  of  the  Constitution  replied,  pointing 
to  the  provisions  of  the  instrument  itself,  that  the  distribution  of  the 
powers  of  the  proposed  new  government  was  so  carefully  arranged  that, 
80  far  from  enabling  it  to  trench  upon  the  jurisdiction  of  the  States,  it 
was  itself  liable  to  constant  and  serious  encroachments  on  their  part, 
and  that  the  existing  Confederacy — a  mere  league  of  independent  States, 
held  together  only  by  the  common  interests  of  all  its  members  and  sub- 
ject to  disintegration  at  the  pleasure  of  any — was  wholly  inadequate  to 
the  purpose  of  a  national  government.  It  was  at  this  period  that  the 
able  essays  in  favor  of  the  Constitution,  written  by  Hamilton,  Jay,  and 
Madison,  known  collectively  as  The  Federalist^  were  pul)lislied  and 
scattered  widely  over  the  Union  with  powerful  effect. 

The  sole  question  which  seemed  to  govern  the  electors  of  New  York 
in  their  choice  of  delegates  to  their  convention  seems  to  have  been  whether 
the  candidates  were  for  or  against  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution. 

He  was  born  in  New  York  City  in  1746  ;  died  at  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  in  1833.     He  was  a 

most  efficient  member  of  the  Revolutionary  Committee  of  Safety,  and  wa.s  a  distinguished 
jurist,  holding  a  high  rank  in  jurisprudence.  He  was  the  first  attorney -general  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  member  of  the  first  State  Legislature  ;  a  delegate  to  the  old 
Congress  in  1784-88  ;  a  member  of  Congress,  1789-83  and  1813-15  ;  and  judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  New  York  1794-1801.  He  received  the  degree  of  LL.D.  from  Harvanl 
and  Dartmouth  colleges,  and  was  the  first  president  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society. 
He  wrote  a  "  Vindication  of  Major  Andre." 


CONSTITUTIONAL   CONVENTION   AT   POUGIIKEEPSIE.  339 

The  inenibers  ©f  the  convention  chosen  in  the  several  counties 
assembled  at  the  court-house  in  Poughkeepsie  on  June  17th,  1788,  and 
was  organized  by  the  choice  of  Governor  Clinton  for  its  president,  John 
McKesson  and  Abraham  B.  Bancker,  secretaries,  and  Nicholas  Power, 
printer  to  the  convention.  The  convention  was  composed  of  sixty-one  dele- 
gates,* a  clear  majority  of  whom  were  opposed  to  the  new  Constitution. 

The  discussion  of  the  sev- . 
eral  articles  of   the    Consti-  yoy/y  >  -s^o 

tution  began  on  June  19tli  ^/Xc2^(^'tl^^  /^^^U^^-^^^:^^ 
and  continued  three  weeks, 

durins"   which    time    several  ssigxatuuk  of  Nicholas  powek. 

amendments  were  proposed 

and  adopted.  On  July  11th  John  Jay  moved  that  "  the  Constitution  be 
ratified,  and  that  whatever  amendments  might  be  deemed  expedient 
should  \iQ  recommended y 

This  motion  called  out  the  most  vigorous  opposition  from  the  Anti- 
Federalists,  and  the  majority  of  the  convention  urged  the  calling  of  a  new 
national  convention,  for  the  purpose  of  making  additional  amendments 
specified  by  them.  They  proposed  to  amend  Jay's  motion  so  that  it 
should  read,  "  that  the  Constitution  be  ratified  on  the  condition  that  certain 
specified  amendments  should  be  made."     An  able  and  prolonged  discus- 


*  Tlic  following  are  the  names  of  the  delegates  ehosen  by  the  jieople  of  the  several 
counties  : 

City  and  Coxtnty  of  Xexa  York. — John  Jaj',  Richard  Morris,  John  Sloss  Hobart,  Alex- 
ander Hamilton,  Robert  R.  Livingston,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  James  Duane,  Richard  Harrison, 
Nicholas  Low. 

City  and  County  of  Albany. — Robert  Yates,  John  Lansing,  Jr.,  Henrj-  Oothout,  Peter 
Yroman,  Israel  Thompson,  Anthony  Ten  Eyck,  Dirck  Swart. 

County  of  Suffolk. — Henry  Scudder,  Jonathan  N.  Havens,  John  Smith,  Thomas  Tread- 
well,  David  Hedges. 

County  of  Ulster. — George  Clinton,  John  Cantine,  Cornelius  C.  Schoonmaker,  Etenezer 
Clark,  James  Clinton,  Dirck  Wynkoop. 

County  of  Queens. — Samuel  Jones,  John  Schenck,  Nathaniel  Lawrence,  Stephen  Carman. 

County  of  Kings. — Peter  Lefferts,  Peter  Vandervoort. 

County  of  Richmond. — Abraham  Bancker,  Gosen  Ryerss. 

County  of  Westchester. — Lewis  Morris,  Philip  Livingston,  Richard  Hatfield,  Philip  van 
Cortlandt,  Thaddeus  Crane,  Lott  W.  Sarles. 

County  of  Orange. — John  Haring,  Jesse  Woodhull,  Henry  Wisner,  John  Wood. 

County  of  Duchess.— Ze\)[M\.nvA\\  Piatt,  Melancthon  Smith,  Jacobus  Swartwout, 
Jonathan  Akin,  Ezra  Thompson,  Gilbert  Livingston,  John  De  Witt. 

County  of  Montgomery.— \\\\\\Am.  Harper,  Christopher  P.  Yates,  John  Frey,  John 
Winn,  Volkert  Yeeder,  Henry  Staring. 

Counties  of  Washington  and  Clinton. — Ichabod  Parker,  John  Williams,  Albert  Baker. 

I  copied  the  above  names  from  the  original  printed  Journal  of  the  Convention,  in  my 
possession.     It  was  printed  by  Nirholiis  Power,  in  quarto  form. 


340 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


J 

ri   ^ 


^     v-S 


^ 


1 


.1  *^i  '4 


tro 


NEW   YORK   REPRESENTATIVES   IN  CONGRESS.  341 

sion  ensued,  but  before  any  vote  was  taken  news  reached  Ponghkeepsie 
that  the  convention  of  New  Hampshire  had  ratified  the  Constitution. 

This  settled  the  question.  The  people  of  the  requisite  number  of 
States  had  now  spoken  in  the  afiirmative.  The  question  for  the  people 
of  New  York  now  to  decide  was  not  whether  they  preferred  the  new 
Constitution  to  the  Articles  of  Confederation,  but  whether  they  would 
secede  from  the  Union.  The  Anti-Federalists  decided  wisely  and 
patriotically.  The  Federalists  proposed  a  compromise  between  Jay's 
proposition  and  that  of  their  opponents.  The  latter,  not  without  hesita- 
tion and  reluctance,  yielded  their  assent  to  the  following  resolution  : 

''''Resolved,,  That  the  Constitution  be  ratified,  in  full  confidence  that 
the  amendments  proposed  by  this  convention  will  be  adopted." 

A  most  remarkable  speech  of  three  hours  by  Alexander  Hamilton 
and  a  patriotic  one  by  Gilbert  Livingston,  of  Duchess,  effected  the  happy 
result.  There  were  fifty-seven  members  present  and  voted,  thirty  of 
them  for  the  ratification  of  the  Constitution  and  twenty-seven  against  it 
— a  majority  of  three.  This  decision  was  taken  on  July  28th,  and  on 
that  day  the  convention  finally  adjourned.  On  September  13th  Gov- 
ernor Clinton  officially  proclaimed  the  National  Constitution  as  the  funda- 
mental law  of  the  Republic. 

At  a  special  session  of  the  Legislature  of  New  York,  begun  in  the 
city  of  New  York  on  December  8th  (1788),  they  chose  delegates  to 
represent  the  State  in  the  concluding  session  of  the  Continental  Congress. 
They  also  appointed  presidential  electors  and  provided  for  the  election, 
by  the  people,  of  six  members  of  Congress.  Under  this  provision 
Egbert  Benson,  William  Floyd,  John  Hathorn,  Jeremiah  van  Rensselaer, 
and  Peter  Sylvester  were  elected  the  first  representatives  of  New  York 
to  seats  in  the  National  Congress  under  the  new  Constitution.  The  two 
Houses  of  the  Legislature  could  not  agree  upon  a  ijiethod  of  choosing 
United  States  Senators,  and  none  were  appointed  at  that  session.  The 
State  remained  unrepresented  in  the  National  Senate  during  the  first 
session  of  the  first  Congress.  Finally  the  Legislature,  convened  in 
special  session,  by  joint  resolution  passed  on  July  19th,  appointed 
General  Philip  Schuyler  and  Rufus  King*  Senators.  The  latter  gentle- 
man had  only  recently  become  a  citizen  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

*  Rufus  King  was  born  at  Scarborough,  Me.,  in  March,  1755,  and  died  at  Jamaica, 
L.  I.,  in  April,  1827.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  ;  became  a  lawyer  ;  married  the 
daughter  of  John  Alsop,  a  rich  merchant  of  New  York,  and  ever  afterward  made  that 
city  his  home.  Mr.  King,  like  Schuyler,  was  a  leading  Federalist.  From  1798  to  1804 
he  was  United  States  minister  at  the  court  of  Great  Britain.  He  was  again  in  the  Senate, 
for  the  third  time,  in  1818.  Always  an  anti-slavery  man,  he  was  one  of  the  leaders  of  the 
opposition  to  the  admission  of  Missouri  as  a  slave-labor  State.  He  again  went  to 
Ensrland  as  American  minister  in  1825,  but  soon  returned  in  feeble  health. 


342  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER   XXTV. 

So  soon  as  the  questions  concerning  territory,  boundaries,  ownership, 
and  government,  which  had  occupied  the  minds  of  the  people  of  New 
York,  were  settled  and  adjusted,  the  virgin  soil  and  topography  of  the 
State  attracted  the  attention  of  enterprising  peo])le,  and  settlements 
began  to  carry  light  and  civilization  into  the  dark  wilderness. 

New  political  divisions  were  rapidly  organized.  In  1770  Albany 
County  embraced  all  of  New  York  northward  of  Ulster  County  and  west 
of  the  Hudson  E.iver,  also  all  north  of  Duchess  County  and  eastward  of 
that  river.  In  1772  Charlotte  and  Tryon  counties  were  taken  from 
Albany.  The  name  of  the  former  w'as  changed  in  1784  to  Wasliington, 
and  that  of  the  latter  to  Montgomery.  A  part  of  Charlotte  was  included 
in  the  counties  of  Cumberland  and  Gloucester  in  forming  the  State  of 
Vermont. 

Tryon  County  included  all  the  province  west  of  a  longitudinal  line 
running  nearly  through  the  middle  of  Schoharie  County.  In  1789 
Ontario  County  was  taken  from  Montgomery  County,  and  included  all 
the  land  of  which  pre-emptive  right  had  been  ceded  to  the  State  of 
Massachusetts. 

No  State  in  the  Union  presented  so  wide  a  range  for  enterprise  and 
exertion  as  New  York  after  the  war,  especially  in  the  industries  of 
agriculture  and  commerce.  The  borders  of  its  great  river  were  then 
settled  with  wealthy,  industrious,  and  thriving  people.  Campaigns 
against  the  Indians,  especially  that  of  Sullivan  in  1779,  had  revealed  to 
soldiers  of  the  latter,  who  were  largely  New  Englanders,  the  richness  of 
the  soil  of  the  interior,  and  they  gave  glowing  accounts  to  their  friends 
of  the  beauty  and  fertility  of  the  land  they  had  traversed.  The  j^urchase 
of  great  tracts  of  land  for  speculative  purposes,  already  mentioned, 
followed,  and  set  in  motion  emigration  from  the  east  into  that  region. 

The  first  emigrant  from  New  England  was  Hugh  White,  of  Middle- 
town,  Conn.,  with  his  own  family  and  those  of  four  of  his  neighbors. 
They  seated  themselves,  at  the  begiiming  of  1784,  about  four  miles  west 
of  (present)  Iltica.  This  settlement  was  the  first  rose  that  blossomed  in 
the  wilderness  of  Central  and  "Western  New  York,  The  now  beautiful 
and  thriving  borough  of  Whitestown  is  of  itself  a  grand  monument  to 
the  memory  of  its  founder,  who  died  there,  in  1812,  at  the  age  of  eighty 


EMIGRATION  TO   CENTRAL  NEW  YORK.  343 

years.  Before  1790  scores  of  families  flocked  into  that  region,  largely 
from  New  England,  and  thenceforth  emigrant  wagons  with  families, 
implements  of  labor  on  farms  and  for  domestic  purposes  were  continually 
carrying  forward  population  farther  and  farther  into  the  wilderness  of 
"Western  Xew  York. 

In  1788  Mr.  Phelps,  one  of  the  purchasers  of  the  six  million  acres 
tract,  penetrated  to  the  country  of  the  Genesee.  He  and  some 
friends  went  up  the  Mohawk  in  boats  from  Schenectady  as  far  as  pos- 
sible, and  made  their  way  to  the  outlet  of  Canandaigua  Lake,  where  they 
planted  the  seed  of  a,  flourishing  settlement  by  constructing  some  log- 
huts  and  making  it  the  business  capital  of  the  domain.  The  Rev.' 
Samuel  Kirkland,  an  earnest  missionary  laborer  among  the  Oneidas,  was 
their  interpreter.     Gorham  procured  cessions  of  lands  from  the  Senecas. 

In  1791  a  party  of  emigrants  constructed  a  wagon-road  from  Whites- 
town  to  Canandaigua,  the  flrst  ever  opened  from  the  Mohawk  River  to 
the  Genesee  country.  These  pioneers  suffered  great  hardships  in  the 
performance  of  their  task,  for  the  route  lay  over  lofty  hills  and  deep 
ravines,  broad  marshes  and  swift-running  streams  ;  yet  they  persevered, 
and  made  a  highway  for  swarms  of  emigrants  from  New  England,  who 
soon  made  it  a  beaten  path.  It  was  soon  afterward  continued  to  the 
foot  of  Lake  Erie,  at  the  site  of  Buffalo.  In  this  work  the  Government 
did  nothing  ;  private  individuals  did  everything.  This  highway  was  the 
first  work  of  internal  improvement  in  the  State  of  New  York.  Others 
of  greater  importance  will  be  noticed  presently. 

When  the  National  Constitution  was  adopted  by  the  requisite  number 
of  States  the  patriotic  opponents  of  the  instrument  generally  acquiesced 
in  the  decision.  Judge  Yates,  who  in  the  National  and  State  conven- 
tions had  strongly  opposed  it,  now,  in  his  first  charge  to  the  Grand  Jury 
at  Albany  after  the  ratification,  said  : 

"  Before  the  Constitution  was  ratified  I  had  been  opposed  to  it  ;  it  is 
now  mine  and  every  other  man's  duty  to  support  it." 

But  it  was  not  long  before  party  strife  became  more  violent  than  ever 
throughout  the  country,  especially  in  the  State  of  New  York,  where 
party  lines  were  sharply  drawn  between  the  Federalists  and  Anti-Feder- 
alists. Washington  identified  himself  with  the  former.  The  Constitu- 
tion was  not  all  that  he  could  have  wished,  yet  he  regarded  its  adoption 
as  a  real  blessino:  to  the  countrv.  In  a  letter  to  General  Schuyler  on  the 
subject  he  M'rote  : 

"  That  invisible  Hand  which  has  so  often  interposed  to  save  our 
country  from  impending  destruction  seems  in  no  instance  to  have  been 
more  remarkablv  exerted  than  in  that  of  disposing  the  people  of  this 


344 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


continent  to  adopt,  in  a  peaceable  manner,  a  constitution  whicli,  if  well 
administered,  bids  fair  to  make  America  a  happy  nation." 

Tlie  choice  of  the  iii'st  President  of  the  United  States  under  the 
National  Constitution  was  done  very  quietly,  for  there  was  no  partisan- 
ship displayed.  The  eyes  and  the  hearts  of  tlie  whole  people  were 
instinctively  turned  toward  Washington,  the  "  Saviour  of  his  Country,' '  as 
tlie  fittest  man  to  guide  the  vessel  of  State,  with  its  precious  freight,  on 


THE   CITY   HALL   IN   WALL   STKEET,    1789. 


its  first  necessarily  perilous  voyage.     He  received  every  vote  in  the  Elec- 
toral College.     John  Adams  was  chosen  Vice-President. 

The  Continental  Congress  had  decreed  that  the  city  of  New  York 
should  be  the  residence  of  the  National  Government.  The  City  Hall, 
in  Wall  Street,  fronting  the  head  of  Broad  Street,  was  fitted  up  f»r  the 
use  of  the  National  Legslature.  March  4th  (1790)  was  the  day  designated 
for  the  organization  of  the  new  government.  That  auspicious  day  was 
ushered  in  by  the  ringing  of  bells  and  the  booming  of  cannons  ;  but  the 
members  of  Congress  were  tardy  in  their  journeys  to  the  capital,  owing 
to  the  wretched  state  of  the  roads.  On  the  appointed  day  only  a  few  of 
them  were  present.     It  was  April  6tli  before  a  quorum  was  assembled, 


INxVUGURATION   OF  WASHINGTON. 


345 


when  the  two  Houses  proceeded  to  count  the  votes  for  President  and 
Vice-President  and  declare  the  result. 

The  Vice-President  reached  jSTew  York  on  April  21st.  The  President 
arrived  two  days  later.  His  journey  from  Mount  Vernon  had  been  an 
almost  continuous  ovation.  A  committee  of  Congress  met  him  at  Eliza- 
bethtown,  JST.  J. ,  and  from  its  port  he  was  conveyed  in  a  barge  to  the 
foot  of  Wall  Street,  at  the  East 
River,  where  he  was  met  by  the 
governor,  the  municipal  authori- 
ties, and  a  vast  concourse  of  citi- 
zens, who  formed  a  procession  and 
conducted  him  to  the  mansion 
in  Cherry  Street,  near  Franklin 
Square,  prepared  for  his  residence. 
That  was  then  the  most  fashion- 
able part  of  the  city.  That  even- 
ing the  M'liole  town  M'as  illumi- 
nated. 

At  noon  on  April  30th,  after 
religioiis  services  had  been  held 
in  all  the  churches  in  the  city, 
Washington  left  the  j^residential 
mansion,  escorted  by  a  procession 
formed  of  members  of  Congress 

and  heads  of  departments  in  carriages,  led  by  the  City  Cavalry,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  the  City  Hall,  where,  in  its  street  gallery,  in  the  presence  of  a 
vast  multitude  of  people,  the  inaugural  ceremonies  were  performed.  The 
oath  of  office  was  administered  by  Robert  R.  Livingston,*  the  first 
Chancellor  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Returning  to  the  Senate  Cham- 
ber, the  President  read  his  inaugural  address,  after  which  the  whole 
assembly  went  on  foot  to  St.  Paul's  Chapel,  on  Broadway,  where  prayers 


ROBERT   R.    LIVINGSTON. 


*  Robert  R.  Livingston  was  born  in  New  York  City  November  27th,  1747  ;  died  at 
the  Livingston  Manor-IIouse  February  26tli,  1813.  He  was  graduated  at  King's  (now 
Columbia)  College,  became  a  successful  lawyer,  and  was  recorder  of  the  city  of  New 
York  in  1773.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress  in  1775  ;  was  one 
of  the  committee  to  draft  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  but  necessary  absence  from 
Philadelphia  prevented  his  voting  for  and  signing  it.  He  was  appointed  the  first  chan- 
cellor of  the  State  of  New  York,  which  position  he  lield  until  1801.  He  was  secretary 
for  foreign  affairs  of  the  General  Government  from  1781  to  1783  ;  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittee that  framed  the  National  Constitution  ;  minister  of  the  United  States  to  France  in 
1801-1804,  and  negotiated  for  the  purchase  of  Louisiana,  and  was  the  efficient  coadjutor 
of  Robert  Fulton  in  perfecting  navigation  on  the  Hudson  River  by  steam. 


340  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

were  read  by  the  cliaplain  of  tlie  Senate.  Then  tlie  President  was 
escorted  to  liis  residence.  Tlie  ceremonies  of  the  day  were  conchided 
by  a  display  of  fireworks  in  the  evening. 

General  Schuyler,  John  Jay,  and  Colonel  Alexander  Ilatnilton  were 
the  chief  leaders  of  the  Federal  Party  in  New  York,  and  had  great  influ- 
ence with  President  Washington.  Schuyler  and  Hamilton  were  uncom- 
promising partisans,  as  all  men  of  strong  moral  convictions  are  apt  to  be, 
and  they  induced  the  President  to  bestow  Government  patronage  upon 
men  who  were,  either  personally  or  politically,  opposed  to  Governor 
Clinton.  Jay  was  appointed  Chief  Justice  of  the  United  States  ;  James 
Duane,  Judge  of  the  District  of  New  York  ;  Richard  Harrison,  United 
States  Attorney  ;  and  William  S.  Smith,  Marshal.  Hamilton,  who  was 
tlie  soul  of  the  Federal  Party,  was  called  to  the  Cabinet  as  Secretary  of 
the  Treasury. 

The  spirit  of  the  Constitution  of  New  York  was  less  democratic  than 
that  of  any  other  State.  It  placed  an  enormous  amount  of  power  and 
patronage  in  the  hands  of  the  governor.  With  this  advantage  Clinton 
and  his  friends  were  enabled  to  carry  on  a  political  warfare  with  great 
vigor  and  success  for  a  very  long  time  ;  but  the  Constitution  afforded  a 
check  upon  an  undue  exercise  of  that  power  when  bearing  upon  the 
control  of  offices  by  the  provision  of  a  Council  of  Appointment.  That 
Council,  as  we  have  observed,  was  created  by  the  choice  of  the  Assembly, 
of  one  Senator  each  year  out  of  each  Senatorial  district,  and  these,  Avith 
the  governor,  formed  the  Council.  The  governor  had  a  right  to  give  a 
casting  vote,  but  had  no  vote  for  any  other  purpose.  He  was  ex- 
officio  president  of  the  Council,  and  was  required,  "  by  the  advice  and 
consent  of  the  Council,  to  appoint  all  officers"  whose  appointment  was 
not  otherwise  provided  for. 

After  the  inauguration  of  AYashington  political  parties  in  New  York 
became  mixed.  The  Federalists  determined  to  form  a  coalition  for  the 
])urposc  of  breaking  the  Anti-Federalist  ascendency.  They  induced  the 
An ti- Federalist  Judge  Yates  to  accept  from  them  the  nomination  for 
governor  in  opposition  to  Clinton.  The  coalition  was  unsuccessful,  and 
Clinton  Avas  re-elected  by  a  strong  majority.  The  election  was  warmly 
contested.  The  whole  number  of  votes  cast  in  the  State  was  12,343. 
The  census  of  1790  certified  the  number  of  the  population  then  in  the 
State  to  be  340,120,  an  increase  of  more  than  85,000  in  five  years.  This 
increase  had  been  caused  largely  by  emigration  into  the  northern  and 
western  parts  of  the  State.  The  city  of  New  York  then  contained  a 
population  of  33,131. 

The  subject  of  improving  the  internal  navigation  of  the  State  now 


INLAND   NAVIGATION  OF  NEW   YORK  CONSIDERED.  347 

engaged  the  earnest  attention  of  tlioughtfiil  men.  General  Schuyler 
saw,  when  in  England  in  1761,  the  canal  constructed  by  the  Duke  of 
Bridgewater.  lie  was  deeply  impressed  with  what  he  saw  and  heard, 
and  as  opportunities  offered  he  urged  the  importance  of  improving  the 
navigation  of  the  Mohawk  River  by  short  canals  around  rifts  and 
shallows.  He  suggested  that  by  a  short  canal  between  the  Mohawk  and 
Wood  Creek,  which  flows  into  Oneida  Lake,  and  the  improvement  of 
the  navigation  of  that  stream  and  the  outlet  of  Oneida  Lake  into  the 
Oswego  River,  continuous  navigation  between  the  Hudson  and  Lake 
Ontario  might  be  effected.  At  Schuyler's  suggestion,  Governor  Sir 
Henry  Moore  presented  the  subject  to  the  Colonial  Legislature  in  1768. 

So  early  as  1772  Christopher  Colles  *  lectured  in  New  York  and 
Albany  on  Inland  Lock  Navigation,  and  M^armly  advocated  Schuyler's 
project.  Schuyler  also  urged  the  construction  of  a  canal  between  the 
Hudson  and  Lake  Champlain  so  early  as  1776.  In  1784  Colles  presented 
a  memorial  to  the  Legislature  proposing  the  improvement  of  the  naviga- 
tion of  the  Mohawk,  and  that  year  he  penetrated  the  country  to  Wood 
Creek,  published  an  account  of  his  observations  in  a  pamphlet,  and  in 
the  winter  of  1786  the  Legislature  made  a  report  favorable  to  his  project. 
Nothing  more  seems  to  have  been  done. 

At  about  that  time  Washington  made  a  tour  in  the  interior  of  the 
State  of  New  York.  He  was  then  much  interested  in  the  subject  of 
internal  navigation  in  his  own  State.  He  passed  over  Lake  George  and 
down  Lake  Champlain  as  far  as  Crown  Point.  Returning  to  Schenec- 
tady, he  went  up  the  Mohawk  to  Fort  Schuyler  (now  Rome),  and  visited 
Otsego  Lake  and  its  vicinity.  He  observed  the  feasibility  and  com- 
mended the  importance  of  inland  navigation  in  the  State  of  New  York. 

Soon  after  this  Elkanah  Watson  appears  upon  the  scene  as  a  most 
earnest  advocate  of    a  continuous   water   communication   between   the 

*  Christopher  Colles  was  born  ia  Ireland  about  the  year  1737,  and  was  educated  by- 
Richard  Pococke,  the  Oriental  traveller.  After  the  death  of  his  patron,  in  1765,  he  came 
to  America,  and,  as  we  have  ob.served,  became  an  earnest  advocate  of  canal  navigation. 
He  was  a  skilful  engineer.  He  proposed  plans  for  supplying  the  city  of  New  York  with 
pure  water  so  early  as  1774.  In  1797  he  proposed  to  bring  the  waters  of  the  Bronx 
River,  in  "Westche-ster  County,  into  the  city.  He  constructed  a  series  of  sectional  road 
maps  for  the  use  of  travellers.  His  active  mind  kept  his  hands  busy  in  a  variety  of 
employments.  At  one  time  he  was  the  actuary  of  the  Academy  of  Fine  Arts.  He  was 
also  a  notable  inventor,  and  enjoyed  the  friendship  and  esteem  of  De  Witt  Clinton,  Dr. 
Samuel  L.  Mitchell,  Dr.  Hosack,  Jarvis,  the  painter,  and  other  distinguished  men  of  New 
York.  The  efRgy  of  Colles  was  borne  in  the  grand  procession  in  New  York  which  cele- 
brated the  completion  of  the  Erie  Canal.  He  had  then  been  in  his  grave  about  four  j-ears, 
having  died  in  the  autumn  of  1821.  His  remains  lie  unhonored  in  the  burying-ground 
of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Hudson  Street. 


348 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


Hudson  River  ami  Lake  Ontario.  In  tliis  project  lie  spent  much  time 
for  years,  and  was  a  most  efficient  supporter  of  General  Schuyler's  canal 
projects.  He  made  journeys  westward  from  Albany  to  gather  up  facts, 
and  he  penetrated  the  country  to  Seneca  Lake.* 

The  final  result  of  the  endeavors  of  these  public-spirited  men  was  the 
passage  of  an  act  by  the  Legislature  of  New  York,  in  January,  1792,  for 

chartering  two  inland  lock  naviga- 
tion companies.  One  was  called 
the  Western  Inland  Lock  Naviga- 
tion Company,  and  the  other  the 
Northern  Inland  Lock  Navigation 
Company.  These  companies  were 
formed,  and  General  Schuyler  was 
unanimously  chosen  president  of 
each  company.  Thomas  Eddy,  an 
enterprising  Quaker,  was  appointed 
treasurer  of  the  Western  Company. 
Accompanied  by  Goldsbrow  Ban- 
yer  and  Elkanah  Watson  and  sur- 
veyors and  engineers,  Schuyler 
made  a  thorough  exploration  of  the 
whole  route  for  the  western  enter- 
prise, from  Schenectady  to  the 
waters  of  Lakes  Seneca  and  Onta- 
rio, in  August  and  September,  1792.  They  also  explored  the  route 
for  the  northern  canal,  from  the  head  of  tide-water  of  the  Hudson, 
just  above  Albany,  to  the  head  of  Lake  Champlain,  at  (present)  White- 
hall. These  explorations  were  satisfactory  to  both  companies,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1793  the  Western  Company  began  work  at  the  Little  Falls, 
in  Herkimer  County,  with  artificers  and  about  three  hundred  laborers. 

*  Elkanah  Watson  was  born  at  Plymouth,  Mass.,  in  January,  1758,  and  died  at  Port 
Kent,  Essex  ('ounty,  N.  Y. ,  in  December,  1842.  He  was  a  clerk  in  the  employ  of  John 
Brown,  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  who  sent  him  to  Boston  with  a  large  amount  of  powder  for 
the  patriot  army  besieging  it  in  1775.  Before  he  was  nineteen  jx'ars  of  .age  Brown  .sent 
him  to  Charleston  and  other  Southern  ports  with  $50,000,  to  buy  cargoes  for  the  Euro- 
pean markets.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  Congress  sent  despatches  by  him  to  Dr. 
Franklin,  in  Paris.  He  remained  in  France  until  1784,  engaged  in  a  commission  business 
at  Nantes  in  connection  with  Mr.  Brown.  He  went  to  Albany  in  1789,  and  became 
greatly  interested  in  General  Schuyler's  canal  projects.  He  afterward  travelled  in  Europe, 
and  in  1807  settled  at  Pittsfleld,  Mass.,  as  a  farmer,  and  made  many  improvements  in 
agriculture.  After  a  visit  to  the  lake  region  in  the  North-west  he  .settled  at  Port  Kent, 
on  the  west  side  of  Lake  Champlain,  where  he  resided  until  his  death.  His  autobiog- 
raphy was  completed  and  published  by  his  son,  Wiu.slow  C.  Watson,  in  1856. 


ELKANAH    WATSON. 


CONSTRUCTIOX   OF   CANALS   IN  NEW  YORK.  349 

The  Korthern  Company  began  work  at  Stillwater  the  same  year.  Delays 
followed,  chiefly  on  account  of  a  want  of  funds,  and  yet  so  vigorously 
did  the  president  and  his  associates,  especially  Mr.  Watson,  push  on  the 
work  when  means  were  at  command,  that  boats  of  sixteen  tons  burden 
passed  over  the  whole  route,  from  Schenectady  to  Oneida  Lake,  in  1796, 
without  interruption.  There  were  only  about  six  miles  of  canalling 
altogether. 

Unfortunately,  the  locks  in  the  canals  had  been  constructed  of  wood, 
and  were  too  perishable.  William  Weston,  a  distinguished  canal 
engineer,  came  to  this  country  from  England  early  in  1795.  He  was 
employed  to  examine  the  whole  work  of  the  companies  with  General 
Schuyler,  and  the  result  was  an  order  for  him  to  reconstruct  the  locks  of 
stone.     This  operation  exhausted  the  funds  of  the  company. 

In  1793  Isambert  Brunei,  a  distinguished  French  engineer,  arrived 
with  a  letter  of  introduction  to  General  Schuyler.  He  was  employed  in 
1794  in  a  survey  of  the  Xorthern  or  Cham  plain  Canal.  That  was 
almost  fifty  years  before  he  completed  the  famous  tunnel  under  the 
Thames,  at  London,  and  received  the  honors  of  knighthood  from  the  then 
young  Queen  of  England. 

In  1796  Mr.  Weston,  under  the  direction  of  the  Western  Company, 
made  an  exploration  of  a  route  for  a  canal  between  the  Mohawk  and 
Seneca  rivers.  A  canal  was  speedily  constructed,  and  became  the  living 
germ  of  the  grand  Erie  Canal  which  was  afterward  built  by  the  State. 
It  led  Gouverneur  Morris,  in  1801,  to  conceive  the  greatest  of  canal 
projects — namely,  the  connection  of  Lake  Erie  with  the  Hudson  by  an 
artificial  river,  a  work  that  was  completed  a  little  more  than  twenty  years 
afterward.     This  great  work  will  receive  special  notice  presently. 

The  interest  of  General  Schuyler  in  canal  navigation  never  flagged 
during  his  life.  So  late  as  the  summer  of  1802,  when  he  was  almost 
sixty-nine  years  of  age,  he  endured  the  hardships  incident  to  an  explora- 
tion of  the  whole  line  of  the  Western  Canal  route,  and  gave  his  personal 
attention  to  the  construction  of  new  locks,  repairing  old  ones,  and 
removing  obstructions.  His  manuscript  journal  kept  during  that  explo- 
ration is  before  me,  and  is  filled  with  vivid  pictures  of  the  labors  and 
privations  which  he  then  endured.  To  General  Schuyler  is  undoubtedly 
due  the  honor  of  the  paternity  of  the  canal  system  of  Xevv  York,  which 
contributed  so  much  to  its  prosperity. 

Immediately  after  the  war  for  independence  the  city  of  jSTew  York — 
the  commercial  metropolis  of  the  State — began  the  task  of  recuperation. 
Fire  had  consumed  a  vast  number  of  its  dwellings  ;  its  churches  had 
been  desecrated  and  laid  waste  ;  its  commerce  had  been  destroyed  by 


350 


THE   EMPIRE   STATE. 


the  war,  and  its  people  had  been  estranged  from  each  other  by  differ- 
ences in  political  opinions.  New  York  was  compelled  to  begin  life 
anew,  as  it  were..  The  tribute  which  it  paid  to  the  cause  of  human 
freedom  was  large,  but  had  been  most  freely  and  cheerfully  given. 

The  Whio-  refugees  returned  to  tlie  city,  many  of  them  to  find  their 
dwellings  in  ruins.  The  old  charter  was  resumed,  and  municipal  govern- 
ment was  soon  re-established.     In  February,  1784,  James  Duane,*  an 

ardent  Whig,  was  chosen  mayor. 
He  had  found  his  dwelling  on 
his  farm,  near  (present)  Gramercy 
Park,  in  ashes  and  his  fortune 
wrecked.  Although  the  vitality  of 
the  city  had  been  paralyzed,  yet 
men — "  high-minded  men"  who 
"  constitute  a  State,"  were  left, 
and  their  influence  was  soon  mani- 
fested in  the  visible  aspects  of  pub- 
lic spirit  and  the  revival  of  com- 
merce. But  not  much  was  done 
in  the  way  of  public  improvements 
before  the  close  of  the  century. 

One  hundred  years  ago  there 
was  only  here  and  there  a  house 
above  Murray  Street  on  the  west 
side  of  the  city  of  New  York,  and 
above  Chatham  Square  on  the  east  side.  Not  a  bank  or  insurance  company 
existed  in  the  city.  Wall  Street  was  the  seat  of  wealth,  elegance,  and 
fashion.  Its  dwellings  were  chiefly  of  wood  and  roofed  with  shingles, 
and  the  sides  of  many  of  tliem  were  of  the  same  materials.  Between 
Broadway  and  the  Hudson  River  above  Reade  Street  might  be  seen 
scores  of  cows  belonging  to  the  citizens  grazing  in  the  fields.  In  1790 
the   first   sidewalks  in    the  city  were  laid  on  each  side  of  Broadway, 

*  James  Duane  was  born  in  New  York  City  in  February,  1733.  He  inherited  a  large 
estate  in  tlie  lower  Mohawk  region,  and  began  a  settlement  there  in  1765.  Duanesbiirg 
was  the  product.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Colonel  Rolwrt  Livingston.  A  member  of 
the  first  Continental  Congress,  he  was  an  active  patriot  all  through  the  war  that  ensual. 
He  was  residing  in  New  York  City  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  ;  left  it  when  the 
British  took  possession  of  it,  but  returned  immediately  after  the  British  evacuated  it.  He 
was  made  the  first  mayor  imder  the  new  order  of  things.  He  was  a  memlx-r  of  the 
State  Council  of  Appointment  and  of  the  Senate,  also  of  the  convention  that  ratifi(Kl  the 
National  Constitution.  He  was  United  States  District  Judge  from  1789  to  1794.  Judge 
Duane  died  at  Duanesburg  in  February,  1797. 


JA.MEH   DU.\NE. 


FEDERAL  CELEBRATION  IN  NEW  YORK. 


351 


between  Yesey  and  Murray  streets.     They  were  of  stone  and  brick,  and 
so  narrow  that  only  two  persons  might  walk  abreast. 

The  city  was  the  seat  of  the  National  Government  from  1785  until 
1790,  when  it  was  transferred  to  Philadelphia.  During  the  session  of 
the  State  Convention  at  Poughkeepsie  in  the  summer  of  1788  the  city 
was  much  excited  by  the  discussions  of  opposing  factions.  Congress 
was  then  in  session  at  Kew  York.  On  July  8th,  eighteen  days  before 
the  Constitution  was  ratified,  its  ardent  friends  in  IS^ew  York,  feeling 
confident  of  success,  fitted  up  a  little  frigate  on  wheels,  and  called  it 


TABLES   AT   THE   FEDERAL   DINNER. 


the  Federal  Ship  JIamilton.  It  was  commanded  by  Commodore 
Nicholson  and  manned  by  thirty  seamen  and  mariners.  Accompanied' 
by  a  great  procession,  it  was  drawn  by  ten  horses  from  the  Bowling  Green 
to  Bayard's  Farm,  near  Grand  Street  and  the  Bowery,  where  tables  were 
spread  and  dinner  was  provided  for  four  or  five  thousand  people.  At  a 
circular  table,  which  was  a  little  elevated,  were  seated  members  of 
Congress,  heads  of  departments,  foreign  representatives,  and  other  dis- 
tinguished persons.  From  this  table  thirteen  other  tables  diverged,  at 
which  sat  the  multitude. 


353  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

/ 
An  Anti-Federal  newspaper  (Greenleaf's  Patriotic  Register)  lam- 
pooned tlie  procession  and  its  promoters.  The  Federalists  were  greatly 
irritated,  and  when  the  Constitution  was  ratified  a  mol>  broke  into  the 
office  of  the  offending  newspaper  and  destroyed  the  press  and  types. 
They  then  attacked  the  house  of  General  Lamb,  tlie  Collector  of  the 
Port,*  in  "Wall  Street,  lie  had  been  forewarned,  and  was  forearmed. 
He  had  barricaded  the  lower  story  of  his  house,  and  with  two  or  three 
friends  with  muskets,  in  the  second  story,  and  liis  daughter,  a  young  lady 
from  Connecticut,  and  a  colored  servant  in  the  attic  well  supplied  with 
tiles  and  glass  bottles  to  shower  on  the  heads  of  the  rioters,  they  so  well 
defended  the  castle  that  the  assailants  were  compelled  to  raise  the  siege 
and  retire  discomfited. 

The  city  of  New  Yorlc  was  several  times  scourged  by  yellow-fever.  It 
appeared  there  in  1742,  but  its  most  frightful  ravages  occurred  during 
the  closing  decade  of  the  last  century.  It  broke  out  in  1791,  but  it  was 
so  late  in  the  season  that  frosts  soon  checked  it.  In  1795  it  slew  772 
persons.  Its  most  fearful  visit  was  in  1798,  when  it  raged  from  July 
until  November,  and  killed  2100  persons  in  the  city  and  300  residents 
who  had  fled  from  it.  In  1799  and  1800  this  plague  prevailed,  but  in  a 
mild  form  ;  but  in  1803  the  disease  slew  about '600  persons.  When  it 
again  broke  out  in  1805  with  much  violence,  so  great  was  the  panic  that 
one  third  of  the  population,  then  numbering  75,000,  fled  to  the  country. 
The  city  was  almost  entirely  exempted  from  this  dreadful  scourge 
from  1803  nntil  1819,  when  yellow-fever  raged  there  to  a  considerable 
extent.  It  again  appeared  in  1822  and  1823,  but  in  a  comparatively 
mild  form.  Since  the  latter  year  only  sporadic  cases  have  been  known. 
It  has  never  appeared  in  the  form  of  an  epidemic.  This  disease  never 
originates  or  scarcely  ever  exists  north  of  the  latitude  of  the  city  of  New 
York,  unless  the  seeds  of  the  malady  shall  be  carried  by  fugitives  from 
the  plague  in  lower  latitudes. 

*  A  part  of  Lamb's  residence  was  used  for  the  Custom  House,  the  business  of  the  port 
of  New  York  not  then  being  extensive  enough  to  need  the  space  or  warrant  the  expense 
of  a  separate  building. 


THE  FEDERALISTS  AND  REPUBLICANS.  353 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

George  Clinton,  the  Kepublican  governor,  was  re-elected  in  the 
spring  of  1792,  with  Pierre  van  Cortland  as  lieutenant-governor.  The 
opposing  candidates  were  John  Jay  and  Stephen  van  Rensselaer,  the 
latter  a  son-in-law  of  General  Schuyler  and  the  last  of  the  patroons.  In 
the  autumn  of  tlie  same  year  jjresidential  electors  were  chosen,  and 
Washington  was  re-elected  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  Electoral 
College. 

The  dividing  line  between  the  two  great  political  parties — Federalists 
and  Republicans — was  now  more  distinctly  drawn  than  ever,  owing  to 
the  influence  of  the  French  Revolution.  When  that  great  movement 
began,  and  until  it  had  progressed  some  time,  there  was  only  one  feeling 
among  Americans  in  regard  to  it,  and  that  was  earnest  sympathy  for 
their  old  ally.  But  when  the  movement  fell  under  the  control  of  violent 
demagogues,  and  conservative  men  like  Lafayette  were  driven  from  their 
country  ;  when  the  civilized  world  was  shocked  by  the  terrible  excesses 
of  the  Jacobins,  many  of  the  leaders  of  opinion  in  America  paused. 
Apprehending  that  the  intrigues  of  the  French  and  the  generous  sym- 
pathy of  the  Americans  might  involve  the  young  Republic  in  a  European 
war,  they  not  only  withdrew  their  sympathies,  but  soon  went  so  far  as 
to  denounce  the  original  revolution.     These  were  chiefly  Federalists. 

The  Republicans,  on  the  other  hand,  advocated  the  French  Revolution 
with  great  warmth,  hailing  its  authors  and  promoters  as  friends  and 
brothers.  They  wrongly  charged  the  Federalists  with  hostility  to  the 
principles  of  the  French  Revolution,  with  friendship  for  their  late 
enemy,  Great  Britain,  and  even  with  anti-republican  and  monarchical 
tendencies.  This  antagonism  of  opinion  grew  more  and  more  intense 
when,  in  the  spring  of  1793,  E.  C.  Genet — "  Citizen"  Genet,  as  he  was 
styled — arrived  in  this  country  as  the  representative  of  the  French 
Republic. 

Mr.  Jefferson,  a  member  of  Washington's  Cabinet  as  Secretary  of 
State,  was  in  France  when  the  revolution  there  broke  out,  and  he  had 
come  home  filled  with  admiration  and  love  for  the  cause,  which  had  not 
then  been  stained  b}^  the  outrages  of  the  Jacobins.  He  expected  to  find 
equal  enthusiasm  among  his  countrymen  ;  but  when  he  reached  New 
York  he  was  chilled  by  the  frigidity  which  he  encountered.     He  was 


854 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


cordially  received  by  the  wealthier  and  more  refined  classes  of  society  at 
New  York,  but  these  were  coinposed  largely  of  members  of  the  old  Tory 
families,  whose  opinions,  frankly  spoken,  often  shocked  him.  He 
became  painfully  sensitive,  and  he  soon  regarded  the  conservatism  of 
"Washington,  Adams,  Hamilton,  and  other  conspicuous  Federalists  as 
evidence  of  their  unfaithfulness  to  the  cause  for  which  they  had  so  zeal- 
ously contended.  Toward  Ham- 
ilton he  indulged  positive  dislike, 
and  considered  him  a  dangerous 
citizen. 

By  common  consent  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson became  the  leader  of  the 
rapidly  growing  Republican  Party, 
which  hailed  with  enthusiasm  the 
tidings  of  the  death  of  the  French 
King,  the  proclamation  of  the 
Republic  with  all  its  horrors, 
the  virtual  declaration  of  war  by 
France  against  all  monarchical 
Europe,  and  its  actual  conquest  of 
a  part  of  the  Netherlands,  a  friend 
of  the  United  States.  Perceiving 
the  danger  with  which  such  blind 
entliusiasm  menaced  the  Repub- 
lic, Washington  issued  a  proclama- 
tion of  neutrality  in  the  spring  of  1793.  It  was  bitterly  denounced  by 
the  French  Party,  as  the  Republicans  were  now  called. 

It  was  in  the  midst  of  this  excitement  in  the  public  mind  that  Citizen 
Genet  arrived*  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  and  in  defiance  of  the  proclama- 
tion, proceeded  to  fit  out  privateers  (which  were  manned  chiefly  by 
American  citizens)  to  prey  upon  British  commerce  in  our  waters.     One 

*  Edmund  Charles  Genet  was  born  at  Versailles,  France,  in  January,  1763,  and  died 
at  Greenbush,  opposite  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  July,  1834.  He  was  a  precocious  lad,  who 
early  developtxl  a  taste  and  talent  for  literature,  like  his  notable  sister,  Madame  Campan. 
He  was  attached  to  foreign  embassies  in  his  youth,  and  had  been  trained  in  the  arts  of 
diplomacy  before  he  came  to  America.  As  will  be  observed  in  the  te.vt,  his  conduct  as 
representative  of  the  French  revolutionists  became  very  obnoxious  to  our  Government. 
Such  changes  took  place  in  France  that  Genet  dared  not  return.  He  remained  in  New 
York,  and  married  the  daughter  of  Governor  George  Clinton,  and  became  one  of  the 
best  citizens  of  the  connnonwealth.  He  was  twice  married,  his  second  wife  Ixjing  the 
daughter  of  Mr.  Osgood,  the  first  Postmaster- General  under  the  National  Constitution. 
Fond  of  agriculture,  he  took  great  interest  in  its  pursuit.  His  last  illness  was  occasioned 
by  attendance  at  a  meeting  of  an  agricultural  society  of  which  he  was  president. 


KDMUND  C.    OENET. 


THE   MADNESS   OF  PARTISANSHIP.  355 

of  these — V Amhu^ade — the  frigate  that  brought  the  minister  to  our 
shores,  went  prowling  up  the  coast,  seizing  Enghsh  vessels,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Philadelphia,  bearing  at  her  masthead  and  elsewhere  liberty- 
caps.  She  was  greeted  by  a  multitude  of  citizens  with  "  peals  of  exulta- 
tion," Jefferson  wrote  to  Madison.  Genet  soon  followed.  He  had 
received  everywhere  on  his  land  journey  demonstrations  of  delight. 
He  was  met  at  the  Schuylkill  by  a  crowd  of  citizens  and  escorted  into 
Philadelphia,  where  he  was  entertained  at  a  public  banquet  by  his 
Republican  friends  before  he  had  presented  his  credentials  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  !  He  had  changed  the  name  of  L'  Ambuscade 
to  Little  Democrat^  in  French,  and  from  that  time  the  Republicans  were 
called  "  ])emocrats' '  in  derision.'" 

Genet  bore  secret  instructions  from  his  Government  to  foment  discord 
between  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States,  and  to  set  the  American 
Government  at  defiance,  if  necessary,  to  accomplish  his  purpose  ;  and 
yet  when  he  presented  his  credentials  to  the  President  he  uttered  the 
most  vehement  protestations  of  the  peaceful  and  friendly  intentions  of 
the  French  Republic.  "]S"othing,"  wrote  Jefferson,  "could  be  more 
affectionate,  more  magnanimous  than  the  purport  of  Genet's  mission. 
.  .  .  He  offers  everything  and  asks  nothing,"  But  wlien  Genet  left 
the  presence  of  Washington  the  minister's  pride  was  touched  and  his 
hopeful  ardor  was  chilled.  He  had  found  himself  in  an  atmosphere  of 
the  jnost  profound  dignity  in  that  presence,  and  he  was  made  to  realize 

*  Madness  appears  to  have  seized  some  of  the  staid  citizens  of  Philadelpliia  at  that 
moment.  The  sympathizers  with  the  French  revolutionists  at  that  hanquet  (May  23d,  1793) 
presented  some  strange  scenes.  Governor  Mifflin  was  among  the  guests.  The  chief 
music  was  the  air  of  tlie  "Marseillaise."  A  Liberty  Tree  crowned  the  table.  The 
flags  of  the  two  nations  were  fraternally  enfolded.  A  red  cap  of  liberty  was  first  placed 
on  the  head  of  Genet  and  then  upon  the  head  of  each  guest,  who,  while  it  rested  there, 
uttered  some  patriotic  sentiment.  A  roasted  pig  on  the  table  received  the  name  of  the 
murdered  King  of  the  French.  The  head  of  the  pig  was  severed  from  the  body  and 
carried  round  to  each  guest,  who,  after  placing  the  liberty-cap  on  his  head,  pronounced 
the  word  ' '  tyrant, ' '  and  proceeded  to  mangle  with  his  knife  the  head  of  the  luckless 
porker  !  Earlier  than  this,  at  a  public  dinner  in  Philadelphia  to  celebrate  the  alliance 
with  France  (February  6th,  1778),  a  pike  at  the  head  of  the  table  bore  upon  its  point  a 
bonnet  rouge  entwined  with  the  flags  of  the  two  nations. 

There  was  a  strange  political  demonstration  at  Boston  a  few  days  earlier.  An  ox  was 
roasted  whole,  decorated  with  ribbons,  and  borne  in  a  procession  through  the  streets  on 
a  car  drawn  by  sixteen  horses,  followed  by  carts  carrying  sixteen  hundred  loaves  of  bread 
and  two  hogsheads  of  punch,  which  were  distributed  among  the  people.  Three  hundred 
citizens,  with  Samuel  Adams  at  their  head,  sat  down  to  a  banquet.  The  children  of  all 
the  schools  were  paraded  in  the  streets,  to  whom  cakes  were  presented  bearing  the 
stamped  words,  Liberty  and  Equality. 

The  citizens  of  New  York  did  not  indulge  in  such  extravagances  at  that  time. 


356  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

liis  own  littleness  while  standing  before  that  noble  representative  of  the 
best  men  and  soundest  principles  of  the  American  Republic.  He  with- 
drew from  the  audience  abashed  and  subdued.  He  had  heard  sentiments 
of  sincere  regard  for  the  French  nation  that  touched  the  sensibilities  of 
his  heart,  and  he  had  felt  in  the  genuine  courtesy  and  severe  simplicity 
and  frankness  of  the  President's  manner,  wholly  free  from  effervescent 
enthusiasm,  a  withering  rebuke,  not  only  of  the  adulation  in  public 
places,  but  also  of  his  own  pretentious  aspirations  and  ungenerous 
duplicity.  lie  had  already  been  rebuked  by  the  action  of  more  than 
three  hundred  merchants  and  other  substantial  men  in  Philadelphia, 
who  on  the  day  of  his  arrival  had  signed  and  presented  to  President 
Washington  an  address  expressing  their  unswerving  loyalty  to  the  letter 
and  spirit  of  his  proclamation  of  neutrality. 

Tiie  Republicans  were  irrepressible.  In  their  infatuation  they  formed 
Democratic  societies  in  various  cities,  in  imitation  of  the  Jacobin 
clubs  of  Paris.  Their  operations  were  in  secret,  and  their  proceedings 
were  often  extremely  disloyal.  In  servile  imitation  of  their  prototypes, 
they  adopted  the  peculiar  phrases  of  the  populace  of  Paris,  and  a  power- 
ful faction  was  soon  visible  in  the  United  States  more  French  than 
American  in  their  habits  of  thought  and  political  principles. 

The  Government  went  straight  forward  in  the  performance  of  its 
duty,  satisfied  that  it  would  be  sustained  by  the  great  mass  of  the 
American  people.  British  vessels  captured  by  privateers  were  restored 
to  their  owners  ;  American  citizens  acting  as  privateers  were  prosecuted  ; 
collectors  at  ports  of  the  United  States  were  ordered  to  seize  all  priva- 
teers that  entered  them  ;  Chief  Justice  Jay  declared  it  to  be  the  duty  of 
all  Grand  Juries  to  present  for  trial  persons  engaged  in  such  violation  of 
the  laws  of  nations  ;  and  the  privateers  v/ere  ordered  to  leave  American 
waters  forthwith. 

Genet  and  his  American  partisans  were  greatly  irritated.  Encouraged 
by  the  disloyal  faction.  Genet  vehemently  protested  against  the  acts 
of  the  Government,  and  even  threatened  to  "appeal  from  the  Presi- 
dent to  the  23eople" — in  other  words,  to  incite  an  insurrection.  He 
actually  began  to  fit  out  a  privateer  at  Philadelphia,  when  Governor 
Mitiiin,  though  a  Republican,  threatened  to  seize  the  vessel  if  he  per- 
sisted. Jefferson  soon  found  his  French  friend  exceedingly  troublesome. 
He  begged  him  to  pause  in  his  outrageous  career.  The  minister  refused 
to  listen,  and  raved  like  a  madman.  Jefferson,  disgusted  with  his  con- 
duct, joined  Washington  in  requesting  the  French  Government  to  recall 
their  obnoxious  representative.  Genet  went  to  New  York,  where  ho 
was  received  with  more  enthusiasm,  if  possible,  than  at  Philadelphia. 


CITIZEN   GENET   IN  NEW   YORK.  357 

He  was  welcomed  by  ringing  of  hells  and  salvos  of  cannon  fired  in  honor 
of  the  success  of  the  Republicans  of  France.  A  great  meeting  had  been 
held  in  the  Fields  (now  City  Hall  Park),  at  -which  a  committee  of  forty 
had  been  appointed  to  meet  him  at  Paulas  Hook  (Jersey  City)  and 
escort  him  into  the  town.  The  Federalists,  supported  by  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  held  counter  meetings,  denounced  Genet's  conduct,  and 
warmly  endorsed  the  Proclamation  of  Neutrality. 

The  Republican  newspapers  in  New  York  had  zealously  espoused  the 
French  cause,  and  the  minister  \\^^  feted  and  caressed  to  his  heart's  con- 
tent. The  liberty-cap  was  raised  upon  the  flag-staff  at  the  Tontine 
Coffee-House  ;  tri-colored  cockades  were  worn  by  many  citizens  ;  the 
Marseillaise  Hymn  was  chanted  and  the  cai'tnagiiole  *  was  performed  in 
the  streets.  For  a  time  New  York  seemed  transformed  into  a  French 
city.f 

Genet  was  recalled.  A  political  change  had  taken  place  in  France. 
He  was  of  the  Girondist  or  more  moderate  faction,  who  ruled  when  he 
came  here.  They  had  fallen,  and  the  Jacobins  were  conducting  the 
dreadful  Reign  of  Terror.  He  dared  not  return,  so  he  married  a 
daughter  of  Governor  Clinton,  and  remained  in  the  State  of  New  York. 

Dnring  the  Reign  of  Terror  in  France  an  immense  number  of  its 
wealthier  and  more  refined  population  fled  to  other  countries.  America 
became  the  favorite  refuge  for  these  emigres,  and  the  city  of  New  York 


*  A  dance,  with  singing,  performed  in  tlie  streets  of  Paris  during  tlie  Revolution, 
f  At  a  meeting  of  tlie  Democratic  Society  in  New  York  the  following   song,  com- 
posed by  Thelwall,  an  English  Radical,  was  sung  to  the  air  of  "  God  Save  the  King  :" 

"  God  save  the  Guillotine  ! 
Till  England's  King  and  Queen 

His  power  shall  prove  ; 
Till  each  anointed  knob 
Affords  a  clipping  job, 
Let  no  rude  halter  rob 

The  Guillotine. 

"France,  let  thy  trumpet  sonnd— 
Tell  all  the  world  around 

How  Capet  fell  ; 

And  when  Great  George's  poll 

Shall  in  the  basket  roll, 

Let  mercy  then  control 

The  Guillotine. 

"  When  all  the  sceptred  crew 
Have  paid  their  homage  due 

The  Gullotine, 
Let  Freedom's  flag  advance 
Till  all  the  world,  like  France, 
O'er  tyrants'  graves  shall  dance 

And  peace  begin  !" 


358  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

was  their  principal  resort.  They  produced  a  sensible  effect  upon  society 
there.  French  fashions,  French  furniture,  French  manners  and  customs, 
and  the  French  language  became  prevalent.  Even  when  the  emigrants 
were  permitted  to  return  liome  after  the  downfall  of  Robespierre  and 
they  had  left  this  country,  their  influence  continued  to  be  felt  in  social 
life  in  New  York  for  many  years. 

The  disloyalty  and  insubordination  of  the  Republican  faction,  inaugu- 
rated by  the  official  acts  of  Genet,  were  conspicuously  manifested  the 
following  year  in  the  event  known  in  our  history  as  "  The  Whiskey 
Insurrection  ;"  and  the  violence  of  political  antagonisms  was  as  conspic- 
uously displayed  in  1795,  when  the  provisions  of  a  treaty  with  Great 
Britain,  which  Mr.  Jay  had  negotiated,  were  made  known.  That  treaty 
was  the  result  of  an  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  President  to  avert  the 
calamities  of  war  with  Great  Britain,  which  circumstances  seemed  to  be 
engendering.  The  British  Government  had  failed  in  complying  with 
the  treaty  of  peace  of  1783,  in  giving  up  forts  in  the  western  country 
and  in  other  matters.  This  event,  on  one  side,  and  the  hostile  attitude 
toward  Great  Britain  and  partiality  for  France  of  the  Republicans,  on 
the  other  side,  so  menaced  the  peace  between  the  two  nations  tliat 
Washington  sent  Jay  on  the  righteous  errand  to  secure  tranquillity  and 
justice.  The  Republicans  opposed  the  mission  as  a  cringing  to  Great 
Britain  and  an  affront  to  France,  and  when  it  was  known  that  the  treaty 
liad  not  secured  all  that  the  United  States  demanded,  and  especially  that 
it  bound  our  Govermuent  to  a  strict  neutrality  in  all  wars  between  Great 
Britain  and  other  nations  (the  spirit  of  the  proclamation  of  neutrality), 
there  was  a  burst  of  indignation  from  the  opposition  which  knew  no 
bounds  for  a  while.  They  used  the  most  strenuous  efforts  to  induce  the 
President  and  Senate  to  refuse  their  ratification  of  the  treaty. 

The  first  public  demonstration  in  that  direction  was  made  in  Boston. 
An  anonymous  handbill  was  distributed  throughout  New  York,  calling 
on  the  citizens  to  meet  in  front  of  the  City  Hall,  in  Wall  Street,  on  July 
18th  (1795),  to  join  the  Bostonians  in  expressing  their  opposition  to  the 
treaty.  The  meeting  assembled.  Aaron  Burr,  Chancellor  Livingston, 
and  Brockholst  Livingston  (the  latter  a  brother-in-law  of  Jay,  who  had 
joined  the  Republican  Party)  were  leaders  of  the  opposition.  The 
Federalists  had  gathered  there  in  full  force,  and  were  led  by  Alexander 
Hamilton  and  Richard  Varick.*     They  succeeded  in  electing  a  chairman 

*  Richard  Varick  was  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  earlier  Dutch  settlers  of  New  York. 
He  was  born  in  Iluckensack,  N.  .7.,  in  1753,  and  died  in  New  York  City  in  July,  1831. 
When  the  war  for  independence  broke  out  he  was  a  young  lawj'er  in  New  York.  He 
entered  the  military  service,  and  was  General  Schuyler's  military  secretary  until  after  the 


JAY'S   TREATY. 


359 


from  among  their  number,  and  then  proposed  to  adjourn.  The  Repub- 
licans objected.  Tlien  it  was  moved  tliat  the  disposition  of  the  treaty 
be  left  to  the  President  and  Senate.  The  question  being  taken,  botli 
sides  claimed  the  majority,  when  a  scene  of  violence  ensued.  Hamilton, 
standing  upon  the  elevated  "  stoop"  of  a  Dutch  house  on  the  corner 
of  Wall  and  Broad  streets,  attempted  to  speak  in  defence  of  the  treaty, 
when  he  was  stoned,  dragged  to  tlie  ground  by  the  Republicans,  and 
roughly  handled  in  the  street.  A 
motion  was  made  to  appoint  a 
committee  of  fifteen  to  report 
three  days  later.  It  was  pro- 
nounced carried.  Then  the  tumult 
increased.  Some  person  in  the 
crowd  shouted  : 

"  All  you  who  agree  to  adjourn 
to  Bowling  Green  and  burn  the 
British  treaty  will  say  Aye." 

There  was  a  tremendous  affirma- 
tive response,  and  the  excited  op- 
position    ran,    shouting,    to    the 
Bowling  Green,  where  a  copy  of 
the  treaty  was  burned  beneath  the 
entwined  folds  of   the  American 
and  French  flags,  while  the  car- 
magnole was  performed.     At  the  adjourned  meeting,  on  the  21st,  attended 
mostly  by  Republicans,  a  series  of  resolutions  was  adopted  condemnatory 
of  the  treaty.     The  next  day  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  adopted  counter 
resolutions. 

Mr.  Jay  was  violently  abused.  lie  was  denounced  as  a  "  traitor  who 
had  sold  his  country  for  British  gold."  In  Charleston  the  populace 
trailed  the  British  flag  in  the  dust  and  burned  it  at  the  door  of  the  British 
consul.  Some  of  the  more  violent  Republicans  longed  for  the  guil- 
lotine, while  leaders  in  Virginia,  ever  ready  with  the  panacea  of  dis- 

surrender  of  Burgoyne.  He  was  inspector-general  at  West  Point  until  after  the  treason 
of  Arnold,  when  he  became  a  member  of  Washington's  military  family,  and  was  liis 
recording  secretary  imtil  the  close  of  the  war.  After  the  British  evacuated  the  city  of 
New  York,  in  November,  1783,  he  was  appointed  recorder  of  that  municipality,  and  held 
the  office  until  1789,  when  he  became  attorney-general  of  the  State,  and  subsequently 
mayor  of  the  city,  which  position  he  held  until  1801.  He  had  been  associated  with 
Samuel  Jones  in  making  a  revision  of  the  laws  of  the  State  (1786-88).  In  1787  he  was 
speaker  of  the  Assembly.  Colonel  Varick  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  American  Bible 
Society  and  one  of  its  most  efficient  members. 


KICIIAHD    VAllICK. 


360  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

union,  offered  their  prescription  in  vehement  language.  The  treaty  was 
ratified  in  August,  and  the  effervescence  of  passion  soon  ceased. 

These  turbulent  events  in  New  York  and  elsewhere,  and  the  support 
given  them  by  the  secret  Democratic  societies,  caused  Washington  to 
denounce  secret  associations  as  dangerous  to  the  public  welfare.  The 
Tammany  Society,  or  Columbian  Order,  which  had  been  formed  at  the 
beginning  of  his  administration  as  a  patriotic  and  benevolent  institution, 
regarding  itself  as  pointed  at,  and  being  largely  composed  of  Republicans, 
or  Democrats,  was  transformed  into  a  political  organization  in  opposition 
to  the  Federalists.  It  still  exists,  and  plays  an  important  part  in  the 
politics  of  the  State  of  New  York.* 

In  his  message  to  the  Legislature,  which  convened  at  Poughkeepsie  on 
January  6th,  1795,  Governor  Clinton  reminded  that  body  that  while 
liberal  provisions  had  been  made  for  the  endowment  of  colleges  and 
other  higher  seminaries  of  learning,  no  legislative  aid  had  yet  been  given 
to  comtnon  schools.  He  recommended  that  provisions  be  made  for 
their  encouragement  and  improvement.  This  was  the  first  official  move- 
ment in  the  State  of  New  York  for  extending  the  fostering  care  of  the 

*  Tlie  Tammany  Society,  or  Columbian  Order,  was  formed  chiefly  tlirough  the  exertions 
of  William  Mooney,  an  upholsterer  in  the  city  of  New  York,  in  May,  1789.  Its  first 
meeting  was  held  on  the  13th  of  that  month,  a  fortnight  after  the  inauguration  of  Wash- 
ington. It  took  its  name  from  a  great  and  good  Delaware  chief,  who  was  supposed  to 
have  been  one  of  those  who  made  the  famous  treaty  with  William  Penu.  He  was  revered 
by  the  Delawares,  and  the  early  settlers  called  him  "  Saint  Tammany,"  or  Tamenand. 
He  "  loved  Hberty  better  than  life,"  it  was  asserted,  and  the  new  society  professed  the 
same.  The  officers  consisted  of  a  grand  sachem  and  thirteen  inferior  sachems,  represent- 
ing the  President  and  the  governors  of  the  thirteen  States  in  the  Union.  There  was  also 
a  grand  council,  of  which  the  sachems  were  members.  It  was  patriotic  in  its  influence 
and  very  popular,  and  its  membership  comprised  many  of  the  best  men  of  New  York. 
For  reasons  given  in  the  text,  Mooney  and  others  adhered  to  the  organization,  but  took 
part  with  Jefferson  and  the  Democratic  Party.  They  first  met  as  a  political  organization 
at  Martling's  Long  Room,  at  the  south-east  corner  of  Nassau  and  Spruce  streets. 
They  built  a  wigwam  on  the  spot.  The  corner-stone  of  the  hall  was  laid  in  May, 
1811,  and  the  building  was  completed  the  following  year.  The  venerable  Jacob  Barker, 
who  died  in  Philadelphia  in  1871,  at  the  age  of  ninety-two  years,  was  the  last  survivor  ot 
the  building  committee.  The  certificate  of  membership  of  the  reorganized  Tammany 
Society  bore  a  device  of  an  arch  composed  of  two  cornucopias  ;  the  supports,  resting  upon 
a  solid  stone  arch  composed  of  eighteen  blocks,  represented  the  seventeen  States  and  one 
Territory  then  in  the  Union,  that  of  Pennsylvania  forming  the  keystone.  Under  the 
cornucopia  arch  are  the  words  : 

"  Civil  Liberty  the  Glory  of  Man.  This  Sheweth  a  Link  of  that  Bright  and  Lasting 
Chain  of  Patriotic  Friendship  which  binds  together 

The  Sons  op  Tammany." 
Then  follows  the  certiflcate,  with  the  seal  and  signatiu-es  of  the  grand  sachem,  sagamore, 
and  sentry. 


THE  COMMON-SCHOOL  SYSTEM.  361 

commonwealth  to  these  most  important  institutions — far  more  important 
to  the  welfare  of  the  commonwealth  than  colleges  and  universities. 
The  Legislature  heeded  the  recommendation  of  the  governor,  and  at 
that  session  passed  a  law  appropriating  annually  for  five  years  $50,000, 
and  directed  the  specific  sums  to  be  paid  by  the  State  treasurer  to  each 
county.  The  act  provided  that  the  supervisors  of  the  several  counties 
sliould  apportion  the  money  among  the  respective  towns,  and  a  sum 
equal  to  one  half  the  sum  received  from  the  State  by  the  several  towns 
was  required  to  be  raised  by  a  tax  in  such  towns  and  added  to  the  bounty 
of  the  State.  The  sum  thus  made  up  was  to  be  distributed  in  each 
school  district,  under  the  direction  of  the  town  commissioners. 

A  Literature  Fund  was  created  by  the  operation  of  an  act  passed  in 
April,  1801,  which  authorized  four  lotteries,  for  the  purpose  of  raising 
$100,000  for  the  joint  benefit  of  colleges,  academies,  and  common 
schools,  but  chiefly  for  the  latter.  This  fund  has  been  increased  from 
various  sources  from  time  to  time.  It  was  managed  by  the  regents  of 
the  University  until  1832,  when  it  was  transferred  to  the  comptroller  for 
investment,  the  Legislature  appropriating  the  proceeds  annually. 

The  State  of  New  York  has  been  and  continues  to  be  very  liberal  in 
its  provisions  for  popular  education.  During  the  closing  year  of  the 
first  century  of  tlie  Republic  (1875)  the  expenditure  from  the  public 
treasury  of  the  State  for  educational  purposes  amounted  to  about 
$11,364,000,  of  wliicli  amount  about  $2,960,000  were  the  proceeds  of  a 
direct  tax  of  1^  mills  for  common  schools.* 

*  There  was  no  general  system  of  primary  education  in  the  State  of  New  York  before 
the  Revolutionary  War.  The  schools  were  chiefly  of  a  private  character,  and  education 
was  confined  largely  to  the  wealthier  classes.  In  1789  an  act  was  passed  appropriating 
certain  portions  of  the  public  lands  for  gospel  and  school  purposes.  The  regents  of  the 
University  in  1793  recommended  the  establishment  of  a  general  system  of  common 
schools,  and  this  led  to  the  recommendation  of  Governor  Clinton  in  his  message  mentioned 
in  the  text.  In  the  spring  of  1801  Judge  Peck,  of  Otsego  County,  then  a  member  of  the 
Legislature,  introduced  a  bill  which  by  its  provisions  created  the  Literature  Fund 
mentioned  in  the  text. 

The  great  benefits  of  the  common-school  system  were  immediately  apparent,  and 
successive  governors  recommended  the  passage  of  new  laws  for  the  encouragement  and 
support  of  common  schools.  Nothing  definite  was  accomplished  until  1811,  when  five 
commissioners  were  appointed  to  report  a  complete  system  for  the  organization  and  estab- 
lishment of  common  schools.  In  1812  the  Legislature  passed  a  bill  in  accordance  with 
their  report,  under  which  Gideon  Hawley  was  appointed  State  Superintendent  of  Common 
Schools.  The  office  was  abolished  in  1821,  and  his  duties  were  assigned  to  the  department 
of  the  Secretary  of  State.  In  1835  teachers'  departments  in  academies,  one  in  cacli  sena- 
torial district — a  sort  of  normal  school — were  authorized.  In  1838  the  school  district 
library  system  was  established,  and  in  1841  the  office  of  deputy  superintendent  was 
created — in  other  words,  county  superintendent ;   and  in  1843  the   Board  of   Town 


362  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

The  Board  of  Regents  of  tlie  State  of  New  York  alluded  to  was  estab- 
lished in  1784,  when  the  name  of  King's  College  was  changed  to  Co- 
lumbia College,  and  that  inetitution  was  to  be  made  the  centre  of  a 
devised  extensive  system  of  education.  Subordinate  branches  were  to 
be  established  in  different  parts  of  the  State,  the  whole  to  be  under  the 
control  of  the  regents.  The  board  was  to  be  composed  of  the  principal 
State  officers — two  persons  from  each  county,  and  one  chosen  by  each 
religious  denomination.  The  number  of  the  regents  was  afterward 
increased  by  adding  thirty-three  others,  twenty  of  whom  were  to  reside 
in  the  city  of  New  York,  TJic  authorship  of  this  scheme  is  attributed 
to  Alexander  Hamilton,  then  in  the  Assembly,  assisted  by  Ezra 
L'Hommedieu,'*  then  in  the  Senate,  It  was  found  to  be  impracticable, 
and  by  an  act  passed  in  April,  1787,  it  was  superseded  by  a  system  which 
has  continued,  with  slight  modifications,  until  the  present  time.  The 
officers  of  the  board  are  a  chancellor,  vice-chancellor,  and  secretary. 
They  have  the  general  supervision  of  all  the  educational  institutions 
of  the  State  and  the  distribution  of  a  portion  of  the  Literature  Fund. 
They  appoint  the  librarian  and  assistants  of  the  State  Library  and 
a  curator  of  tlie  State  Cabinet.  Six  members  form  a  quorum  for  the 
transaction  of  business. 

Both  Governor  Clinton  and  Lieutenant-Governor  van  Cortlandt  de- 
clined to  be  a  candidate  for  re-election  in  the  spring  of  1795.     It  was 


Inspectors  and  School  Commissioners  was  abolished  and  the  office  of  town  superintendent 
was  substituted.  In  1847  a  State  normal  school  was  established  at  Albany  for  the 
instruction  of  teachers.  In  the  same  year  the  office  of  county  superintendent  was  abol- 
ished, and  teachers'  institutes  were  legal!}'  established. 

By  act  of  the  Legislature  in  the  spring  of  1849  free  schools  were  established  through- 
out the  State,  and  tlie  condition  of  the  rate-bill  system  was  abolished.  It  was  soon  found 
not  to  work  well  in  practice.  The  law  was  repealed  in  1851,  and  the  rate-bill  system 
was  restored.     In  1853  Union  free  schools  were  permitted  under  certain  conditions. 

In  the  spring  of  1854  the  office  of  superintendent  of  public  instruction  was  created — a 
virtual  restoration  of  the  office  filled  by  Gideon  Hawley  from  1813  to  1821.  In  1855  the 
regents  of  the  University  were  authorized  to  designate  certain  academies  in  the  several 
counties  in  wliich  teacliers'  classes  might  be  tauglit  free,  allowing  $10  for  each  pupil  so 
taught,  to  a  number  not  exceeding  twenty  in  each  academy.  The  office  of  school  commis- 
sioner was  created  in  1856— really  a  reinstatement  of  the  office  of  county  suix-rintendent. 

*  EzraL'IIommedieu  Avas  born  at  Southold,  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  in  August,  1734,  and 
diedtlierein  September,  1811.  He  was  of  a  Huguenot  family  from  Rochelle,  France. 
Ezra  was  a  lawyer,  an  active  patriot,  and  a  member  of  the  New  York  Provincial  Con- 
gress, 1775-78.  He  assisted  in  framing  the  first  State  Constitution,  and  was  for  many 
years  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress.  He  was  also  a  State  senator  from  1784 
until  1809.  He  had  been  a  member  of  the  State  A.ssembly  from  1777  to  1783.  Once  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Council  of  Appointment,  and  he  was  a  regent  of  the  University 
from  1787  until  his  deatli.     In  politico  he  avivs  a  Federalist. 


POLITICAL  CHANGES  IN  NEW  YORK.  363 

evident  that  tlie  horrors  of  the  French  Revohition  had  largely  diminished 
the  number  of  American  sj'mpathizers  with  the  cause  of  the  French 
Eepublicans,  and  there  seemed  little  doubt  that  the  Federalists  were 
about  to  assume  political  control  of  the  State.  Clinton  had  been  gov- 
ernor, by  successive  re-elections,  since  1777,  and  had  served  the  public 
with  ability  and  faithfulness.  The  Federalists  nominated  John  Jay  for 
the  exalted  station.  He  w^as  then  in  England,  but  was  elected  bj  a 
large  majority,  with  Stephen  van  Rensselaer  (the  patroon)  as  lieutenant- 
governor.  The  Federalists  also  secured  a  majority  in  both  branches  of 
the  Legislature. 

None  but  freeholders — men  in  possession  of  property  of  a  prescribed 
character  and  value — were  then  allowed  to  vote.  There  were  about 
36,000  freeholders  in  the  State.  Of  these,  25,373  cast  their  votes  at  that 
election.  The  Avestern  portion  of  the  State  had  rapidly  increased  in 
population.  New  counties  had  been  organized.  Forty-four  senators 
nad  to  be  chosen — a  score  more  than  in  1777.  Seventeen  of  the  new 
senators  were  chosen  from  the  western  district. 

At  the  first  session  in  Governor  Jay's  administration  a  bill  was  intro- 
duced for  the  gradual  abolition  of  slavery  in  the  State  of  New  York,  a 
measure  in  which  the  governor  felt  deeply  interested.  After  a  long 
debate  the  bill  was  rejected  in  the  Assembly  by  the  casting  vote  of  the 
chairman  of  the  Committee  of  the  Whole.     The  vote  stood  82  to  31. 

The  Federalists  continued  to  increase  in  numerical  strength,  but  in  the 
presidential  canvass  in  1796  (Washington  having  declined  to  be  a  candi- 
date) there  was  a  division  in  the  Federal  Party  as  to  their  candidate. 
John  Adams  and  Thomas  Pinckney  were  nominated  b}'  the  Federalists, 
and  Thomas  Jefferson  by  the  Republicans.  The  State  of  New  York 
gave  Adams  its  twelve  votes  in  the  Electoral  College,  He  w'as  elected 
President,  with  Mr.  Jefferson  as  Yice-President.* 

The  twentieth  session  of  the  Legislature  convened  at  New  York  on 
November  1st,  and  sat  till  November  11th.  A  second  meeting  began  at 
Albany  on  January  2d,  1797,  and  from  that  time  until  now  that  city 
has  been  the  political  capital  of  the  State.  During  this  session  the  office 
of  comptroller  was  first  created.     The  law  made  him  the  highest  financial 


*  Under  the  Constitution  as  originally  adopted  the  candidates  for  President  and  Vice- 
President  were  voted  for  in  the  Electoral  College  of  each  State,  without  designating 
which  the  elector  intended  for  the  first  and  which  for  the  second  office.  Lists  of  these 
were  transmitted  to  the  seat  of  Government,  and  the  candidate  having  the  greatest 
number  of  votes  (of  a  majority  of  the  whole)  became  President,  and  the  one  having  the 
next  greatest  number  Vice-President.  The  Twelfth  Amendment  of  the  Constitution 
changed  the  mode  of  voting  for  the  two  oflicers,  the  electors  being  required  to  vote  by 
separate  ballots  for  President  and  Vice-President. 


364  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

officer  of  tlie  State,  and  the  treasurer  merely  a  clerk  to  him.  Samuel 
Jones,  a  member  of  the  Senate,  was  appointed  by  the  Council  of 
Appointment  the  first  comptroller  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

On  February  6th,  1796,  there  was  a  notable  celebration  at  New  York 
by  the  Eepublicans  and  the  many  French  temporary  residents  of  that 
city,  of  the  nineteenth  anniversary  of  the  treaty  of  alliance  between 
France  and  the  United  States.  There  were  a  banquet,  speeches,  and 
toasts.     Chancellor  Livingston  offered  the  sentiment  : 

"  May  the  present  coolness  between  France  and  America  produce, 
like  the  quarrels  of  lovers,  a  renewal  of  love." 

The  chancellor  had  been  an  ardent  Federalist,  but,  with  others  of  the 
Livingston  family,  had  become  an  Anti-Federalist  in  1790,  because,  it 
was  said,  of  his  opposition  to  the  views  of  Colonel  Hamilton  contained 
in  the  famous  report  of  the  latter  as  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  and  es- 
pecially those  in  relation  to  the  funding  of  the  national  debt.  The 
change  was  attributed  also  by  his  political  antagonists  to  his  disappoint- 
ment in  not  having  been  made  Chief  Justice  of  the  United  States. 

The  coolness  between  France  and  the  United  States  alluded  to  by 
Livingston  continued  to  increase  until,  during  the  administration  of  John 
Adams,  both  nations  prej)ared  for  war,  and  hostilities  upon  the  ocean 
actually  occurred  ;  yet  neither  party  made  a  declaration  of  war.  Bona- 
parte overturned  the  republican  government  of  France  in  1799,  and  in 
the  earlier  portion  of  the  opening  year  of  the  nineteenth  century  there 
was  i^eace  and  friendship  between  France  and  the  United  States. 

The  Republican  Party  had  been  making  desperate  efforts  to  maintain 
its  ascendency.  A  wide  breach  in  the  Federal  Party  promised  it  success 
in  the  spring  of  1799,  but  a  dishonorable  transaction  of  Colonel  Aaron 
Burr,  who  was  at  the  head  of  the  Republican  ticket  in  New  York  City, 
caused  its  defeat.  The  stock  of  the  Bank  of  New  York,  chartered  in 
1791 — the  first  bank  established  in  the  State — happened  to  be  chiefly 
owned  by  Federalists.  After  the  election  of  Adams  to  the  presidency, 
in  1797,  party  spirit  was  nowhere  so  violent  as  in  the  State  of  New  York. 
Suspicion  was  on  the  alert.  The  Republicans  suspected  the  Federalists 
of  using  the  funds  of  the  bank  for  partisan  purposes,  and  they  deter- 
mined to  procure  a  charter  for  another  bank  that  should  be  under 
Republican  control.  As  the  majority  of  the  members  of  the  Legislature 
were  Federalists,  they  saw  the  necessity  of  adroit  management  to  obtain 
a  charter.    This  was  left  to  Colonel  Burr,  who  was  equal  to  the  occasion. *^ 

*  Aaron  Burr  was  born  at  Newark,  N.  J.,  February  6th,  1756  ;  died  on  Staten  Island, 
N.  Y.,  SeptemlK?r  14th,  1836.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  yeai-s  lie  entered  the  Continental 
army  at  Cambridge  as  a  private  soldier,  and  accompanied  Arnold  in  his  expedition 


THE   MANHATTAN  WATER   COMPANY. 


365 


The  yellow-fever  had  devastated  the  city  of  New  York  in  1798.  Its 
general  prevalence  was  attributed  to  the  use  of  unwholesome  water. 
Colonel  Bnrr  originated  a  scheme  ostensibly  for  the  cure  of  the  evil. 
He  drew  up  and  presented  to  the  Legislature  a  bill  for  the  chartering  of 
a  company  for  "  supplying  tlie  city  of  New  York  with  pure  and  whole- 
some water."  As  the  amount  of  the  capital  which  might  be  needed  was 
uncertain,  he  asked  for  authority 
to  raise  $2,000,000.  As  that  sum 
would  probably  not  be  absorbed  in 
the  construction  of  the  water- works, 
he  asked  for  a  provision  that  the 
"  surplus  capital  might  be  employ- 
ed in  any  way  not  inconsistent  with 
the  laws  and  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  or  of  the  State  of 
New  York."  This  request  ap- 
peared reasonable.  Under  the 
authority  of  these  few  words  the 
Manhattan  Company,  as  the  cor- 
poration was  called,  was  given 
banking  privileges — really  the  chief 
object  to  be  attained  by  the  charter. 
The  bill  was  rushed  through  the 
Legislature  at  near  the  close  of  the 
session,  the  greater  number  of  the 

members  having   no  suspicion  that   they   were   chartering   a   powerful 

control  of  Burr  and   other   Republican 

of  the  Manhattan  Bank  in  the  city  of 

Water- works  were   established    by  the 


AAUON   BUKR. 


banking    institution 


under  the 
leaders.  Such  was  the  origin 
New  York,  which  still  exists. 


corporation,  but  were  inadequate  for  the  promised  service.      This  trick 


through  the  Wilderness  to  Quebec.  On  the  way  he  was  sent  with  despatches  to  General 
Montgomery,  and  joined  Arnold  at  the  siege  of  Quebec.  In  the  spring  of  1776  Burr 
joined  Washington's  military  family,  but  soon  left  it,  and  in  1779  retired  from  military 
life  and  became  a  lawyer  and  an  active  politician.  He  was  twice  a  member  of  the  New 
York  Legislature  (1784,  1798).  He  was  adjutant-genera!  of  the  State  in  1789,  and  United 
States  senator  from  1791  to  1797.  In  1801  he  was  chosen  Vice-President  of  the  United 
States.  In  1804  he  was  ruined  politically  and  socially  by  his  slaying  of  Alexander  Ham- 
ilton in  a  duel.  In  1805-1806  Burr  was  engaged  in  a  supposed  treasonable  scheme  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  and  was  tried  and  acquitted—"  not  proven."  He  lived  abroad  several 
years,  returning  to  New  York  in  1813,  where  he  resumed  the  practice  of  the  law,  living 
in  obscurity  and  comparative  poverty.  In  1834  he  married  a  wealthy  widow  of  a 
Frenchman,  but  they  soon  parted. 


366  THE  EMPIRE  STATE, 

produced  widespread  indignation,  and,  as  we  have  observed,  caused  the 
defeat  of  the  Repubh"cans  in  the  city  and  tliroughout  the  States. 

A  young  man,  notable  for  tiie  dignity  of  his  personal  presence, 
appeared  on  the  stage  of  political  action  as  a  member  of  the  Assembly 
in  1797,  who  afterward  became  a  leading  figure  in  the  history  of  New 
York.  He  was  De  Witt  Clinton,  son  of  General  James  Clinton,  a 
graduate  of  Columbia  College,  and  having  the  reputation  of  high  scho- 
lastic attainments,  and  then  twenty-eight  years  of  age.  He  had  been  the 
private  secretary  of  his  uncle,  the  governor,  and  had  already  engaged, 
with  his  pen,  in  political  discussions.  It  was  hoped  that  he  would  join 
the  Federal  Party  ;  but  he  did  not.  He  was  a  conspicuous  Kepublican 
leader  until  the  "  era  of  good  feeling" — the  period  of  the  dissolution  of 
the  two  great  parties— during  Monroe's  administration.  We  shall  meet 
him  very  frequently  hereafter.  He  took  an  active  part  in  New  York  in 
the  presidential  canvass  of  1800,  which  resulted  in  the  triumph  of  the 
Republicans  in  the  State  and  nation.  Jefferson  and  Burr  were  rival 
candidates  nominated  by  the  Republicans,  and  John  Adams  was  the  Fed- 
eralist candidate  for  re-election.  Jefferson  and  Burr  having  an  equal 
number  of  votes,  the  choice  was  made  by  the  House  of  Representatives. 
It  was  given  to  Jefferson,  and  Burr  became  Yice-President.  A  jubilant 
Democratic  rhymer  of  the  day  wrote  : 

"  The  Federalists  are  down  at  last ! 
The  Monarchists  completely  cast  ! 
The  Autocrats  are  stripped  of  power — 
Storms  o'er  the  British  factions  lower. 
Soon  we  Republicans  shall  see 
Columbia's  sons  from  bondage  free. 
Lord  !  how  the  Federalists  will  stare 
At  Jefferson  in  Adams'  chair  !" 

From  that  time  the  Republicans  were  generally  called  "  Democrats," 
and  so  we  will  designate  them  hereafter. 

Washington  had  died  at  near  the  close  of  the  previous  year  (December 
14th,  1799).  The  event  cast  a  gloom  over  the  whole  country,  for  he 
was  beloved  by  the  nation.  Tlie  asperity  with  which  he  had  been 
assailed  by  political  antagonists  had  already  been  transformed  into  pro- 
found respect  and  reverence.  His  death  was  felt  as  a  national  calamity 
— an  irreparable  loss.  It  was  especially  so  to  the  Federalists,  with  whom 
he  was  identified,  for  his  name  was  a  tower  of  strength.  After  his 
death  the  party  was  weakened  by  factions.  The  most  imposing  funeral 
honors  were  paid  to  the  memory  of  Washington  everywhere.  In  the 
city  of  New  York  particularly  all  parties  joined  in  expressions  of  pro- 
found and  tender  regard. 


NEW  YORK  IN  THE  YEAR  1800.  367 


CHAPTER   XXVL 

At  the  beginning  of  this  century  tlie  population  of  the  State  of  ^N^ew 
York  was  589,000,  and  of  the  city  of  New  York,  its  commercial  metrop- 
olis, it  was  60,000.  The  decidedly  Dutch  aspect  of  the  city  in  architec- 
ture and  social  manners  had  almost  disappeared.  The  houses,  the  furni- 
ture, the  amusements,  and  the  dress  of  the  people  were  imitations  of 
English  life.  To  London  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  looked  for  fashions, 
and  even  in  the  Dutch  Reformed  churches  the  language  of  Holland  was 
now  seldom  heard  in  the  pulpit.  Kew  York  was  a  complete  trans- 
formation of  New  Amsterdam. 

That  metropolis,  now  (1887)  numbering,  with  its  suburban  munici- 
palities, fully  2,500,000  inhabitants,  was  then  only  a  large  village  in  com- 
parison. Its  northern  boundary  on  the  west  was  Harrison  Street,  some 
distance  below  Canal  Street  ;  on  the  east,  Rutgers  Street,  and  at  the 
centre  by  Anthony  (now  Worth)  Street.  North  of  there,  and  extending 
from  river  to  river  over  a  hilly  country,  were  fields  and  orchards,  farm- 
houses and  pretty  country-seats.  Broadway,  which  crossed  by  a  stone 
arched  bridge  the  little  sluggish  stream  that  passed  between  the  Fresh 
Water  Pond  (where  the  Tombs,  or  Halls  of  Justice,  now  stands)  and  the 
Hudson  River,  through  Lispenard's  oozy  meadows  on  the  line  of  Canal 
Street,  was  terminated  by  a  picket- fence  across  the  road  at  Astor  Place. 
That  was  the  southern  boundary  of  the  farm  of  Captain  Randall,  the 
founder  of  the  Sailors'  Snug  Harbor,  wlio  gave  it  for  an  endowment 
for  that  institution.  From  near  this  point  the  Boston  Road  led,  by 
a  crooked  Avay,  to  Harlem,  which  had  been  founded  by  the  early  Dutch 
settlers.  There  Dutch  farmers  were  seated,  and  on  Harlem  Plains  they 
raised  vejxetables  for  the  traders  at  New  Amsterdam.  The  Middle 
Road,  beginning  at  the  Randall  farm,  also  extended  to  Harlem  by  a 
devious  way,  to  avoid  rocks  and  morasses,  and  the  King's  Bridge,  or 
Bloomingdale  Road,  extended  by  present  Central  Park  and  Manhat- 
tanville  to  the  famous  bridge  which  spanned  Spuyten  Duyvil  Creek,  It 
was  the  beginning  of  the  post  road  to  Albany. 

On  the  site  of  Washington  Square,  a  portion  of  which  was  a  swamp, 
was  the  new  Potter's  Field,  a  burial-place  for  paupers  and  strangers. 
The  Jews'  burial-ground  was  near  Chatham  Square,  and  the  negro  burial- 
ground  was  at  the  north-east  corner  of  Broadway  and  Chambers  Street, 


368 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


Burial-grounds  were  also  attached  to  the  several  churches.     Burials  below 
Canal  Street  were  prohibited  in  1813. 

There  were  two  little  villages  on  the  Hudson  liiver  (Greenwich  and 


NEW   YORK   COSTUMKS   AT   TUE   BEGINNING   OF   THE   NINETEENTH   CENTURY. 


Chelsea),  not  far  north  of  the  city  proper.  At  Greenwich  was  the 
States  Prison,  a  strong  stone  building.  It  was  the  second  States  prison 
built  ill  the  United  States.     At  the  foot  of  Park  Place  was  Columbia 


BENEVOLENT   INSTITUTIONS   OF  NEW  YORK   CITY. 


369 


College  ;  and  on  Broadway,  between  Pearl  and  Diiane  streets,  was  the 
J^ew  York  Hospital,  chartered  in   1771.     The  only  medical  school  in 
the  city  was  tlie  Medical  Faculty  of 
Columbia  College. 

The  benevolent  institutions  were 
the  Chamber  of  Commerce  ;  *  the 
Marine  Society,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
families  of  seamen  ;  the  Humane 
Society,  for  the  relief  of  distressed 
debtors  and  of  the  poor  in  general  ; 
the  Manumission  Society,  composed 
chiefly  of  Friends,  or  Quakers,  de- 
signed for  the  amelioration  of  the 
condition  of  the  slaves  and  the  ac- 
complishment of  their  freedom  ulti- 
mately ;  the  Sailors'  Snug  Harbor, 
for  the  comfort  of  decrepit  and  worn- 
out  seamen  ;  the  General  Society  of 
Mechanics    and    Tradesmen,    for   the 

benefit  and  relief  of  the  families  of  necessitous  members  ;  the  Society  of 
the  Cincinnati  ;  the  Tammany  Society,  already  mentioned  ;  a  Dispensary, 


JOHN   CRUGER.-I- 


*  This  most  useful  organization  was  formed  in  1768  at  the  Queen's  Head  Tavei-n, 
afterward  Fraunce's  Tavern,  where  Washington  parted  with  liis  officers,  and  yet  stand- 
ing, at  the  corner  of  Pearl  and  Broad  streets.  It  was  founded  by  twenty  leading  mer- 
chants, some  of  whom  afterward  appeared  conspicuous  in  public  affairs.  They  avowed 
the  purpose  of  the  association  to  be  "  promoting  and  extending  all  just  and  lawful 
commerce,  and  for  affording  relief  to  decayed  members,  their  widows  and  children."  It 
was  incorporated  in  March,  1770.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the  original  members  : 
John  Cruger,  Elias  Desbrosses,  James  Jauncey,  Jacob  Walton,  Robert  Murray,  Hugh 
Wallace,  George  Folliot,  William  Walton,  Samuel  Verplanck,  Theophylact  Bache, 
Thomas  White,  Miles  Sherbrook,  Walter  Franklin,  Robert  Ross  Waddel,  Acheron 
Thompson,  Laurence  Kortright,  Thomas  Randell,  William  McAdam,  Isaac  Low,  and 
Anthony  van  Dam.  John  Cruger  was  the  first  president.  Robert  Murray  and  Walter 
Franklin  represented  the  Quaker  element  in  the  commercial  features  of  New  York.  Its 
sittings  were  interrupted  when  the  British  took  possession  of  the  city  in  1776,  but  in  1779 
the  Tory  members  who  remained  in  the  city  met  at  the  Merchants'  Coffee-IIouse,  corner 
of  Wall  and  Water  streets,  and  renewed  the  sessions.  It  was  rechartered  by  the  State 
Legislature  in  1784,  and  its  first  president  was  John  Alsop.  The  Waltons  were  among 
the  most  eminent  and  opulent  merchants  of  the  city.  The  Walton  House,  on  Franklin 
Square,  was  long  the  most  magnificent  dwelling  in  the  city  of  New  York.  It  is  now 
devoted  to  the  uses  of  various  kinds  of  business.  It  is  opposite  the  publishing  house  of 
Harper  &  Brothers. 

\  John  Cruger  was  mayor  of  the  city  of  New  York  when  the  Chamber  of  Commerce 
was  founded,  and  the  next  year  (1765)  was  speaker  of  the  Assembly  from  1769  to  1775. 
During  the  perilous  time  just  preceding  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution  his  influence  was 


370  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

on  Tryon  Row,  not  far  from  the  site  of  the  (present)  City  Hall ;  the  St. 
Andrew's  Society,  and  several  Masonic  Lodges. 

There  were  twenty-six  churches  in  the  city — namely,  3  Dutch  He- 
formed,  1  German  Reformed,  7  Protestant  Episcopal,  1  Lutheran, 
5  Presbyterian,  2  Baptist,  3  Methodist,  1  Moravian,  1  Friends'  Meet- 
ing-House,  1  Roman  Catholic,  and  1  Jews'  Synagogue.  The  only 
public  library  in  the  city  was  the  Society  Library,  founded  in  1754.  The 
Post-Office  was  kept  in  a  room  of  the  dwelling  of  the  postmaster  (Gen- 
eral Bailey),  on  the  corner  of  William  and  Garden  streets,  and  contained 
one  hundred  boxes.  There  was  only  one  theatre  in  the  city.  The 
Manhattan  Water  Company  had  a  distributing  reservoir  on  Chambers 
Street,  then  quite  "  out  of  town." 

The  most  noted  of  the  country-seats  on  Manhattan  Island  were  those  of 
Roger  Morris,  on  Harlem  Heights  ;  of  Robert  Murray,  on  the  Incht)erg 
(now  Murray  Hill)  ;  the  Apthorp  Mansion,  on  the  Bloomingdale  Road  ; 
"The  Grange,"  Hamilton's  residence  near  Carmansville,  yet  (1887) 
standing,  and  of  Richmond  Hill,  at  the  junction  of  Charlton  and  Varick 
streets,  then  the  residence  of  Colonel  Aaron  Burr. 

Such  is  an  outline  picture  of  the  city  of  New  York  less  than  one 
hundred  years  ago. 

The  State  Constitution  made  no  provisions  for  its  own  alteration  or 
amendment.  A  necessity  for  an  amendment  appeared  at  the  beginning 
of  this  century.  In  accordance  with  its  provisions,  the  members  of  the 
Legislature,  and  particularly  of  the  Senate,  were  increasing  in  numbers 
to  a  degree  that  was  already  inconvenient.  Governor  Jay,  in  his  speech 
at  the  opening  of  the  session  of  the  Legislature,  in  Januar}',  1801,  called 
the  attention  of  that  body  to  the  subject.  Having  no  legal  power  under 
the  Constitution  to  order  a  convention,  to  consider  amendments,  they 
recommended  such  a  convention,  to  consist  of  delegates  from  the  several 
counties,  equal  in  number  to  the  members  of  the  Assembly.  It  Wiis 
done.  The  delegates  were  chosen  in  August,  and  assembled  at  Albany 
on  October  13th.  x'Varon  Burr  was  chosen  President  of  the  con- 
vention. It  remained  in  session  until  the  27th,  and  adopted,  by  unani- 
mous vote,  an  amendment  proposed  by  De  Witt  Clinton,  which  provided 
that  the  number  of  the  members  of  the  AsscTnbly  should  never  exceed 
one  hundred  and  fifty,  and  of  the  Senate,  thirty-two.     At  that  time 

powerful  ill  miiintuinins?  public  order  among  the  citizens  of  New  York.  He  was  an 
active  member  of  the  Stamp  Act  Congre.s.s  in  1765,  and  prepared  its  famous  Declaration 
of  Right.s.  He  was  also  a  prominent  member  of  the  New  York  Provincial  Congress, 
1775.  Mr.  Cruger  left  the  city  before  the  British  took  possession  of  it  in  1776.  He  died 
in  New  York  City  in  1791-92,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years. 


POLITICAL  INFLUENCE   OF  TWO  FAMILIES.  371 

there  were  one  hundred  assemblymen.  An  amendment  was  adopted 
requiring  an  increase  of  assemblymen,  at  the  rate  of  two  each  year — 
after  the  return  of  every  census — until  the  whole  number  should  amount 
to  one  hundred  and  fifty.     The  people  ratified  the  amendments. 

The  Democrats  now  held  the  political  ascendancy  in  the  State  and  the 
nation.  Ex- Governor  George  Clinton  was  elected  Governor  of  New 
York,  and  in  February,  1802,  his  nephew,  De  Witt  Clinton,  was  chosen 
to  fill  the  place  of  General  Armstrong  (who  had  resigned)  in  the  Senate 
of  the  United  States.  Clinton  was  then  about  thirty- three  years  of  age. 
He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Council  of  Appointment,  and  was  regarded 
as  one  of  the  ablest  of  the  younger  public  men  of  the  State. 

Colonel  Burr,  the  Clintons,  and  the  Livingstons  were  then  the  ac- 
knowledged leaders  of  the  Democratic  Party  in  the  State  ;  but  Burr's 
popularity  had.  already  begun  to  wane.  His  ambition  had  impelled  him 
to  acts  which  rendered  him  an  object  of  suspicion  and  tlie  animadver- 
sions of  leading  members  of  his  party.  Tiie  Clintons  and  the  Livingstons 
disowned  him  as  a  Democrat,  and  on  the  distribution  of  the  great  ofiices 
of  the  State  by  the  Council  of  Appointment  not  one  of  Burr's  friends 
received  a  place. 

The  Democratic  Council  of  Appointment  divided  the  offices  among 
the  two  leading  families  in  the  State — the  Clintons  and  the  Livingstons 
— and  their  immediate  friends.  Edward  Livingston  was  created  Mayor 
of  New  York  City.  The  Secretary  of  State  was  removed  in  order  to 
make  a  place  for  Dr.  Tillottson,  a  brother-in-law  of  Chancellor  Living- 
ston. Morgan  Lewis,  another  brother-in-law,  was  made  Chief- Justice 
of  the  State  Supreme  Court  ;  General  Armstrong,  another  brother-in- 
law  of  the  chancellor,  was  appointed  United  States  Senator.  Brockholst 
Livingston  and  Smith  Thompson  (the  latter  married  a  Livingston)  were 
created  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court.  These  persons,  connected  with 
the  Livingston  family  by  marriage  or  otherwise,  were  all  able  men. 
Governor  (]!linton  had  declared,  on  taking  office  again,  that  the  heads  of 
State  Departments  especially  and  the  incumbents  of  minor  offices 
should  be  men  in  political  accord  with  the  majority  of  the  voters  who 
appeared  at  the  poles.  This  was  a  mild  expression  of  the  political  maxim 
enunciated  long  j'ears  afterward — "  To  the  victors  belong  the  spoils." 

Chancellor  Livingston  having  been  disqualified  by  age  to  hold  the 
office  of  chancellor  longer.  Judge  John  Lansing  succeeded  him,  and 
Mr.  Livingston  was  appointed  by  President  Jefferson  Minister  at  the 
Court  of  the  First  Consul  of  France,  where  he  negotiated  the  purchase 
from  that  power  of  the  immense  territory  known  as  Louisiana,  for 
$3,000,000. 


372  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Ill  the  summer  of  1802  a  most  bitter  political  and  personal  trarfare 
was  waged  between  Colonel  Burr  and  bis  partisans,  and  the  Clintons  and 
Livingstons  and  their  adherents.  The  latter  established  a  newspaper, 
called  the  American  Citizen,  as  the  organ  of  the  Democratic  Party, 
which  was  under  the  control  of  De  Witt  Clinttm.  It  bitterly  charged 
Burr  with  treason  to  the  Democratic  cause,  and  also  with  intriguing  with 
the  Federalists  to  prevent  the  election  of  Jefferson,  in  order  to  secure 
for  himself  the  presidential  chair.  An  Englishman  named  Cheatham 
was  the  editor-in-chief.  To  meet  this  formidable  opponent  in  battle, 
Colonel  Burr  and  his  friends  established  the  Morning  Chronicle,  edited 
by  Peter  Irving,  an  elder  brother  of  Washington  Irving. 

The  Chronicle  carried  the  war  into  the  camp  of  the  Clintons  and  Liv- 
ingstons with  great  vigor.  It  charged  them  with  inordinate  personal 
ambition  ;  with  endeavoring  to  exercise  dictatorial  power  over  the  Dem- 
ocratic Party,  and  appropriating  to  themselves  the  spoils  of  the  political 
victories.  It  affirmed  that  they  were  jealous  of  Burr,  and  wished  to  get 
rid  of  him,  because  he  was  an  obstacle  in  the  way  of  their  efforts  to 
place  a  memljer  of  one  of  their  families  in  the  exalted  position  (Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States)  then  filled  by  the  colonel,  and  ulti- 
mately in  the  principal  chair.  So  heated  did  the  controversy  become, 
that  the  two  sections  of  the  Democratic  Party  became  personally  hostile. 

Burr's  opponents  managed  to  gain  control  of  the  Manhattan  Bank 
(already  mentioned),  and  wielded  its  power  against  him  and  his  friends. 
Colonel  John  Swartwout,  one  of  Burr's  most  devoted  partisans,  was 
turned  out  of  the  direction  of  the  bank.  Though  his  private  character 
was  unimpeachable,  De  Witt  Clinton — who  was  too  apt  to  speak  of  every 
man  who  opposed  him  as  a  knave  or  a  fool — spoke  of  Swartwout  as  a 
'' liar,  a  swindler,  and  a  villain."  Sw^artwout  challenged  Clinton.  A 
duel  ensued.  Five  shots  were  exchanged.  Nobody  was  hurt.  Richard 
Riker,  afterward  the  famous  Recorder  of  the  city  of  New  York,  was 
Clinton's  second  and  warm  personal  friend.  He  so  vigorously  defended 
Clinton,  through  the  press,  that  a  brother  of  Swartwout  challenged 
Riker. 

In  a  duel  that  ensued,  Riker  was  so  severely  wounded  that  he  was 
lamed  for  life.* 


*  Richard  Riker  was  long  a  conspicuous  figure  in  official  life  in  New  York.  He  was 
born  on  Long  Island  in  September,  177;i  upon  land  ceded  to  his  ancestor,  Geysbert  Riker, 
in  1630.  His  father  was  an  active  patriot  of  tlie  Revolution  of  1775-83.  When  quite  a 
young  man  Richard  was  made  Attorney-General  of  the  State  of  New  York.  He  was 
first  chosen  Recorder  of  the  city  in  1815.  He  was  again  chosen  in  1821  and  1834, 
serving  fourteen  years  successively  in  his  hist  term.     He  died  in  October,  1842.     Mr. 


SCHISM   IN   THE  DEMOCRATIC  PARTY.  373 

Cheatham  published  a  pamphlet  against  Burr,  and  William  P.  Van 
Ness  (Burr's  second  in  his  duel  with  Hamilton)  published  in  the  same 
form,  over  the  signature  of  "  Aristides,"  a  most  violent  attack  upon  the 
character  of  tlie  whole  Livingston  family.  He  also  attacked  De  Witt 
Clinton  and  Ambrose  Spencer  with  special  severity. 

In  forming  a  judgment  concerning  this  virulent  controversy,  it  may 
be  well  to  remember  the  words  of  Lady  Betty  Germain — "  1  have  lived 
long  enough  never  wholly  to  believe  any  side  or  party  against  the  other." 

Tills  schism  in  the  Democratic  Party  in  the  State  vexed  the  leaders  a 
long  time.  Colonel  Burr  lost  the  confidence  of  his  party  not  only  at 
home,  but  at  the  national  capital  ;  but  the  continually  increasing  majori- 
ties of  the  party  at  every  election  inspired  his  friends  with  hope.  They 
resolved  to  bring  out  Burr  as  a  Democratic  candidate  for  Governor  of 
New  York  against  any  regular  nominee  of  the  party.  In  February,  1804, 
his  friends  in  the  Legislature  held  a  meeting  at  Albany,  and  formally 
nominated  him.  A  meeting  in  New  York  City  ratified  it.  There  being 
no  chance  for  the  election  of  a  Federalist,  leaders  of  that  party  proposed 
to  take  np  Burr  as  their  candidate,  so  as  to  defeat  the  Democrats  by  the 
coalition. 

At  a  private  meeting  of  Federalists  for  consultation,  held  at  Albany  a 
few  evenings  after  Burr's  nomination,  General  Alexander  Hamilton, 
then  on  legal  business  at  Albany,  took  a  conspicuous  part.  He  advo- 
cated voting  for  Chancellor  Lansing,  in  case  they  had  no  candidate  of 
their  own,  declaring  that  no  reliance  ought  to  be  placed  on  Colonel 
Burr.  He  repeated  his  declaration  in  substance  at  a  private  dinner-table. 
One  of  the  guests  on  that  occasion  (Dr.  Cooper),  in  a  letter  to  a  friend, 
repeated  the  substance  of  Hamilton's  remarks  in  such  a  careless  use  of 
words  that  they  conveyed  the  erroneous  impression  that  they  impeached 
the  private  character  of  Burr.  He  wrote  that  both  Hamilton  and  Judge 
Kent*  looked  upon  Burr  as  a  dangerous  man,  and  one  who  ought  not  to 


Riker  was  one  of  the  most  notable  of  the  recorders  of  the  city — efficient,  amiable,  just, 
and  beloved  by  everybody.     Fitz-Greene  Halleck  wrote  : 

"  My  Dear  Recorder,  you  and  I 

Have  floated  down  life's  stream  together, 
And  kept  unharmed  our  friendship's  tie 
Through  every  change  in  Fortune's  sky, 
Her  pleasant  and  her  rainy  weather." 

*  James  Kent  was  born  in  Putnam  (then  a  part  of  Duchess)  County  in  July,  1763. 
He  was  graduated  at  Yale  College  ;  became  a  lawyer  and  a  profound  jurist  ;  in  politics 
he  was  a  Federalist,  and  in  1791  made  New  York  City  his  residence,  where  he  formed  an 
intimate  friendship  with  Colonel  Hamilton.  He  became  a  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  New  York  in  1798  and  chief  justice  in  1804.     In  1814  he  became  chancellor,  retired 


374 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


be  trusted  with  the  reins  of  government,  and  added  :  "  I  could  detail  to 
jou  a  still  more  despicable  opinion  which  General  Hamilton  has  ex- 
pressed of  Burr."  This  letter  was  shown  to  many  politicians  before  the 
election,  which  took  place  in  April,  and  soon  after  that  event  it  found 
its  way  into  the  newspapers.  Many  Federalists  voted  for  Burr,  but  he 
was  defeated  by  a  large  majority  of  votes  given  to  Morgan  Lewis,*  the 

regular  nominee  of  the  party.  He 
attributed  his  failure  to  gain  the 
prize  to  the  adverse  influence  of 
Hamilton.  When  he  saw  Cooper's 
letter  in  the  newspapers  his  indig- 
nation knew  no  bounds.  He  at 
once  wrote  a  note  to  Hamilton 
(June  18th,  1804),  demanding  a 
"  prompt  and  unqualified  ackuowl- 
edgment  or  denial  of  the  use  of  any 
expression  which  would  warrant  the 
assertions  of  Mr.  Cooper."  An 
unsatisfactory  correspondence  en- 
sued. Burr  finally  challenged 
Hamilton  to  fight  a  duel.  The  lat- 
ter did  all  in  the  i30wer  of  an 
honorable  man  to  avoid  a  personal 
rencontre.  Burr  was  persistent.  Yielding  to  the  then  prevailing  public 
opinion  about  the  miscalled  code  of  honor,  Hamilton,  in  violation  of  his 
moral  and  religious  convictious,  felt  compelled  to  accept  the  challenge. 
His  son  Philip  was  killed  in  a  duel  not  long  before. 

On  the  morning   of    July    11th,   1804,  the    belligerents  crossed  the 
Hudson  in   boats   to  the   duelling-ground   at    Weehawken,  with    their 


MOKCJAN    1,KWIS. 


from  the  office  in  1833,  and  became  law  professor  in  Columbia  College  the  second  time. 
His  Commentaries  on  American  Law,  four  volumes,  is  a  standard  work.  He  died  in 
New  York  in  December,  1847. 

*  Morgan  Lewis  was  born  in  New  York  City  in  October,  1754,  and  died  there  in  April. 
1844.  He  was  a  son  of  Francis  Lewis,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  He 
was  educated  at  Princeton  ;  studied  law  with  John  Jay  ;  entered  the  Continental  army  at 
Cambridge  in  June,  1775,  and  was  a  gallant  soldier,  serving  faitlifuUy  until  1780,  when 
he  left  the  army,  having  been  promoted  to  colonel  on  the  staff  of  General  Gates.  He 
began  the  practice  of  law  in  Duchess  County,  N.  Y.  ;  married  a  sister  of  Chancellor 
Livingston  :  became  a  judge  ;  attorney-general  of  the  State  in  1791  ;  justice;  of  the  State 
Supreme  Court  and  chief  justice  in  1801.  He  was  Governor  of  the  State  in  1804  ;  was 
made  quartermaster-general  with  the  rank  of  brigadier  in  1813,  and  major-general  in 
1813.  He  .served  well  during  the  war.  Late  in  life  he  devoted  himself  to  literature  and 
agriculture.     In  1835  he  was  president  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society. 


DEATH   OF  HAMILTON— MILITARY   ACADEMY.  376 

respective  seconds — Mr.  Van  Ness  with  Burr,  Mr.  Pendleton  with 
Hamilton.  The  chosen  weapons  were  pistols.  At  the  given  word, 
Burr  took  deliberate  aim  and  gave  his  antagonist  a  fatal  wound.  The 
latter  did  not  fire  at  Burr.  The  wounded  statesman  was  taken  across 
the  river  to  the  home  of  his  friend,  Colonel  Bayard,  at  Greenwich, 
where  he  died  in  the  afternoon  of  the  following  day.  The  Federal  Party 
in  New  York  thus  lost  its  most  efficient  leader,  and  the  nation  was  de- 
prived of  a  mighty  pillar  of  support.  The  remains  of  Hamilton  rest  in 
Trinity  Churchyard,  near  Broadway, 

The  death  of  Hamilton  at  the  hand  of  Burr  created  the  most  intense 
excitement  among  all  classes  of  societ}',  first  in  the  city  of  New  York 
and  then  throughout  the  Hepiiblic.  It  was  regarded  as  a  deliberate 
murder.  The  recollection  of  Hamilton's  past  services,  his  transcendent 
abilities,  his  marvellous  powers  for  usefulness  as  a  citizen,  caused  uni- 
versal mourning  among  his  countrymen.  Even  his  political  enemies 
dropped  a  tear  of  sensibility. 

At  the  moment  when  Hamilton  fell  Burr  became  politically  dead. 
He  fled  from  righteous  wrath,  and  became  a  fugitive.  At  length  he 
ventured  to  engage  in  some  mysterious  scheme — treasonable  it  was 
believed — for  his  own  aggrandizement.  He  was  arrested,  and  tried  on  a 
charge  of  treason,  but  escaped  conviction.  It  was  virtually  a  Scotch 
verdict — "  Not  proven,"     He  lived  thirty  years  afterward  in  obscurity. 

At  near  the  close  of  the  last  century  a  National  Military  Academy 
was  founded  at  West  Point,  among  the  Hudson  Highlands,  with  pupils 
composed  of  cadets  attached  to  corps  of  artillerists  and  engineers  then 
stationed  there  for  the  purpose.  Its  first  commander,  or  superintend- 
ent, was  Major  Jonathan  Williams.  The  institution  rapidly  grew  in  the 
number  of  the  pupils  and  in  tangible  usefulness.  The  Academy  was 
reorganized  in  1812,  when  the.  number  of  cadets  was  limited  to  two 
hundred  and  sixty.  Then  the  broad  foundation  upon  which  the  institu- 
tion now  rests  was  laid.  The  first  graduate  of  this  military  academy 
was  the  late  General  Joseph  G.  Swift,  under  whose  directions  the  forti- 
fications on  and  around  New  York  or  Manhattan  Island  were  constructed 
during  the  War  of  1812-15, 

The  election  of  Judge  Lewis  Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York  left 
the  office  of  Chief- Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  vacant,  James  Kent 
M-as  soon  afterward  appointed  to  till  the  seat,  and  Daniel  D,  Tompkins 
was  created  Associate  Justice,  Mr.  Jefferson  was  re-elected  in  the 
autumn  of  1804,  with  George  Clinton  as  Yice -President. 

In  a  special  message  in  January,  1805,  Governor  Lewis  urged  the  ap- 
plication of  the  proceeds  of  the  sales  of  the  public  lands  of  the  State  (one 


376 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


million  five  hundred  thousand  acres)  to  the  improvement  and  elevation  of 
the  common  schools.  The  Legislature  made  an  appropriation  of  five 
hundred  thousand  acres  for  that  purpose,  and  thus  was  laid  the  foundation 
for  a  permanent  school  fund.  At  the  same  session  the  Society  for 
Establishing  a  Free  School  in  the  city  of  New  York,  for  the  education 
of  destitute  children,  was  incorporated.  De  "Witt  Clinton,  the  first 
signer  to  the  petition  for  the  incorporation,  was  made  its  first  president. 
It  was  the  legitimate  offspring  of  the  Female  Association  for  the  Relief 
of  the  Poor,  founded  in  1802  by  benevolent  women  of  the  Society  of 
Friends.     They  opened  a  school  for  the  free  education  of  white  girls. 

Its  influence  rapidly  extended,  and 
at  one  time  it  had  several  large 
elementary  schools. 

The  first  school  of  the  Society 
for  Establishing  a  Free  School  was 
opened  on  Madison  Street,  in  May, 
1806.  Colonel  Henry  Rutgers 
soon  afterward  gave  land  on  Henry 
Street  as  a  site  for  a  school-house. 
The  jjupils  increased  so  rapidly 
that  other  buildings  were  provided. 
The  Legislature,  Trinity  Church, 
and  the  Municipal  Corporation  gave 
the  society  pecuniary  aid.  In  1808 
the  name  of  the  society  was  changed 
to  Free  School  Society  of  the  City 
of  New  York  ;  and  late  in  1809  a 
school  was  opened  in  the  old  arsenal  building,*  on  Chambers  Street,  as 
"  Public  School  No.  1."  It  was  held  in  a  room  large  enough  to  accom- 
modate fully  five  hundred  children.  It  was  agreed  that  the  children  in  the 
Almshouse  should  be  taught  there.  At  the  opening  of  the  school,  De 
Witt  Clinton  pronounced  a  memorable  address,  which  was  spoken  of 
nearly  fifty  years  afterward  in  a  Public  School  Report,  as  "  sowing  the 
seed-wheat  of  all  the  harvests  of  education  which  subse(|uent  years  have 
gathered  into  our  garners." 

In  the  State  of  New  York  one  of  the  most  important  achievements  in 


BOBERT  FULTON. 


*  This  was  a  bii(;k  buildiiij,'  on  Chambers  Street  and  Tryon  Row.  The  city  corpora- 
tion appropriated  )|>15()0  for  the  remodelling  of  the  building  inside  and  out,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  a  school.  Among  the  most  conspicuous  working  memlwrs  of  the  society  at  that 
time  wa.s  De  Witt  Clinton,  Thomas  Eddy,  Samuel  Wood.  Thomas  Brown,  John  Griscom, 
Joseph  Curtis,  Charles  Wilkes,  Cadwallader  D.  Colden,  and  Dr.  .John  W.  Francis. 


NAVIGATION   BY   STEAM   ON  THE   HUDSON. 


tlie  history  of  human  progress  was  accomplished  in  1807,  in  tlie  per- 
manent establishment  of  steam-navigation.  Some  feeble  attempts  to  ac- 
complish this  end  had  been  made  before  in  Europe.  Robert  Fulton,* 
an  American  citizen,  a  professional  portrait-painter,  had  lived  some 
years  in  Paris,  had  travelled  in  Great  Britain,  and  had  studied  the  sub- 
ject and  made  some  experiments. 

In  Paris  he  had  interested  Chancellor  Livingston  in  steam-navigation 
projects,  and  on  his  re- 
turn home,  in  1806, 
Fulton,  in  conjunction 
with  Livingston,  built 
a  steamboat  far  up  the 
Hudson  Kiver,  and 
named  it  the  Clermont. 
She  was  one  hundred 
and  thirtv  feet  lonff, 
sixteen  feet  wide,  and 
was  one  hundred  and 
sixty  tons  burden.  She 
was  furnished  with  a 
Watts  tfe  Boulton  steam- 
engine. 

On  the  morning  of  August  Tth,  1807,  the  Clermont  started  from  New 
York  City  on  a  trial-trip  to  Albany,  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  It 
was  successful,  and  was  accomplished  in  thirty-six  hours,  against  wind 
and  tide.  Steam-navigation  was  now  no  longer  an  experiment  ;  it  was 
a  demonstration.  On  September  1st  the  Clermont  began  regular  trips 
over  that  route.  Livingston  had  obtained  from  the  Legislature  the 
exclusive  right  of  steam-navigation  on  the  Hudson  for  twenty  years.     In 


THE   CLERMONT. 


*  Robert  Fulton  was  born  in  Lancaster  County,  Penn.,  in  1765.  lie  was  of  Irish 
descent  ;  died  in  New  York  City  February  21st,  1815.  He  became  a  skilful  painter  of 
miniature  portraits  in  Philadelphia,  and  went  to  England  to  study  under  Benjamin  West. 
He  there  made  himself  familiar  with  the  steam-engine,  then  just  improved  by  Watt,  and 
turned  his  attention  to  invention.  He  was  seven  years  an  inmate  of  Joel  Barlow's  house 
in  Paris,  studying  languages  and  science  and  considering  inventions.  One  of  these  was  a 
torpedo  for  use  in  naval  warfare.  He  unsuccessfully  offered  his  invention  to  the  French 
and  English  governments.  He  became  acquainted  in  Paris  with  Robert  R.  Livingston, 
and  was  aided  by  him  pecuniarily  in  perfecting  his  invention  for  navigation  by  steam. 
Fulton  returned  to  New  York  in  1806,  and  with  Livingston  built  a  boat,  which  was 
successfully  propelled  by  steam  between  New  York  and  Albany  in  1807.  He  could  not 
induce  his  Government  to  adopt  his  torpedo.  He  built  steam  ferry-boats,  and  in  1814  the 
Government  appointed  him  to  superintend  one  or  more  floating  batteries.  He  built  a  war 
steamer  (the  first  ever  constructed),  which  after  his  death  was  named  Fulton  the  First. 


378  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

less  than  six  years  from  the  exploit  of  the  Clennont  there  were  six  steam- 
boats navigating  the  Hudson,  or  North  Eiver,  as  it  was  then  usually 
called. 

Froiri  the  port  of  New  York  went  out  the  Savannah,  in  1819,  the 
iirst  steam-vessel  that  crossed  the  Atlantic  Ocean  to  Europe  ;  but  the 
rei^ular  navigation  of  the  sea  was  postponed  until  the  summer  of  1838, 
when  the  Great  Westei'n  steamship  crossed  from  Bristol  and  entered  the 
harbor  of  New  York, 

New  York  was  the  most  famous  commercial  mart  in  the  United  States 
early  in  the  century,  and  has  remained  so.     Her  merchants   suffered 

severely  from  the  reckless  foot- 
j    ^:*fca(l  ball-playing    with    the    world's 

^^1 11  commerce,  by  Great  Britain  and 

'''";=^tJj^gS^^i3:]r7;:  France,    for  several   years.     By 

'^^'^4z!iPv£jr  TuPiX '     "  ^^^^  operation  of  British  Orders 

~ '"■^^^'WB^^^^^rJ^^^<z~z.  _         in  Council,  and    Decrees  issued 
:7~^^ZJ^ur^M^lit\\^'  ^7   ^^^^   Emperor   Napoleon,  all 

"""""nOln  li^vlfl   liir'v"^^'^'""       American  commerce  in    neutral 
— ^-t^^^^QOldSi^Si^EiP^r^—     ships  with  either  of  the  bellig- 
erent nations  was  suspended. 
Late  in    October,  1807,  Con- 
FULTON  THE  FIRST.*  grcss,  as  a  countervailing  meas- 

ure, laid  an  embargo  on  all  ves- 
sels in  the  harbors  of  the  United  States.  Tliese  measures  were  disastrous 
to  the  mercantile  and  shipping  interests  of  the  whole  country,  and  to  that 
of  the  city  of  New  York  especially.  The  Federalists  and  many  Demo- 
crats strenuously  opposed  the  Embargo  Act,  but  it  was  supported  by 
most  of  the  Democratic  Party.  The  Federalists  justified  the  British 
Orders  in  Council,  and  the  Democrats  justified  the  French  Decrees.  The 
Embargo  Act  M^as  repealed  early  in  1800.  Another  embargo  was  laid  in 
the  spring  of  1812.  American  commerce  was  now  prostrated  ;  it  was 
annihilated  in  the  ensuing  summer  by  the  declaration  of  war  against  Great 
Britain.  For  several  years  the  trading  interests  of  New  York  City  were 
subjected  to  many  vicissitudes 

*  Early  in  1814  the  first  steamship  of  war  was  constructed  at  New  York,  at  Noah 
Brown's  ship-yard,  and  named  Fulton  the  First.  It  was  a  sort  of  catamaran.  The  hull 
consisted  of  two  boats,  separated  by  a  channel  fifty  feet  wide.  One  boat  containtxl  the 
copper  boiler  for  generatinj:;  steam,  llie  other  contained  the  machinery.  The  jiroix^lling 
wheel  revolved  in  the  space  between  them.  A  deck  extended  over  the  whole.  The 
vessel  was  arrang(!d  for  sails.  It  was  designed  for  harbor  defence.  The  Fulton  the  F\rst 
made  a  trial-trip  a  .short  distance  at  sea.  She  made  six  miles  an  hour  with  steam  alone. 
She  was  only  a  floating  battery. 


,^^-r- 


CAUSE   OF   THE   OVERTHROW   OF  THE   FEDERALISTS.  379 

Meanwhile  the  political  quarrels  in  the  State  of  New  York  had  raged 
with  great  violence.  The  schism  in  the  Democratic  Party  continued, 
and  jet  that  party  was  so  powerful  in  numbers  that  it  continued  its 
domination  in  the  State  with  continually  increasing  strength.  One  fac- 
tion was  led  chiefly  by  the  Livingstons,  and  the  other  faction  was  led  by 
De  Witt  Clinton  and  his  friends.  The  Federal  Party  had  fallen  to  rise 
no  more  into  permanent  existence. 

The  chief  cause  of  the  overthrow  of  the  Federal  Party  was  the  mis- 
takes made  by  earnest  but  injudicious  leaders  in  taking  occasions  to  show 
their  partiality  to  the  British  nation.*  This  was  natural  in  the  fever 
of  excitement,  because  the  Democrats  were  more  demonstrative  in  tokens 
of  their  partiality  for  the  cause  of  Napoleon,  then  scourging  Europe  with 
liis  armies.  Besides,  many  Tories  of  the  Revolution  and  their  friends 
had  become  attached  to  the  Federal  Party,  and  so  increased  the  animosity 
and  the  suspicions  of  the  Democrats. 

Although  Colonel  Burr  himself  was  j)olitically  dead  and  buried,  his 
friends,  who  formed  a  considerable  faction,  were  very  much  alive  and 
aggressive.  There  appears  to  be  evidence  that  De  Witt  Clinton  and  his 
friends  coquetted  with  the  "  Burrites,"  in  order  to  gain  their  support  in 
the  warfare  with  Governor  Lewis  ;  and  that  as  Clinton  had  not  the 
power  at  that  time  to  give  offices  to  Burr  or  his  friends,  it  was  proper 
that  he  should  give  "  pecuniary"  aid,  through  the  medium  of  the  Man- 
Iiattan  Bank,  of  whicli  Clinton  was  a  prominent  director. f     The  revela- 


*  One  instance  will  suffice  to  illustrate  this  point.  Previous  to  celebrating  the  anniver- 
sary of  independence  at  Albany,  in  1805,  the  Common  Council  of  that  city,  composed  of 
a  majority  of  Federalists,  passed  a  resolution  that  the  Declaration  of  Independence  should 
not  be  read  on  that  occasion,  because  the  reading  of  that  instrument,  it  was  alleged, 
tended  to  perpetuate  prejudices  against  the  British  nation,  when  the  causes  of  hostility 
had  long  since  ceased  to  exist. 

f  Matthew  L.  Davis,  the  bosom  friend  and  biographer  of  Colonel  Burr,  states  in  a 
pamphlet,  composed  of  a  series  of  letters  published  in  a  newspaper,  over  the  signatures  of 
"Marcus"  and  "  Philo  Cato,"  that  in  December,  1805,  Levi  McKean,  a  Burrite  from 
Poughkeepsie,  a  neighbor  and  friend  of  General  James  Tallmadge,  a  zealous  "  Clintonian, ' ' 
arrived  in  New  York,  and  stated  to  his  political  friends  there  that  overtures  had  been 
made  "  by  the  Clintonians  to  form  a  union  with  the  Burrites,"  and  that  he  had  conversed 
with  General  Bfdley,  the  postmaster,  on  the  subject.  Mr.  Davis  states  that  early  in 
January,  1806,  Colonel  Swartwout,  Burr's  warm  friend,  accepted  an  invitation  from 
General  Bailej'  to  a  personal  interview,  the  latter  avowing  himself  as  the  agent  of  De  Witt 
Clinton  ;  al.so  that  an  agreement  was  made  that  : 

1.  Colonel  Burr  should  be  recognized  by  the  coalition  as  a  Democrat. 

•2.  That  attacks  upon  him  should  cease,  and  that  the  Burrites  should  not  be  regarded 
as  returning  to  the  Democratic  Party  ;  and 

3.  That  the  friends  of  Burr  should  be  placed  on  the  same  footing  as  the  most  favored 
Clintonians  as  respected  appointments  to  offices  of  honor  and  profit  throughout  the  State. 


380 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


tions  of  this  coalition  and  its  conditions  produced  intense  indignation  in 
the  Democratic  Party.  At  a  meeting  at  Martling's  Long  Room  (Tam- 
many Hall)  it  was  denounced.  Mr.  Clinton  was  then  in  Albany.  He 
wrote  a  letter  to  General  Bailey,  approving  in  general  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  meeting,  and  declaring  that  the  support  of  the  Democratic 

Party  by  the  Burrites  would  he 
universally  agreeable,  but  it  ought 
not  to  be  purchased  by  a  promise 
of  offices. 

There   being    menaces    of    war 
between    the    United    States    and 
Great  Britain,  the  governor,  in  his 
speech  at  the  opening  of  the  Leg- 
islature in  1806,  urged  the  necessity 
of  placing  the  State  in  a  position  of 
defence,  for  it  would  be  exposed  to 
attacks  by  land  on  the  north  and 
from  the  sea  on  the  south.   Yery  lit- 
tle was  then  done  to  this  end.    The 
National    Government   built    Fort 
Jay  and  Castle  William  on  Govern- 
or's Island,  in  Xew  York  Harbor. 
In  1806  the  Democrats  elected  Daniel  D.  Tompkins  *   Governor  of 
the  State  of  ISTew  York,  which  position  he  held  from   1807  until  1817. 
He  filled  the  office  with  great  distinction  and  efficiency  during  the  trying 
times  of  the  War  of  1812-15.     In  1808  the  Democrats  elected  James 

Davis  further  stated  that  Clinton,  with  some  friends,  among  them  a  zealous  partisan  of 
Burr,  afterward  met  Colonel  Swartwout  at  the  house  of  General  Bailey,  when  congratula- 
tions on  the  coalition  were  exchanged  ;  and  tliat  in  February,  at  a  supjx^r  at  a  hotel  near 
New  York,  the  Clintonians  and  Burrites  exchanged  toasts  and  congratulations. 

When  these  letters  appeared  Mr.  Clinton  denied  the  truth  of  their  allegations,  and 
liublicly  threatened  to  prosecute  their  author  for  libel.  Mr.  Davis  gave  notice  that  he 
could  i>rove  all  his  assertions.     The  case  was  never  brought  to  trial. 

*  Daniel  D.  Tompkins  was  born  in  Westchester  County,  N.  Y.,  in  June,  1774,  and 
died  on  Staten  Island  in  June,  1825.  lie  was  educated  at  Columbia  College  ;  became  a 
lawyer,  and  in  1801  wiis  a  member  of  the  convention  that  revised  the  State  Constitution. 
He  served  in  th(i  8tat(!  r.egislature,  and  was  a  member  of  Congress  in  1804-1805.  He  was 
made  a  judge  of  tlu;  State  Supreme  Court  in  1804  ;  was  chosen  governor  in  1806,  and 
served  ten  consecutive  years,  and  was  elected  Vice-President  of  the  United  Slates  in  1816. 
lie  was  chanc-ellor  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New  Y^ork,  and  president  of  the 
convention,  in  1831,  which  revised  the  State  Constitution.  He  had  reconuneiided,  by  a 
Bp<'cial  message  to  th(!  Legislature,  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the  State  of  New  Y'ork. 
Owing  to  reports  of  crookedness  in  his  public  financial  affairs,  he  failed  to  secure  a  nom- 
ination for  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States,  for  which  he  was  an  aspinint. 


D.\NIKI-   D.    TO>fPKIN8. 


BRITISH   ORDERS  IN  COUNCIL  UNREPEALED.  381 

Madison  President  of  the  United  States,  with  George  Clinton  Vice- 
President.  These  gentlemen  took  their  official  seats  in  the  spring  of 
1809. 

The  great  business  depression,  in  consequence  of  the  embargo  and  the 
quarrels  of  the  Democratic  factions,  caused  a  temporary  revival  of  the 
strength  of  the  Federal  Party,  and  at  the  spring  election  in  1809  they 
gained  ascendency  in  the  State  of  New  York — the  first  time  in  ten  years. 

The  act  repealing  the  Embargo  Law  went  into  effect  on  June  10th, 
1809.  On  that  day  thei'e  were  public  rejoicings  throughout  the 
State,  and  particularly  in  the  city  of  New  York.  But  the  jubilant 
feelings  of  the  people  were  so(»n  repressed  by  the  peremptory  refusal  of 
the  British  Government  to  repeal  the  Orders  in  Council,  in  accordance 
with  a  treaty  made  with  its  accredited  agent.  This  refusal  caused  intense 
indignation  against  the  British  authorities,  which  the  Federalists  were 
powerless  to  assuage. 


382 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER  XXYII. 

The  great  canal  wliich  bisects  the  State  of  New  York,  from  the  Hud- 
son River  to  Lake  Erie,  a  distance  of  three  hundred  and  sixty-three  miles, 

is  a  monument  of  unsurpassed 
magnificence,  connnemorative  of 
the  profound  statesmanship,  the 
prophetic  wisdom,  the  far-reach- 
ing sagacity,  and  the  exalted  public 
spirit  of  the  leaders  of  opinion  in 
the  State  during  the  earher  years 
of  this  century. 

AVho  first  conceived  the  grand 
idea  of  so  wedding  the  great  lakes 
and  tiie  beautiful  river  is  an  un- 
solved  question.  Undoubtedly  it 
was  nebulous  in  the  minds  of  many 
thoughtful  persons  before  it  found 
symmetrical  expression.  Perhaps 
it  was  a  dream  of  Joel  Barlow  the  poet  (who  so  early  as  the  year  1787 
gave  to  the  world  his  "  Vision  of  Columbus")  wlien  he  wrote  : 

"  He  saw,  as  widely  spreads  th'  inchannell'd  plain, 
Where  inland  realms  for  ages  bloom 'd  in  vain, 
Canals,  long  winding,  ope  a  watery  flight. 
And  distant  streams,  and  seas,  and  lakes  unite. 

"  From  fair  Albania,  toward  the  setting  sun, 
Back  through  the  midland  length'ning  channels  run  ; 
And  the  fair  lakes,  their  beauteous  towns  that  lave. 
And  Hudson's  joined  to  fair  Ohio's  wave." 

A  dozen  years  later  Gouverneur  Morris,*  while  he  was  on  a  tour  to  the 


GOUVEKNEUR   MOKKIS. 


*  Gouverneur  Morris  was  born  at  Morrisania,  N.  Y.,  in  1752,  and  died  there  in 
November,  1816.  He  was  a  son  of  Chief -Justice  Lewis  Morris  ;  was  a  graduate  of  King's 
College,  and  became  a  practising  lawyer  in  1771.  In  1775  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  New 
York  Provincial  Congress,  and  one  of  the  committee  that  drafted  the  State  Constitution. 
From  1777  to  1780  he  was  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress,  and  was  an  efficient 
member  of  several  committees.  In  1780  he  removed  to  Philadelphia,  where,  thrown 
from  his  carriage,  his  leg  was  fractured,  and  amputation  was  necessary.     In  1786  he 


SUGGESTION   OF  THE  ERIE  CANAL.  383 

Falls  of  the  J^iagara,  uttered  a  few  prophetic  words  in  a  letter  to  a  friend 
in  London.  After  alluding  to  tlie  budding  commerce  on  the  lakes,  and 
the  probability  that  swarms  of  ships  would  appear  there  in  the  near 
future,  he  wrote  : 

"  Shall  I  lead  your  astonishment  up  to  the  verge  of  credulity  ?  I 
will.  Know,  then,  that  one-tenth  part  of  the  expense  borne  by  Britain  in 
the  last  campaign  [against  Bonaparte]  would  enable  slups  to  sail /rom 
London  through  the  Hudson  River  into  Lake  Erie^ 

To  friends  at  home  Morris  suggested  a  direct  canal  from  Lake  Erie 
through  the  centre  of  the  State  to  the  Hudson.  In  1803  he  submitted 
an  outline  of  a  plan  of  such  a  work  to  Simeon  De  Witt,  the  Surveyor- 
General  of  the  State,  who  regarded  it  as  visionary.  In  conversation  with 
James  Geddes,  a  land  surveyor  of  Onondaga  County,  the  next  year,  De 
"Witt  told  him  of  the  impracticable  plan  of  Morris.  Geddes  viewed  the 
matter  in  a  different  light.  He  regarded  it  as  the  best  that  had  been 
suggested.  He  conferred  with  Jesse  Hawley,  a  sagacious  and  public- 
spirited  citizen  of  Central  New  York.  The  latter,  satisfied  of  the  feasi- 
bility of  the  project,  wrote  a  series  of  essays  on  the  subject,  over  the  sig- 
nature of  "  Hercules."  They  were  published  in  a  Pittsburgh  paper  and 
in  the  Genesee  Messenger^  at  Canandaigua,  during  the  years  1807  and  1808, 
and  commanded  wide  and  earnest  attention.  They  were  the  first  writ- 
ings ever  put  forth  in  favor  of  the  Erie  Canal. 

In  1808  Joshua  Forman,  an  intimate  associate  of  Mr.  Geddes,  was 
a  member  of  the  New  York  Assembly,  and  on  February  4tli  intro- 
duced a  resolution,  with  a  preamble,  for  the  appointment  of  a  joint 
committee  to  "  take  into  consideration  the  propriety  of  exploring  and 
causing  an  accurate  survey  to  be  made  of  the  most  eligible  and  direct 
route  for  a  canal  to  open  comnmnication  between  the  waters  of  the 
Hudson  River  and  Lake  Erie,  to  the  end  that  Congress  may  be  enabled 
to  appropriate  such  sums  as  may  be  necessary  to  the  accomplishment  of 
that  great  national  object."  * 

retired  to  the  estate  at  Morrisania  as  sole  owner.  He  was  the  colleague  of  Robert  IVIorris, 
Superintendent  of  Finance  in  1781.  The  literary  construction  of  the  National  Constitu- 
tion is  the  work  of  his  hands.  He  was  sent  minister  to  France  in  1793,  returned  home 
in  1798,  and  was  chosen  senator  in  1800.  He  was  a  canal  commissioner  from  their  first 
appointment  until  his  death.     In  politics  he  wa.s  a  Federalist. 

*  President  Jefferson  in  his  message  to  Congress,  in  December,  1807,  proposed  the 
application  of  the  surplus  funds  in  the  National  Treasury  to  the  great  national  objects  of 
opening  canals  and  making  turnpike  roads.  In  his  preamble  Mr.  Forman  pointed  out 
the  fact  that  the  State  of  New  York  possessed  the  best  route  of  communication  between 
the  Atlantic  and  Western  waters,  "  by  means  of  a  canal  between  the  tide-water  of  the 
Hudson  and  Lake  Erie. ' ' 


384  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

Tlie  resolution  was  adopted,  and  the  sum  of  $600  was  appropriated  for 
surveys  to  be  made  uuder  the  direction  of  the  surveyor-general.  This 
was  the  first  legislative  movement  in  reference  to  the  Erie  Canal. 

Surveyor- General  De  Witt  employed  Mr.  Geddes  to  survey  a  rontc 
from  Lake  Erie  to  the  Genesee  Kiver,  and  thence  to  the  waters  Howing 
into  Seneca  Lake.  His  favorable  report  attracted  great  attention.  De 
"Witt  Clinton  was  then  a  member  of  the  State  Senate,  and  became  deeply 
interested  in  the  matter.  He  warmly  espoused  the  project.  So  also 
did  Stephen  van  Rensselaer  in  the  Assembly.  The  matter  rested  until 
the  next  year,  when,  on  motion  of  Senator  Jonas  Piatt,  commissioners 
were  appointed  to  explore  the  whole  route  for  a  canal  through  the  centre 
of  the  State  from  Lake  Erie  to  the  Hudson  liiver.*  It  was  accom- 
plished. 

In  April,  1811,  an  act  was  passed  to  provide  for  the  "  improvement 
of  the  internal  navigation  of  the  State."  Efforts  were  made  to  obtain 
aid  from  the  National  Government  and  otherwise.  The  conmiissioners 
were  authorized  to  make  application  to  Congress  or  to  any  State  or 
Territory,  and  request  them  to  co-operate  with  New  York  in  the  project. 
Ilobert  R.  Livingston  and  Robert  Fulton  were  added  to  the  commission. 

Early  in  December  Messrs.  Clinton  and  Morris  appeared  before  Con- 
gress and  endeavored  to  obtain  an  appropriation  for  the  work,  but  were 
unsuccessful.  This  failure  was  a  fortnnate  circumstance,  for  it  allowed 
the  State  of  New  York  to  construct  the  canal  alone  and  unaided,  and  so 
to  secure  to  itself  the  undivided  honor  of  the  achievement  and  the  undis- 
puted possession  and  control  of  tlie  great  work  for  all  time.  The  pride 
and  patriotism  of  the  people  of  the  State  were  effectually  appealed  to, 
and  in  June,  1812,  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  authorizing  the  com- 
missioners to  borrow  $5,000,000  on  the  credit  of  the  State.  But  the 
war  with  Great  Britain,  which  broke  out  at  that  time,  caused  a  suspen- 
sion of  the  work,  and  the  law  was  repealed  in  1814. 

A  few  montlis  after  the  restoration  of  peace  the  subject  was  revived. 
By  the  exertions  of  Thomas  Eddy  f  a  public  meeting  was  held  at  New 

*  The  commisskmers  were  Gouverneur  Morris,  Stephen  van  Rensselaer,  De  Witt 
Clinton,  Simeon  De  Witt,  William  North,  Thomas  Eddy,  and  Peter  B.  Porter. 

f  Thomas  Eddy  was  a  philanthropist  and  an  eminently  public-spiritetl  man.  He  was 
born  in  Philadelphia  in  September,  1758,  and  died  in  New  York  City  in  1827.  His 
parents  were  Quakers,  and  he,  a  birthright  member,  remained  so  until  his  death.  He 
made  New  York  his  residence  in  early  life,  and  was  a  sueces-sful  insurance  broker  there 
Mr.  Eddy  was  active  in  oriijinatinij  the  "Penitentiary  System"  of  New  York,  and  iu 
1801  he  published  an  admirable  work  on  the  State  prisons  of  New  York.  He  was  lon<r 
a  governor  of  the  New  York  Hospital,  and  a  director  of  the  Rloomin-jdale  Asylum  for 
the  In.sane.     Mr.  Eddy  was  one  of  the  chief  promoteis  of  the  canal  system  in  the  State  of 


CONSTRUCTION  OF  THE  ERIE  CANAL. 


385 


York  in  the  autumn  of  1815,  wliicli  was.  addressed  by  Mr.  Piatt,  Mr. 
Clinton,  and  otliers.  The  latter  more  vigorously  than  ever  pressed  upon 
the  public  attention  the  importance  of  constructing  the  projected  canal. 
He  devoted  his  wonderful  energies  to  the  subject.  In  a  memorial  of  the 
citizens  of  New  York,  prepared  by  Mr.  Clinton,  such  a  powerful  argu- 
ment in  its  favor  was  produced  that  not  only  the  majority  of  the  people 
of  his  State  approved  it,  but  of  other  States.  Favorable  action  was 
taken  by  the  Legislature  of  New 
York  in  the  spring  of  1816,  and  a 
Board  of  Canal  Commissioners  was 
created. 

In  the  spring  of  1817  the  Legis- 
lature authorized  the  beginning  of 
the  construction  of  tlie  canal.  The 
iirst  contract  was  made  in  June, 
and  the  first  spadeful  of  earth 
in  the  process  of  excavation  was 
thrown  up  at  Rome,  Oneida  Coun- 
ty, on  July  4th.  The  middle  sec- 
tion, extending  from  the  Seneca 
River  to  Utica,  including  a  branch 
from  Syracuse  to  Onondaga  Lake, 
was  rendered  navigable  in  October, 
1819.  The  great  work  was  com- 
pleted in  1825,  and  the  first  boat — the  Seneca  Chief — with  Mr.  Clinton, 
then  Governor  of  the  State,  on  board,  passed  from  Lake  Erie  to  the 
Hudson  late  in  the  autumn  of  that  year.  The  entire  cost  of  the  canal 
"was  over  $9,000,000      It  was  a  little  over  eight  years  a-building. 

De  Witt  Clinton*  had  taken  his  seat  as  Governor  of  the  State  in  the 
summer  of  1817.     He  used  all  his  official  and  private  influence  in  favor 

New  York,  beginning  with  the  Inland  Lock  Navigation  system.  The  Bible  Society 
found  in  him  an  efficient  friend,  and  he  was  an  originator  and  promoter  of  banks  for 
savings.  His  benevolent  works  won  for  him  the  title  of  the  ' '  American  Howard. ' '  He 
lived  to  see  the  great  Erie  Canal  in  successful  operation. 

*  De  Witt  Clinton,  son  of  General  James  Clinton,  was  born  at  Little  Britain,  Orange 
County,  N.  Y.,  March  2d,  1769  ;  died  at  Albany,  February  11th,  1838.  Was  gradu- 
ated at  Columbia  College,  and  became  a  lawyer,  but  practised  his  profession  very  little. 
He  was  for  a  long  time  private  secretary  to  his  uncle.  Governor  George  Clinton  ;  served  in 
both  branches  of  the  New  York  Legislature,  and  from  1798  to  1803  was  the  Democratic 
leader  in  the  State  Senate.  Between  1803  and  1814  he  served  as  Mayor  of  New  York  City 
eight  years.  He  took  a  very  active  part  in  promoting  public  education  ;  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society  and  of  the  Academy  of  Fine  Arts,  and, 
laemg  opposed  to  the  War  of  1812-15,  he  was  the  peace  candidate  for  President  of  the 


DE   WITT   CLINTON. 


886  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

of  the  canal.  There  was  continual  and  powerful  opposition  to  the  proj- 
ect almost  to  the  hour  of  its  completion  ;  but  his  faith  in  its  vast  impor- 
tance to  his  native  State  and  the  whole  country  never  wavered.  He  lived 
not  only  to  see  it  completed  and  to  be  a  participant  in  the  triumph,  but 
to  enjoy  most  abundant  demonstration  of  the  wisdom  and  sagacity  vvhicii 
had  conceived  and  carried  out  to  completion  that  mighty  work.  To  De 
Witt  Clinton  more  tlian  to  any  other  man  our  country  is  indebted  for 
the  Erie  Canal  ;  and  the  city  of  JS"ew  York  owes  him  a  debt  of  gratitude 
it  can  never  repay  for  its  wonderful  growth  in  wealth  and  population  to 
which  that  great  work  so  powerfully  contributed.  It  is  not  creditable 
to  the  citizens  of  the  metropolis  that  among  the  many  statues  of  eminent 
Americans  and  foreigners  which  appear  in  their  public  places  no 
memorial  of  stone  or  bronze  has  ever  been  erected  in  their  city  in  com- 
memoration of  their  great  benefactor,  De  Wirr  Clinton. 

At  the  beginning  of  1810  the  two  great  political  parties  in  the  State  of 
!New  York  were  nearly  equal  in  numerical  strength.  The  Democrats 
renominated  Tompkins  for  governor,  and  the  Federalists  nominated 
Jonas  Piatt,  of  Oneida,  for  the  same  office.  The  canvass  was  very 
active,  and  the  election  was  hotly  contested.  The  Federalists  felt  that 
if  Tompkins  should  be  re-elected  their  recently  gained  political  ascend- 
ancy in  the  State  might  be  lost,  perhaps  forever.  Yet  they  had  strong 
hopes  of  their  success.  Their  opponents  were  doubtful  of  the  result, 
and  both  parties  struggled  mightily  for  victory.  Contrary  to  the  expec- 
tation of  both,  the  Democrats  completely  overthrew  the  Federalists. 
Tompkins  was  re-elected  by  ten  thousand  majority.  The  Legislature 
was  made  strongly  Democratic.  A  new  Council  of  Appointment  was 
chosen,  and  very  soon  there  was  an  entire  change  in  the  incumbency  of 
oflSces  throughout  the  State.  Political  proscription  was  sweeping  and 
severe. 

Three  causes  combined  to  effect  this  second  overthrow  of  the  Federal 
Party  in  the  State  at  this  time  —namely,  1.  The  adoption  by  the  National 
Government  of  the  more  acceptable  policy  of  non-intercourse  instead  of 
embargoes  ;  2.  The  rapidly  growing  feeling  of  hostility  to  Great  Britain 
because  of  recent  events,  the  germ  of  a  war  party  having  already 
appeared  ;  and,  3.  The  influence  of  the  patronage  wielded  by  the 
National  Govermnent. 

The  quarrel  between  De  Witt  Clinton  and  a  portion  of  the  Democratic 

United  States  in  1812,  but  was  defeated  by  Madison.  Mr.  Clinton  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Litenuy  and  Pliilosophical  Society  of  New  York,  and  the  most  efficient 
promoter  of  the  construction  of  tlic  Erie  Canal.  Ue  was  Governor  of  the  State  in  1817-23 
and  1824-28. 


CHIEF   CAUSE   OF  THE   WAR   OF   1812-15.  387 

Party  in  the  city  of  jSTevv  York,  who  made  Martling's  Long  Room  (then 
beginning  to  be  known  as  "  Tammany  Hall  ")  their  rallying-place,  was 
then  as  bitter  as  ever.  Early  in  1811  Clinton  was  nominated  for  lieu- 
tenant-governor. The  "  Martling  Men,"  or  "  Tammanj^tes,"  nominated 
Colonel  Marinus  Willett,  and  the  Federalists  nominated  Colonel  Nicholas 
Fish.  A  majority  of  the  Martling  men  evidently  voted  for  Fish  in 
order  to  defeat  Clinton.  The  latter  received  in  the  city  only  590  votes, 
and  Willett  678,  while  Fish  received  2044.  The  Federalists  carried  the 
Assembly  ticket  by  a  majority  of  1400.  The  vote  in  the  State  was  gen- 
erally favorable  to  the  Democrats.  Clinton  was  elected  by  the  country 
votes. 

The  year  1812  was  made  memorable  in  our  history  by  the  beginning 
of  a  two  years'  war  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain.  For 
several  years  incitements  to  this  result  had  abounded.  The  British  main- 
tained the  doctrine  that  a  British  subject  can  never  become  an  alien,  and 
they  claimed  the  right  to  search  neutral  vessels  for  deserters  from  the 
royal  navy,  and  to  carry  them  away  and  impress  them  into  the  naval 
service  of  Great  Britain  without  hindrance.  The  commanders  of  British 
cruisers  had  practically  asserted  this  right  for  many  years,  and  thousands 
of  xYmerican  seamen  had  been  taken  from  American  vessels  on  the  pre- 
tence that  they  were  suspected  deserters,  and  compelled  to  serve  under 
a  flag  which  they  detested.  To  every  earnest  remonstrance  through  the 
voice  of  diplomacy  the  invariable  answer  had  been  :  "It  is  our  ancient 
custom,  and  we  cannot  consent  to  suspend  a  right  upon  which  the  naval 
strength  of  the  empire  mainly  depends  ;"  and,  governed  by  the  ethics 
of  the  mailed  hand — "  might  makes  right" — they  persisted. 

The  affair  of  the  Chesapeake  and  Leopard^  in  1807,  in  which  the 
ofl^icers  of  the  latter  (a  British  frigate)  forcibly  boarded  the  former  (an 
American  frigate)  and  carried  off  some  seamen,  one  an  American,  under 
pretence  that  they  were  deserters,  aroused  a  war  spirit  in  the  United 
States.  It  was  again  awakened  in  ISOt)  by  the  disavowal  by  the  British 
Government  of  an  arrangement  made  in  good  faith  with  the  British 
Minister  at  Washington  concerning  a  repeal  of  an  Order  in  Council, 
already  alluded  to  ;  and  again  in  1811,  when  British  cruisers  were  sent 
to  prowl  along  the  American  coast  with  authority  to  seize  American 
merchant  vessels  and  send  them  to  England  as  lawful  prizes. 

These  recent  outrages,  coupled  with  those  of  the  past,  and  that  of 
inciting  the  Indians  in  the  North-west  to  make  war  on  the  frontier  settle- 
ments of  the  United  States  beyond  the  Ohio  River,  became  unendurable. 
On  June  20tli,  1812,  President  Madison,  by  the  authority  of  Congress, 
issued  a  declaration  of  war  against  Great  Britain,  and  Congress  made 


388  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

provision  accordingly.  A  large  majority  of  that  body  and  tlie  people  of 
the  republic  favored  the  measure,  yet  there  was  general  anxiety  to  avoid 
the  calamity  of  war  if  possible.  There  was  also  a  large  and  powerful 
party,  composed  chiefly  of  Federalists,  who  were  decidedly  opposed  to 
hostilities,  and  considered  the  declaration  of  war  as  premature.  There 
was  also  an  active  faction  known  as  the  "  Peace  Party,"  pledged  to  cast 
obstacles  in  the  way  of  the  Government  so  long  as  hostilities  should  last. 
This  disloyal  faction  was  exceedingly  mischievous  during  the  whole  war. 

The  authorities  of  several  States  took  positive  action  against  affording 
aid  to  the  Government  in  carrying  on  the  war.  The  governors  of 
Massachusetts,  ~New  Ilampsliire,  and  Connecticut  refused  to  comply  with 
the  requisition  of  the  National  Government  for  militia,  and  set  the 
President  at  defiance.  The  governors  of  two  or  three  other  States 
approved  their  course,  and  others  were  lukewarm,  while  others  took  their 
places  promptly  on  the  side  of  the  National  Government.  The  Legisla- 
ture of  Pennsylvania  rebuked  the  governors  of  the  three  New  England 
States  ;  that  of  Ohio  did  the  same,  and  said  :  "  The  man  who  would 
desert  a  just  cause  is  unworthy  to  defend  it."  The  governor  of  the 
then  new  State  of  Louisiana,  just  admitted  into  the  Union,  said  :  "If 
ever  war  M'as  justifiable,  the  one  which  our  country  has  declared  is  that 
war.  If  ever  a  people  had  cause  to  repose  in  the  confidence  of  their 
Government,  we  are  the  people."  Vermont  was  also  loyal,  and  the 
Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York  (Mr.  Tompkins),  which  then  con- 
tained a  population  of  fully  one  million,  exhorted  the  people  to  give  a 
hearty  support  to  the  National  Government.  The  New  York  delegates 
in  Congress  did  not  vote  for  a  declaration  of  war. 

During  the  war  that  ensued  the  inhabitants  of  New  York  bore  their 
full  share  of  the  burdens  imposed,  as  active  participants  in  the  stirring 
events  or  as  passive  sufferers  of  calamities  incident  to  a  state  of  war. 
In  that  contest,  as  in  former  times,  the  northern  frontiers  of  the  State 
were  peculiarly  exposed  to  invasion  by  land  and  water. 

At  the  time  of  the  declaration  of  war  the  troops  and  military  defences 
on  the  northern  frontier  of  New  York  possessed  very  little  aggregate 
strength.  So  on  the  other  side.  There  were  only  about  fifteen  hundred 
regular  troops  in  Upper  Canada,  but  in  Lower  Canada  there  were  about 
six  thousand.  At  the  foot  of  Lake  Erie,  opposite  Buffalo,  was  Fort 
Erip,  with  a  small  garrison.  At  near  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  River 
M'^as  Fort  George,  a  small  earthwork  with  wooden  palisades,  mounting  a 
few  guns  not  heavier  than  nine-ponnders  ;  and  a  little  above  Niagara 
Falls  was  Fort  Chippewa,  a  small  stockade.  At  York  (now  Toronto), 
on  the  north  shore  of  Lake  Ontario,  was  an  old  fort  and  a  block-house, 


DETROIT  SURRENDERED  TO   THE  BRITISH.  389 

and  at  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  lake,  near  Kingston,  was  a  small 
battery  of  nine-pounders. 

There  was  very  little  hostile  movement  on  the  soil  of  'New  York, 
excepting  that  of  preparation,  until  mid-autumn  in  the  year  1812.  War 
had  actually  begun  in  the  West  and  on  the  ocean.  Colonel  WilHam 
Hull,  then  Governor  of  Michigan,  was  commissioned  a  brigadier-general 
and  authorized  to  invade  Canada  on  its  western  frontier  in  the  summer 
of  1812.  lie  crossed  the  Detroit  River  with  a  small  force  and  encamped 
at  Sandwich,  but  was  soon  compelled  to  return  to  Detroit,  where  he  was 
menaced  by  a  British  force  under  General  Sir  Isaac  Brock  early  in  August. 
Alarmed  by  intelligence  from  the  north,  he  surrendered  his  whole  army 
and  the  territory  to  the  British  on  August  16th.  Meanwhile  Fort 
Mackinaw,  one  of  the  strongest  posts  of  the  United  States  in  the  North- 
west, had  been  surprised  and  captured  (July  17th)  by  an  allied  force  of 
Britisli  and  Indians.  An  escort  of  supplies  for  Hull,  under  Major 
Yan  Home,  had  been  defeated  below  Detroit,  and  Fort  Dearborn,  on 
the  site  of  the  (present)  great  city  of  Cliicago,  had  been  taken  by 
Indians,  and  most  of  the  girrison,  with  women  and  children,  had  been 
slaughtered. 

These  events  aroused  the  ftiost  intense  indignation  throughout  the 
country.  Volunteers  from  Kentucky  and  Ohio  pressed  toward  the 
Is^orth-west  to  retrieve  the  disaster  at  Detroit,  and  the  most  active 
preparations  were  made  for  an  invasion  of  Canada  on  the  Niagara 
frontier. 

The  authorities  of  the  State  of  New  York  had  been  vigilant  ever  since 
light  war-clouds  had  been  seen  in  the  political  firmament,  so  early  as 
1807.  In  order  to  enforce  the  revenue  laws  on  the  Canadian  frontier, 
the  Governor  of  Ne\v  York,  in  February,  1808,  ordered  five  hundred 
stand  of  arms  to  be  deposited  at  Champion,  in  (present)  Jefferson 
County,  and  the  following  year  he  caused  an  arsenal  to  be  built 
at  Watertown,  on  the  Black  River,  twelve  miles  from  Sackett's 
Harbor. 

By  a  general  order  issued  from  the  War  Department  on  April  21st, 
1812,  the  detached  militia  of  the  State  of  New  York  were  arranged  in 
two  divisions  and  eight  brigades.  Stephen  van  Rensselaer  (the  patroon), 
of  Albany,  was  commissioned  major-general  and  assigned  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  First  Division,  and  Benjamin  Mooers,  of  Plattsburg,  was 
appointed  to-  the  same  office  and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Second 
Division.  The  commanders  of  the  eight  brigades  were  :  Gerard  Steddi- 
ford,  of  the  city  of  New  York  ;  Reuben  Hopkins,  of  Orange  County  ; 
Micajali  Pettis,  of  Washington  County  ;  Richard  Dodge,  of  Montgomery 


390  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

County  ;  Jacob  Brown,*  of  Jefferson  County  ;  Daniel  Miller,  of  Cort- 
land County  ;  William  Wadsworth,  of  Ontario  County,  and  George 
McClure,  of  Steuben  County, 

In  May  a  regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel  C.  P.  Bellinger,  was  sta- 
tioned at  Sackett's  Harbor,  and  in  June  the  first  detachment  of  New 
York's  quota  of  militia  called  for  by  the  President  was  placed  under  the 
command  of  General  Brown,  who  was  charged  with  the  defence  of  the 
northern  frontier  from  Oswego  to  Lake  St.  Francis,  a  distance  of  about 
two  hundred  miles. 

An  armed  brig  named  Oneida  had  been  built  at  Oswego,  on  Lake 
Ontario,  in  1809,  by  Christian  Bergh  and  Henry  Eckford,  to  enforce 
the  revenue  laws.  In  the  spring  of  1812  she  captured  several  British 
vessels — violators  of  these  laws.  Hetaliation  followed.  When  news  of 
the  declaration  of  war  reached  Ogdensburg,  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  eight 
American  trading  vessels  were  lying  there.  They  tried  to  escape  to 
Lake  Ontario,  bearing  away  some  frightened  families.  Two  of  them 
were  captured  by  armed  men  in  boats  led  by  a  Canadian  partisan,  and 
were  plundered  and  burnt.  The  other  six  returned  to  Ogdensburg. 
This  was  the  beginning  of  war  on  the  northern  frontier  of  New  York. 

Lieutenant  Melancthon  W^oolsey  was  in  command  of  the  Oneida^  and 
he  and  General  Brown  were  vested  with  full  authority  to  repel  invasion 
from  Canada  and  to  protect  the  inhabitants  on  the  frontier.  Re-enforce- 
ments of  militia  were  called  out  from  the  northern  counties,  and  measures 
were  taken  to  concentrate  a  considerable  force  at  Ogdensburg  and  Cape 
Yincent,  for  the  twofold  purpose  of  guarding  the  frontier  and  keeping 
Kingston,  the  chief  military  station  of  the  British  on  the  lake,  in  a  state 
of  continual  alarm. 

Late  in  July  a  squadron  of  five  small  British  armed  vessels  entered 
Sackett's  Harbor.  They  carried  an  aggregate  of  eiglity-two  guns.  The 
Oneida  was  in  the  harbor,  and  seemed  to  be  in  great  peril.  AV^oolsey 
attempted  to  gain  the  lake,  but  failed.  He  moored  his  vessel  to  a 
position  where  her  broadside  of  nine  guns  might  be  brought  to  bear  on 

*  Jacob  Brown  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  May,  1775,  of  Quaker  parentage.  He 
died  in  Washington  City  in  February,  1828.  He  was  first  a  scliool-teaclier,  then  a  land 
surveyor,  and  finally  became  a  lawyer.  While  General  Hamilton  was  acting  chief  com- 
mander of  the  army  intended  to  fight  the  French  in  1798,  Brown  was  his  secretary.  He 
settled  upon  lands  he  had  purchased  on  tlie  Black  River,  not  far  from  Sackett's  Harbor, 
and  was  the  founder  of  Brownsville.  He  became  a  county  judge,  a  militia  general,  and 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  northern  frontier  of  New  York  in  1812.  He  performed 
eminent  service  diiring  the  war,  and  received  the  thanks  of  Congress  and  a  gold  medal. 
He  was  made  general-in-chief  of  the  army  in  1821.  At  his  death  Lis  remains  were 
interred  in  the  Congressional  burying-ground. 


A  CONTEST  AT   SACKETT'S  HARBOR.  391 

the  enemy.  The  remainder  of  her  guns  were  taken  out  and  placed  in 
battery  on  land.  An  iron  thirty-two-pounder  had  already  been  placed 
in  a  battery,  with  three  nine-pounders,  on  a  rocky  bluff  at  the  foot  of  the 
main  street  of  the  village.  It  had  long  been  lying  in  the  mud  near  by, 
and  was  named  the  Old  Soio.  These  guns,  with  two  nine-pounders  and 
two  six-pounders,  constituted  the  artillery  for  the  defence  of  the  harbor. 
The  soldiers  consisted  of  a  few  regulai-s,  three  hundred  militia,  and  a 
portion  of  the  crew  of  the  Oneida^  with  Woolsey  at  their  head. 

The  flag-ship  of  the  attacking  squadron  was  the  Royal  George.  When 
the  vessels  w^ere  near  enough  for  action  the  battle  was  begun  by  a  shot 
from  the  l)ig  iron  camion  on  shore.  It  M'as  harmless,  and  drew  peals  of 
derisive  laughter  from  the  crew  of  the  flag-ship,  followed  by  two  shots. 
Firing  was  kept  up  for  about  two  hours,  the  squadron  standing,  off  and 
on,  out  of  range  of  the  smaller  guns.  Most  of  the  enemy's  shot  had 
fallen  against  the  rocks  below  the  battery.  At  length  a  thirty-two-pound 
ball  came  over  the  bluff,  struck  the  earth,  and  ploughed  a  deep  furrow. 
It  was  picked  up  by  a  sergeant,  who  ran  with  it  to  Captain  Vaughan, 
who  was  in  command  of  the  Old  Sow,  exclaiming  : 

"  I've  been  playing  ball  with  the  redcoats,  and  have  caught  'em  out. 
See  if  the  British  can  catch  back  again." 

The  ball  exactly  fitted  the  old  cannon,  while  those  which  had  been 
sent  did  not.  At  that  moment  the  Royal  George  was  nearing,  to  give 
a  broadside,  when  the  big  gun  sent  back  the  captive  ball  with  such  force 
and  precision  that  it  struck  lier  stern,  raked  her  completely,  sent  splinters 
as  high  as  her  mizzen-topsail,  and  killed  fourteen  men  and  wounded 
eighteen. 

The  flag-ship  had  already  received  a  shot  that  went  through  her  sides, 
and  another  between  wind  and  water.  Two  other  vessels  had  been 
severely  crippled,  and  a  signal  for  retreat  was  speedily  given.  The 
squadron  sailed  out  on  the  lake  while  the  band  on  shore  played  "  Yankee 
Doodle"  in  the  liveliest  manner,  and  the  soldiers  and  citizens  cheered  the 
retreating  enemy  in  their  departure.  It  was  a  serene  Sabbath  morning, 
and  at  evening  the  village  was  as  quiet  as  ever. 

The  command  of  Lake  Ontario  was  now  an  object  of  great  importance 
to  both  parties,  and  each  put  forth  extraordinary  exertions  to  that  end. 
To  obtain  this  advantage  required  the  speediest  preparation.  The  six 
American  trading  vessels  were  yet  at  Ogdensburg.  To  save  and  arm 
them  was  an  important  object  to  the  Americans  ;  to  destroy  them  was 
an  equally  important  object  to  the  British.  The  latter  sent  two  armed 
vessels  down  the  St.  Lawrence  to  destroy  them  ;  the  Americans  sent  a 
small  force  to  protect  them.     The  belligerents  met  eleven  miles  above 


392 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


Ogdeiisburg  and  fought  three  hours,  when  the  British  vessels  withdrew 
to  the  Canada  sliore.  The  armistice  that  soon  followed  allowed  the  six 
vessels  to  be  taken  to  the  lake  and  converted  into  warriors. 

Captain  Isaac  Chauncey  was  appointed  commander-in-chief  of  thenavj 
to  be  created  on  Lake  Ontario.  In  September  (1812)  he  sent  forty  ship- 
carpenters  to  Sackett's  Harbor,  with  Henry  Eckford  *  at  their  head. 

Others  soon  followed.  Commander 
Woolsey  was  directed  to  purchase 
merchant  vessels  for  the  service. 
Later,  in  September,  one  hundred 
officers  and  men,  with  guns  and 
other  munitions  of  war,  left  New 
York  for  Sackett's  Harbor,  and 
very  soon  a  respectable  little  Ameri- 
can fleet  was  afloat  on  the  lake.  At 
the  same  time  the  British  had  been 
busy  at  Kingston  in  creating  a  navy 
having  a  weight  of  metal  double 
that  of  the  Americans. 

During  tlie  summer  of  1812  the 
National  Government  matured  a 
plan  for  the  invasion  of  Canada  on 
the  Niagara  frontier.  The  militia 
of  the  State  of  New  York  under  General  Van  Rensselaer  were  ordered  to 
concentrate  near  the  Niagara  River,  chiefly  at  Lewteton  ;  and  from  that 
point  the  first  demonstration  against  the  neighboring  province  from  New 
York  was  made.  In  contemplation  of  such  a  movement,  the  British 
posted  troops  in  a  strong  position  at  Queenstown,  opposite  Lewiston. 
General  Dearborn, f  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  Northern  Depart- 

*  Henry  Eckford  was  a  famous  naval  constructor.  He  was  born  in  Scotland  in  ]March, 
1775,  and  died  in  Constantinople  in  November,  1832.  He  learned  the  art  of  ship-building 
at  Quebec,  and  began  the  business  on  his  own  account  at  New  York  in  1796,  where  he 
soon  took  the  lead  in  his  profession.  He  constructed  many  vessels  for  the  Government 
during  the  War  of  1812-15,  and  soon  afterward  built  the  steamship  Robert  Fulton,  in 
which,  in  1822,  he  made  the  tirst  successful  trip  in  a  craft  of  that  kind,  to  New  Orleans 
and  Havana.  He  was  naval  constructor  at  the  Brooklyn  Navy-Yard  several  years,  and 
afterward  made  ships  of  war  for  European  powers.  In  1831  he  built  a  war  vessel  for  the 
Sultan  of  Turkey,  and,  going  to  Constantinople,  organized  a  navy-yard  there. 

f  Henry  Dearborn  wa,s  born  in  New  Hampshire  in  February,  1751,  and  died  at 
Roxbury,  Mass.,  in  June,  1829.  He  became  a  physician,  studied  military  science,  and 
joined  the  little  patriot  army  at  Cambridge  with  sixty  volunteers  on  the  day  after  the 
skirmish  at  Lexington.  As  a  captain  in  Stark's  regiment  he  fought  at  Bunker  (Breed's) 
Hill,  accompanied  Arnold  in  his  expedition  against   Quel)ec,  and  was   made  prisoner 


HENUY  DEARBORN. 


BATTLE  OF  QUEENSTOWN.  393 

ment,  had  concluded  an  armistice  in  the  summer  with  the  chief  British 
commander  in  Canada,  and  this  caused  delay  in  the  gathering  of  troops 
on  the  Niagara.  But  at  length  Yan  Kensselaer  found  himself  in  com- 
mand of  about  six  thousand  troops  scattered  along  the  river  from 
Lewiston  to  Buffalo,  and  he  resolved  to  invade  the  neighboring  province, 
from  Lewiston,  on  the  night  of  October  12th,  and  take  the  British  by 
surprise. 

Intense  durkness  brooded  over  the  w^aters  and  the  land,  for  a  heavy 
storm  was  just  ending.  It  was  three  hours  past  midnight  when  Colonel 
Solomon  van  Rensselaer,  in  command  of  six  hundred  men,  was  ready  to 
cross  the  swift-running  stream  in  boats  to  storm  the  British  works  on 
Queenstown  Heights.  There  were  only  boats  enough  to  convey  less 
than  one  half  his  force.  With  the  brave  three  hundred  he  pushed  across 
in  the  gloom.  The  British  were  on  the  alert,  for  they  had  discovered 
the  movement  of  the  New  Yorkers  ;  and  when  Yan  Rensselaer  landed, 
his  little  force  was  fiercely  assailed  with  musketry  and  a  small  field-piece. 
A  battery  on  Lewiston  Heights  responded  to  this  firing,  when  the 
British  fled  toward  Queenstown,  followed  by  some  regulars  under 
Captains  Wool  and  Oglevie,  who,  pushing  gallantly  up  the  hill,  pressed 
the  Britisli  back  to  the  plateau  on  which  tlie  village  stands,  fought  them 
there,  and  finally  gained  possession  of  Queenstown  Heights. 

Colonel  Yan  Rensselaer,  who  had  followed  with  the  militia,  was  so 
severely  wounded  that  he  was  compelled  to  relinquish  the  command  and 
recross  the  river.  Wool,  who  was  now  in  chief  command,  was  also  badly 
wounded,  a  bullet  having  passed  through  the  fleshy  part  of  both  his 
thighs  ;  but,  unmindful  of  his  wounds,  he  would  neither  leave  the  field 
nor  give  up  the  command  until  the  arrival  of  his  senior  officer,  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Christie,  who  had  been  in  a  boat  which  lost  its  way  in  the 
darkness  in  crossing  the  river. 

General  Sir  Isaac  Brock,  the  Governor  of  Upper  Canada,  to  whom 
General  Hull  had  surrendered  in  August,  was  at  Fort  George,  several 
miles  below  Queenstown,  when  the  firing  began.  He  hastened  to  the 
scene  of  action,  and  with  his  staff  pressed  up  the  heights  to  a  redan 
battery,  where  tliey  dismounted.     They  were  suddenly  startled  by  the 

there.  He  served  faithfully  during  the  whole  war,  and  in  1781  was  one  of  Washington's 
military  family,  with  the  rank  of  colonel,  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown.  He  filled  several 
civil  offices  after  the  war,  and  was  a  member  of  Congress  from  1793  to  1797.  Jefferson 
appointed  him  Secretary  of  War  in  1801.  From  1809  until  called  to  the  head  of  the 
Army  of  the  Northern  Department  by  Madison,  in  1812,  he  was  collector  of  the  port  of 
Boston.  In  1822  he  was  sent  to  Portugal  as  American  Minister,  where  he  remained  two 
years,  when  he  returned  to  Roxbury. 


394 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


crack  of  musketry.  Wool  and  his  followers  were  close  upon  them. 
Brock  and  his  aides  had  not  time  to  remount,  but  fled  down  the  hill,  lead- 
ing their  horses  at  full  gallop.  They  were  followed  by  the  dozen  men 
who  manned  the  battery,  and  in  a  few  moments  afterward  the  American 
flag  was  unfurled  over  that  little  work. 


AN   INCIUKNT  AT  THK   BATTLE  OP  QUEEN8TOWN. 


Brock  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  some  troops  to  retake  the  l)attery 
and  drive  Wool  from  the  heights.  The  Americans  were  pressed  back  to 
the  verge  of  the  precipice  two  hundred  feet  above  the  rushing  Kiagara. 
Seeing  the  peril  of  the  little  band,  who  were  in  danger  of  being  hurled 


BATTLE   ON  QUEENSTOWN  HEIGHTS. 


395 


into  the  flood  below,  Captain  Ogle  vie  raised  a  white  handkerchief  on  the 
point  of  a  bayonet  in  token  of  surrender.  Wool  sprang  forward, 
snatched  the  token  of  submission,  addressed  a  few  stirring  words  to  his 
men,  begging  them  to  fight  as  long  as  they  held  a  weapon,  and  then, 
waving  his  sword,  so  inspirited  his  comrades  to  a  renewal  of  the  fight, 
that  they  soon  made  the  British  veterans  break  and  fly  down  the  hill  in 
confusion.  Brock  rallied  them,  and  they  were  about  to  reascend  the 
heights  when  their  commander  was  mortally  wounded  at  the  foot  of  the 
declivity.  At  the  end  of  a  brief 
struggle  the  British  fled  a  mile 
below  Queenstown.  After  three 
distinct  battles  young  Wool  (then 
only  twenty-four  years  of  age) 
was  left  master  of  the  heights, 
with  two  hundred  and  forty  men. 
Soon  afterward  Brigadier-Gen- 
eral Wadsworth,  of  the  New 
York  militia,  took  the  chief  com- 
mand. 

General  Sheaffe  succeeded 
Brock  in  command,  and  rallied 
the  troops.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Winfield  Scott,  w'ho  had  arrived 
at  Levviston,  crossed  the  river 
and  joined  the  troops  as  a  volun- 
teer, when  he  was  requested  to 

take  active  command.  Early  in  the  afternoon  quite  a  large  number  of  Ind- 
ians, i^ainted  and  plumed  and  led  by  John  Brant,  a  son  of  the  famous  chief, 
fell  with  great  fury  upon  the  American  pickets,  uttering  the  horrid  war- 
whoop.  The  militia  were  about  to  flee,  when  Scott,  by  his  voice  and 
commanding  presence,  inspired  the  troops  to  fall  upon  the  barbarians. 
The  Indians  fled  to  the  woods  in  terror. 

General  Van  Bensselaer,*  who  stood  by  the  side  of  Scott,  seeing  the 
troops  under  General  Sheaffe  pressing  forward,  hastened  across  the  river 


STEPHEN   VAN   KENS8ELAER. 


*  Stephen  van  Rensselaer,  the  last  of  the  patroons,  was  born  in  New  York  City, 
November  1st,  1764  ;  died  at  the  Manor  House  at  Albany,  January  26th,  1839.  He  was 
the  fifth  in  lineal  descent  from  Killian  van  Rensselaer,  the  first  patroon.  His  mother  was 
a  daughter  of  Philip  Livingston.  He  married  a  daughter  of  General  P.  Schuyler.  Mr. 
Van  Ren.sselaer  served  in  both  branches  of  the  Legislature,  and  from  1795  to  1801  he  was 
Lieutenant-Governor  of  the  State.  He  presided  over  the  Constitutional  Convention  of 
the  State  in  1801,  and  was  made  one  of  the  first  Canal  Commissioners  in  1810.     He  was 


396  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

to  send  over  re- enforcements  of  militia.  They  refused  to  go,  pleading 
that  they  were  not  compelled  to  leave  the  soil  of  their  country  and 
invade  that  of  another.  Yery  soon  overwhelming  numbers  compelled 
the  Americans  to  surrender,  and  they  were  made  prisoners.  They  lost 
on  that  memorable  day  (October  13th,  1812),  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
prisoners,  about  eleven  hundred  men.  Van  Rensselaer  left  the  service, 
and  was  succeeded  by  General  Alexander  Smythe,  of  Virginia,  who 
accomplished  nothing  of  importance  during  the  remainder  of  the  season. 

president  of  the  Canal  Board  fifteen  years.  He  was  made  commander  of  the  State 
cavalry  in  1801,  with  the  rank  of  major-general  ;  and  when  war  began  in  1812  he  was 
the  chief  of  the  militia  of  the  State.  He  became  a  Regent  and  Chancellor  of  the  State 
University  ;  was  a  member  of  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  in  1821,  and  of  Con- 
gress from  1823  to  1829.  At  his  own  expense  and  under  his  direction  a  geological  survey 
of  the  State  was  made  in  1821-23,  and  in  1824  he  established  at  Troy,  N.  Y.,  a  scientific 
school  for  the  instruction  of  teachers. 


NAVAL  OPERATIONS  ON  THE  SEA.  397 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

While  the  American  armies  were  suffering  defeat  and  Inimiliation, 
and  the  disasters  became  a  staple  topic  for  rebuke  of  the  Democratic 
administration  in  the  mouths  of  its  opponents,  the  little  American  navy 
was  winning  honors  and  renown  for  its  skill  and  prowess  on  the  ocean. 
At  that  time  the  Britisli  navy  comprised  one  thousand  and  sixty  vessels, 
while  that  of  the  United  States,  exclusive  of  small  gun-boats,  numbered 
only  twenty.  Two  of  these  were  unseaworthy,  and  one  was  on  Lake 
Ontario,  jS^ine  of  the  American  vessels  were  of  a  class  less  than  frigates, 
and  none  of  them  could  well  compare  in  appointments  with  those  of  the 
enemy.  Yet  the  Americans  went  boldly  out  upon  the  ocean  in  their 
ships  to  meet  the  war- vessels  of  the  proudest  maritime  nation  on  the 
earth,  and  won  victory  after  victory. 

Commodore  Rodgers  *  was  at  Sandy  Hook,  ^.  Y,,  with  the  frigates 
President^  Congress,  and  United  States,  and  the  sloop-of-war  Hornet^ 
in  June,  1812  ;  and  on  the  day  after  the  declaration  of  war  was  pro- 
claimed he  put  to  sea  in  pursuit  of  a  Britisli  squadron  which  had  sailed 
as  a  convoy  of  the  West  India  merchant  fleet.  He  abandoned  the  chase 
at  midnight,  and  returned  to  his  anchorage.  He  had  a  slight  skirmish 
with  the  enemy. 

On  August  19th  the  American  frigate  Constitution,  Commodore  Isaac 
Hull,  fought  the  British  frigate  Guerriere,  Captain  Dacres,  some  distance 
off  the  American  coast,  in  the  present  track  of  ships  plying  between 
New  York  and  Great  Britain.  The  contest  lasted  about  forty  minutes. 
Hull  was  victorious.  The  Guerriere  had  become  such  a  complete  wreck 
that  he  burned  her.  This  victory  had  a  powerful  effect  on  the  public 
mind  in  both  countries. 

On  October  18th  the  American  sloop-of-war  Wasp,  Captain  Jones, 
captured  the  British  brig  Frolic  off  the  coast  of  North  Carolina,  after  a 

*  John  Rodgers  was  born  in  Maryland  in  1771,  and  died  in  Philadelphia  in  August, 
1838.  He  entered  the  navy  as  lieutenant  in  1798,  and  was  executive  officer  of  the  frigate 
Constitution  under  Truxton.  From  1803  to  1806  he  did  good  service  in  the  Mediter- 
ranean. In  the  spring  of  1811,  in  command  of  the  President,  he  had  an  encounter  with 
the  Little  Belt.  His  services  were  conspicuous  during  the  War  of  1812-15.  He  was 
acting  Secretary  of  the  Navy  in  1823.  For  a  long  time  he  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Naval  Commissioners,  which  lie  left  the  year  before  his  death. 


398  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

severe  conflict  of  forty-five  minutes.  Out  of  the  Frolic's  company  of 
eighty-four  men  and  boys  only  three  oflScers  and  one  seaman  remained 
unhurt  at  tlie  close  of  the  battle.  They  had  been  either  slain  or  badly 
wounded.  The  Wanp  lost  only  ten  men.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  same 
day  the  British  ship  Poictiers,  seventy-four,  recaptured  the  prize  and 
seized  the  victor.  A  week  later  (October  25th)  the  American  frigate 
United  States^  Captain  Decatur,  fought  the  British  frigate  Macedmiia^ 
westward  of  the  Canary  Islands,  for  almost  two  hours,  and  captured  her. 
She  had  been  greatly  damaged  in  the  conflict,  and  lost  more  than  one 
hundred  men,  killed  and  wounded,  while  Decatur  lost  only  five  men 
killed  and  seven  wounded.  A  few  weeks  later  (December  29th)  the 
Constitution^  Commodore  Bainbridge,  captured  the  British  frigate  Java^ 
after  a  fierce  battle  for  almost  three  hours,  off  San  Salvador,  on  the  coast 
of  Brazil.  The  Java  had  four  hundred  men  on  board,  of  whom  more 
than  one  half  were  killed  or  wounded.  The  Java  was  so  much  injured 
that  she  could  not  be  kept  afloat,  and  was  burned. 

These  victories  greatly  elated  and  inspirited  the  Americans.  They 
had  also  sent  out  numerous  privateers  that  struck  British  commerce 
heavy  blows  in  every  direction.  During  the  latter  half  of  the  year  1812 
upward  of  fifty  British  armed  vessels  of  various  sizes,  and  two  hundred 
and  fifty  merchantmen,  with  an  aggregate  of  over  three  thousand  pris- 
oners and  a  vast  amount  of  booty,  were  captured  by  the  Americans. 
British  pride  was  fearfully  wounded  in  a  tender  part,  and  the  favorite 
national  song, 

"  Britannia,  Britannia  rules  the  waves," 

was  sung  in  a  minor  key  by  the  boasted  "  Mistress  of  the  Seas." 

These  events  strengthened  the  national  administration,  and  Mr. 
Madison  was  re-elected  President  of  the  United  States  in  the  autumn  of 
1812  by  an  increased  majority,  with  Elbridge  Gerry,  of  Massachusetts, 
Yice-President.  Gerry's  venerable  predecessor,  George  Clinton,  had 
died  in  the  spring  of  the  same  year.* 

*  George  Clinton  was  born  in  Ulster  County,  N.  Y.,  in  July,  1739,  and  dietl  in  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  in  April,  1812.  In  early  youth  he  made  a  successful  cruise  iu  a  privateer 
during  the  French  and  Indian  War,  and  was  in  the  expedition  against  Fort  Frontenac 
in  1758.  He  studied  law  under  William  Smith,  became  a  member  of  the  Provincial 
Assembly  of  New  York  in  1768,  and  was  a  leading  Whig.  In  1775  he  became  a  member 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  and  voted  for  the  resolution  for  indeix'ndence  in  June,  1776. 
but  Was  in  the  military  service  when  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  adopted.  As 
brigadier  he  performed  important  services.  He  was  elected  the  first  Governor  of  the 
State  of  New  York  in  1777,  and  retained  the  office,  by  re-election,  eighteen  years.  In 
1788  he  presided  over  the  convention  at  Poughkeepsie  which  ratified  the  National  Consti- 


A  BANK  CHARTER  IN  POLITICS. 


399 


The  political  situation  in  ]S'ew  York  was  still  in  a  state  of  effervescence 
owing  to  the  continued  bitterness  of  the  quarrel  between  the  "  Clin- 
tonians"  and  the  "  Martling  men,"  or  the  "Regular  Democracy," 
The  latter  had  "  read  "  De  Witt  Clinton  "  out  of  the  party  ;"  but  he 
was  a  power  too  strong  to  be  repressed  by  such  "  paper  blockades."  At 
the  same  time  another  important  and  disturbing  question  arose  for  dis- 
cussion— namely,  a  proposition  for  an  increase  of  the  paper  currency  of 
the  States,  by  chartering  a  bank  to  be  located  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
with  a  capital  of  $6,000,000,  to  be  called  the  "Bank  of  America." 
The  petitioners  for  the  charter 
of  the  bank  offered  the  extrava- 
gant bonus  of  $600,000,  to  be  . 
paid  in  the  following  manner 
and  for  the  following  purposes  : 
$400,000  to  the  common-school 
fund  ;  $100,000  to  the  literature 
fund  ;  and  $100,000  to  be  paid 
into  the  Treasury  at  the  end  of 
twenty  years,  provided  no  other 
bank  should  in  that  time  be 
chartered  by  the  State.  The  sum 
of  $1,000,000  was  also  to  be 
loaned  to  the  State  at  five  per 
cent  interest,  to  be  laid  out  in  con. 
structing  canals,  and  $1,000,000 
to  be  loaned  to  farmers.  Solo- 
mon Southwick,  then  a  brilliant 
young   man   and   editor    of    the 

Albany  Register^  the  accredited  organ  of  the  Deinocratic  Party  in  the 
State,  and  a  devoted  and  confidential  friend  of  De  Witt  Clinton,  was 
one  of  the  most  persistent  and  efficient  agents  in  efforts  to  procure  the 
proposed  bank  charter. 

It  was  suspected  that  the  bank  would  be  used  as  a  political  machine, 
like  the  Manhattan  Bank,  and  there  was  much  opposition  to  it.  Mr. 
Clinton  avowed  that  he  was  opposed  to  it  on  other  grounds,  and  protested 
against  making  support  of  or  opposition  to  it  a  test  of  political  merit. 
Mr.  Southwick  echoed  Mr.  Clinton's  sentiments  in  the  j^6^«'«^(3/' by  say- 
ing :  "  He  who  supports  or  opposes  a  bank  upon  the  grounds  of  Federal- 

lution,  to  wliich  he  was  opposed.  He  was  again  elected  governor  in  1801,  and  in  1804 
was  chosen  Vice-President  of  tlie  United  States,  which  office  he  filled  until  his  death. 
His  remains  rest  in  the  Congressional  burying-ground  at  Washington. 


GEORGE   CI^INTON. 


400  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

ism  or  Republicanism  is  either  a  deceiver  or  deceived,  and  will  not  be 
listened  to  by  any  man  of  experience." 

The  friends  of  the  bank  in  the  Legislature  determined  that  nothing  of 
importance  should  be  done  in  that  body  until  their  favorite  measure 
sliould  be  adopted.  They  resorted  to  another  measure  to  force  Mr. 
Clinton  and  his  friends  to  favor  the  bill  for  the  charter  of  the  bank. 
They  all  professed  to  favor  his  nomination  for  the  presidency  of  the 
United  States,  to  whicli  he  aspired,  by  a  legislative  Democratic  caucus  ; 
but  by  one  pretence  and  another  they  refused  to  go  into  caucus  on  thart 
subject  until  after  the  question  of  chartering  the  bank  should  be  disposed 
of.  This  course  exceedingly  annoyed  Mr.  Clinton,  for  he  desired  that 
the  nomination,  if  made  by  the  Legislature  of  New  York,  should  be 
announced  before  a  Congressional  nomination  of  Mr.  Madison  should  be 
declared. 

A  crisis  was  suddenly  reached.  Late  in  March  the  enacting  clause  of 
the  bank  charter  bill  was  passed  by  a  vote  of  52  to  46,  when  some  start- 
ling disclosures  were  made  of  attempts  to  bribe  members  of  both  houses 
by  friends  of  the  measure.  Notwithstanding  these  damaging  disclosures, 
the  bill  was  passed  by  a  vote  of  58  to  39.  It  was  sent  to  the  Senate, 
where  it  was  evident  it  would  be  almost  immediately  adopted.  Governor 
Tompkins,  who  had  watched  the  measure  witli  keen  vigilance,  satisfied 
that  it  would  be  forced  through  by  corrupt  means,  prorogued  the  Legis- 
lature on  March  27th  until  May  21st.  His  message  announcing  his  act 
fell  like  a  thunderbolt  on  both  houses,  and  a  scene  of  wildest  confusion 
and  uproar  ensued  ;  but  the  legislators  were  compelled  to  submit  to  the 
inevitable. 

When  the  Legislature  reassembled  the  bill  for  the  charter  of  the  Bank 
of  America,  which  had  produced  so  much  social  and  political  commo- 
tion, was  promptly  passed,  all  the  Federalists  in  both  houses  voting 
for  it.  Innnediately  afterward  a  meeting  of  the  Democratic  members 
of  the  Legislature  was  held  (May  28th,  1812),  by  which  Mr.  Clinton  was 
nominated  as  the  candidate  of  the  State  of  New  York  for  the  presidency 
of  the  United  States.  They  recommended  his  support  to  the  Democratic 
Party  throughout  the  republic. 

Mr.  Clinton  and  his  friends  havins:  been  rather  lukewarm  on  the  sub- 
ject  of  war,  the  Federalists  felt  kindly  toward  him.  The  Clintonian 
members  of  Congress  from  New  York  voted  against  the  declaration  of 
war.  At  the  election  most  of  the  Federalists  voted  for  Mr.  Clinton. 
In  the  Electoral  College  he  received  eighty-nine  votes,  and  Mr.  Madison 
received  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  votes.  Clinton's  course,  regarded 
as  coquetry  with  the  Federalists,  lost  him  the  friendship  of  many  of  his 


MILITARY  MOVEMENTS  ON  THE  NORTHERN  FRONTIER.         401 

party  at  home.  An  immense  majority  of  the  Democrats  of  Kew  York 
City,  where  the  ''  Tammanyites"  were  influential,  became  opposed  to 
him  politically,  and  these  influenced  the  party  in  the  State. 

There  were  some  hostile  movements  on  the  Canada  frontier  of  New 
York  near  the  St„  Lawrence  in  the  autumn  of  1812  and  in  the  winter  of 
1813.  Late  in  September  Major  Benjamin  Forsythe,  with  a  company  of 
riflemen,  appeared  on  the  southern  bank  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  after 
some  exploits  amon^  the  Thousand  Islands,  he  took  post  at  Ogdensburg. 
General  Brown  arrived  there  on  October  1st,  and  on  the  same  day  a 
large  flotilla  of  British  bateaux,  escorted  by  a^  gun-boat,  appeared  at 
Prescott,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  On  October  4th  this  flotilla 
bore  armed  men  across  the  stream  to  attack  Ogdensburg,  when  about 
fifteen  hundred  American  regulars  and  militia  at  that  place  repulsed  the 
invaders. 

Nearly  three  weeks  later  a  detachment  of  about  two  hundred  militia, 
chiefly  from  Troy,  N.  Y.,  led  from  French  Mills  by  Major  G.  D. 
Dudley,  captured  a  larger  portion  of  a  British  detachment  stationed  at 
the  Indian  village  of  St.  Regis,  which  lies  on  the  boundary-line  between 
the  United  States  and  Canada.  The  late  Governor  Marcy,  of  New 
York,  then  a  lieutenant,  captured  a  British  flag  with  his  own  hands.  It 
was  the  first  trophy  of  the  war  taken  on  the  land. 

Early  in  November  Commodore  Chauncey*  appeared  on  Lake  Ontario 
with  a  little  squadron  of  armed  schooners.  With  these  he  made  a  cruise 
toward  Kingston,  and  after  a  slight  skirmish  he  blockaded  a  British 
squadron  in  Kingston  Harbor.  In  this  cruise  of  a  few  days  he  disabled 
the  Hoyal  George,  destroyed  one  armed  schooner,  captured  three  mer- 
chant vessels,  and  took  several  prisoners.  Leaving  vessels  to  blockade 
the  harbor  until  ice  should  seal  it,  he  cruised  toward  the  western  end  of 
the  lake,  and  soon  returned  to  Sackett's  Harbor.  The  aggregate  amount 
of  metal  carried  by  his  squadron  was  less  than  fifty  guns,  and  the  aggre- 
gate number  of  his  men  was  only  four  hundred  and  thirty,  including 
marines. 

Meanwhile   some   stirring  events  had  occurred  at  the  head   of  the 

*  Isaac  Chauncey  was  born  in  Connecticut  in  February,  1772,  and  died  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  in  January,  1840.  At  tlie  age  of  nineteen  he  commanded  a  merchant  ship, 
and  he  made  voyages  to  the  East  Indies  in  sliips  belonging  to  J.  J.  Astor.  He  entered 
the  navy  as  lieutenant  in  1802,  and  had  become  captain  in  1806.  During  the  War  of 
1812-15  he  was  commander-in-chief  of  the  United  States  naval  force  on  Lake  Ontario. 
After  the  war  he  commanded  the  Mediterranean  squadron,  and  assisted  in  negotiating  a 
treaty  with  Algiers.  He  was  Naval  Commissioner  at  Washington  in  1820,  and  held  the 
.same  position  from  1833  until  his  death.  His  remains  lie  in  the  Congressional  burying- 
^ound. 


402 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


Niagara  River.  Black  Rock,  near  Buffalo,  had  been  chosen  as  a  place 
for  the  construction  of  war- vessels  for  service  on  Lake  Erie.  Lieutenant 
J.  D.  Elliott  had  been  sent  thither  by  Chauncey  as  superintendent.  A 
few  days  before  the  affair  at  Queenstown  two  British  merchant  vessels — 
Caledonia  and  Detroit — had  come  down  the  lake  and  anchored  under 
the  protection  of  the  guns  of  Fort  Erie,  opposite  Buffalo.  Elliott  deter- 
mined to  seize  them.  At  midnight  (October  8th)  he  crossed  the  river  in 
boats  with  one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  and  surprised  and  captured 
both  vessels  with  all  their  people.  The  shouts  of  men  at  Buffalo  and 
Black  Rock  who  witnessed  the  exploit  aroused  the  garrison  at  Fort  Erie, 
wlio  brought  great  guns  to  bear  upon  the  assailants.  A  fierce  struggle 
for  the  possession  of  the  captured  vessels  ensued.     The  Caledonia  was 


FORT  NIAGARA   FROM  FORT  GEORGE. 


secured  by  the  Americans,  and  was  afterward  converted  into  a  war- vessel. 
The  Detroit  was  burned. 

Near  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  River  stood  old  Fort  Niagara,  lightly 
garrisoned  by  the  Americans.  On  November  2l8t  (1812)  a  heavy 
artillery  attack  upon  this  post  was  carried  on  from  the  morning  until  the 
evening  twilight  by  live  detached  batteries  on  the  Canada  shore.  Two 
thousand  red-hot  balls  and  a  tempest  of  bomb-shells  were  projected  upon 
the  American  works  during  the  day.  The  cannonading  and  bombard- 
ment was  returned  with  spirit.  The  village  of  Newark,  on  the  Canada 
side,  was  set  on  fire  several  times  by  bombs,  and  little  Fort  George  was 
severely  pounded  by  round-shot.     Night  ended  this  artillery  duel. 

This  cannonade  and  bombardment  aroused  General  Smythe,  Van 
Rensselaer's  successor  in  command  at  Buffalo,  to  spasmodic  action.  He 
made  preparations  for  invading  Canada  at  once.     In  a  flaming  proclaraa- 


I 


GENERAL  HARRISON'S  CAMPAIGN.  403 

tion  he  said  to  his  soldiers  :  "  Hearts  of  war  !  tomorrow  will  be  memo- 
rable in  the  annals  of  the  United  States.  Neither  rain,  snow,  nor  frost 
will  prevent  the  embarkation.  ,  .  .  The  landing  will  be  effected  in 
despite  of  cannon." 

"To-morrow"  was  "memorable"  for  the  failure  of  the  boaster  to 
cross  the  Niagara.  He  was  afraid  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Eisshopp,  who 
commanded  a  small  British  force  on  the  Canada  side.  Sraythe  was  dis- 
missed from  the  service.  He  petitioned  Congress  to  be  reinstated,  ask- 
ing to  be  allowed  to  "  die  for  his  country."  A  wag  wrote  with  a  pencil 
on  the  panel  of  a  door  of  the  House  of  Representatives  : 

"  All  hail,  great  chief,  who  quailed  before 
A  Bisshopp  on  Niagara's  shore. 
But  looks  on  Death  with  dauntless  eye. 
And  begs  for  leave  to  bleed  and  die. 
Oh  my  !" 

It  is  not  our  province  to  give  more  than  the  briefest  notices  of  events 
not  specially  connected  with  the  history  of  the  State  of  New  York  ; 
therefore  we  present  only  an  outline  of  stirring  scenes  elsewhere. 

We  have  observed  that  the  surrender  of  Hull  and  the  atrocities  of  the 
barbarians  on  the  north-western  frontier  aroused  the  hottest  indignation 
and  intense  patriotism  of  the  people  west  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains. 
In  the  valleys  of  the  Ohio  and  the  Mississippi  the  spirit  of  the  old 
crusaders  seemed  to  have  been  awakened.  Volunteers  gathered  in  every 
settlement,  and  for  weeks  they  found  employment  in  driving  the  hostile 
Indians  from  post  to  post  in  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illinois,  desolating  their 
villages  and  plantations,  and  exciting  the  terrible  wrath  of  the  barbarians. 
The  people  were  so  eager  to  smite  the  British  and  their  dusky  allies  that 
the  campaign  of  1813  opened  at  midwinter,  and  volunteers  were  more 
plentiful  than  were  needed. 

General  Hull  had  been  succeeded  in  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
North-west  by  General  William  H.  Harrison  (afterward  President  of  the 
United  States),  and  General  Sir  George  Prevost  became  the  successor  of 
Brock  in  Canada.  Harrison  marched  a  crude  and  undisciplined  army 
through  a  savage  wilderness  toward  Detroit.  They  built  roads  and 
block-houses  by  the  way,  created  magazines  of  provisions  and  defended 
them,  and  protected  in  a  measure  a  frontier  of  several  hundred  miles  in 
extent  against  the  tomahawk  and  the  seal  ping-knife  of  murderous  savages. 
Harrison  made  the  vicinity  of  the  Maumee  Hapids,  toward  the  western 
end  of  Lake  Erie,  the  place  of  general  rendezvous. 

General  James  Winchester,  with  eight  hundred  young  Kentuckians, 


404  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

arrived  at  the  Maumee  Rapids  in  January,  1813.  Informed  that  British 
and  Indians  were  occupying  the  little  settlement  of  Frenchtown  (now 
Munroe,  Mich.),  on  the  river  Raisin,  he  hastened  thither  to  dislodge 
the  intruders.  His  advanced  detachment  had  driven  them  out  of  the 
hamlet  on  Jiis  arrival  on  the  20th.  General  Proctor,  with  a  force  of 
British  and  Indians  (the  latter  commanded  by  Tecumtha),  then  occupied 
Maiden,  on  the  Detroit  River.  With  fifteen  liundred  men  of  this  motley 
army  he  surprised  Winchester  at  dawn  on  the  22d,  made  him  a  prisoner, 
and  slew  many  of  his  men.  Winchester  surrendered  his  troops  to  Proc- 
tor on  the  condition  that  they  and  the  settlement  should  be  protected 
against  the  fury  of  the  barbarians.  This  promise  was  quickly  violated. 
The  sick  and  wounded  Americans  were  left  behind  when  the  prisoners 
were  marched  away.  The  Indians  soon  turned  back,  murdered  and 
scalped  those  who  were  unable  to*  travel,  and  took  the  remainder  to 
Detroit,  twenty- five  miles  to  the  north,  in  order  to  procure  exorbitant 
sums  for  their  ransom.  This  perfidy  and  massacre  created  intense  ex- 
citement in  Kentuci<y,  for  the  victims  were  of  the  flower  of  society  in 
that  State.  After  that  the  war-cry  of  the  Kentuckians  was,  "  Remem- 
ber the  river  Raisin  !" 

Harrison  advanced  immediately  to  the  Maumee  Rapids,  where,  oppo- 
site tlie  site  of  present  Perrysburg,  he  built  a  strong  earthwork,  with 
bastions,  and  named  it  Fort  Meigs.  There  he  was  besieged  many  weeks 
afterward  by  Proctor  and  Tecumtha  and  their  respective  followers.  The 
assailants  appeared  before  the  fort  at  tlie  close  of  April,  and  though  tlie 
post  was  strojig  and  the  garrison  had  many  great  guns  mounted,  they 
were  in  imminent  peril  for  a  while.  The  fort  was  relieved  by  the  arrival 
of  forces  under  General  Green  Clay,  of  Kentucky,  early  in  May,  and 
the  siege  was  abandoned.  Active  military  operations  in  the  West  then 
ceased  for  a  while. 

At  Lower  Sandusky  (now  Fremont,  Ohio)  was  a  regular  earth  and 
stockaded  military  work  named  Fort  Stephenson,  garrisoned  by  one 
hundred  and  sixty  men  under  the  command  of  young  Major  George 
Croghan,  then  only  twenty-one  years  of  age.  In  July  Proctor  and 
Tecumtha,  with  four  thousand  followers,  again  appeared  before  Fort 
Meigs,  but  soon  left  it  and  pushed  across  the  country  to  fall  upon  Fort 
Stephenson.  They  made  a  furious  attack  upon  it,  but  Croghan  and  his 
men  so  skilfull}'  and  gallantly  defended  the  post  and  made  such  havoc 
among  the  assailants  that  the  latter  fled  in  haste  and  great  confusion  to 
Detroit. 

The  control  of  Lake  Erie  was  as  important  to  both  parties  as  was  that 
of  Lake   Ontario,  and  to  secure  it  the  Americans  and  the  British  each 


PERRY'S  FLEET  ON  LAKE  ERIE. 


405 


hastened  to  create  a  fleet  of  war- vessels  thereon.  The  British  built  at 
Maiden,  the  Americans  built  at  Presque  Isle,  now  Erie,  Pa. 

Captain  Oliver  Hazard  Perrj,*  a  zealous  young  naval  officer  of  Khode 
Island,  offered  his  services  on  the  lakes.  At  the  middle  of  January, 
1813,  he  was  ordered  to  report  to  Commodore  Chauncey,  and  to  take 
with  him  all  the  best  men  from  a  flotilla  of  gun -boats  which  he  had  com- 
manded on  Narraganset  Bay.  He  sent  them  forward  in  three  companies, 
fifty  in  each.  Meeting  Chauncey  at  Albany,  they  journeyed  together 
through  the  dark  wilderness  to  Sackett's  Harbor  in  a  sleigh.  Perry  soon 
proceeded  to  Presque  Isle  to  superin- 
tend the  construction  and  equipment 
of  a  navy  in  that  sheltered  harbor 
to  co-operate  with  Harrison  in  an 
attempt  to  recover  Michigan. 

At  Black  Pock  Henry  Eckford 
had  fashioned  five  merchant  vessels 
into  war-craft.  These  were  sent  to 
Presque  Isle,  where  Perry  had  four 
vessels  built.  Early  in  July  he  had 
a  squadron  of  nine  vessels  ready  for 
men  and  supplies.  These  were  de- 
layed several  weeks,  while  a  British 
squadron  under  Commodore  Barclay 
was  proudly  and  defiantly  patrolling 
the  lake.     Late  in  July  Perry  wrote 

to  Chauncey  :  "  Send  me  men  and  1  will  have  them  all  [the  British  ves- 
sels] in  a  day  or  two.  .  ,  .  Barclay  has  been  bearding  me  for  several 
days  ;  I  long  to  be  at  him." 

At  length  Perry  left  the  harbor,  his  vessels  fully  manned,  and  on 
September  10th  the  two  squadrons  met  toward  the  western  end  of  the 
lake  and  engaged  in  a  fierce  and  sanguinary  battle.  The  flag-ship 
Lawrence^  bearing  on  a  blue  burgee  the  words  of  the  dying  hero  in 
whose  honor  she  had  been  named — "  Don't  give  up  the  ship  "—bore 
the  brunt  of  conflict  about  two  hours,  when  she  lay  upon  the  water  an 


OlilVER   HAZARD  PEUIIY. 


*  Oliver  Hazard  Perry  was  born  at  South  Kingston,  R.  I.,  August  33d,  1785  ;  died  in 
Trinidad.  W.  I.,  of  yellow  fever,  August  23d,  1819.  He  entered  the  navy  as  a  midship- 
man in  1799,  served  in  the  Tripolitan  War,  and  was  called  to  the  command  of  a  fleet  on 
Lake  Erie  in  the  summer  of  1813,  having  first  served  with  Chauncey  on  Lake  Ontario. 
In  a  battle  on  Lake  Erie  on  September  10th,  1813,  with  a  British  squadron  he  gained  a 
signal  victory.  Perry  assisted  Harrison  in  retaking  Detroit,  late  in  1813.  In  1815  he 
commanded  the  Jata  in  Decatur's  squadron  on  the  Mediterranean, 


406  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

almost  total  wreck.  The  slaughter  had  been  dreadful.  The  Niagara^ 
a  stanch  vessel,  was  near  and  unhurt.  To  her  Perry  went  in  a  boat, 
through  a  tempest  of  bullets  and  grape-shot.  He  hoisted  his  pennant 
over  her,  dashed  through  the  British  line,  and  in  eight  minutes  after- 
ward the  colors  of  Barclay's  flag-ship,  the  Detroit^  were  struck,  and  all 
but  two  vessels  of  his  squadron  were  surrendered.  Resting  his  naval 
cap  on  his  knee,  Perry  wrote  to  Harrison,  with  a  pencil  on  the  back  of 
a  letter,  his  famous  despatch  : 

"  We  have  met  the  enemy  and  they  are  ours  ;  two  ships,  two  brigs, 
one  schooner,  and  one  sloop." 

The  control  of  Lake  Erie  by  the  Americans  was  now  secured.  Harri- 
son pushed  forward  toward  Detroit.  A  part  of  his  troops  were  taken 
across  the  lake  on  Perr^^'s  vessels.  Proctor  set  fire  to  Maiden,  and  fled 
into  the  interior  of  Canada  with  Tecumtha  and  his  Indians. 

Harrison  crossed  the  river  and  pursued  the  fugitives.  He  overtook 
them  at  the  Moravian  Towns  on  the  little  river  Thames,  where  a  sharp 
battle  was  fought  on  October  Stli,  1813.  Tecumtha  was  killed,  the 
British  were  defeated,  and  Proctor,  with  a  few  followers,  escaped  to  the 
head  of  Lake  Ontario.  At  tljis  battle  the  Americans  recaptured  six  brass 
field-pieces  which  had  been  surrendered  b}"^  Hull,  on  two  of  which  were 
engraved  the  words  :  "  Surrendered  by  Burqoyne  at  Saratoga." 
These  precious  relics  of  the  old  war  for  independence  are  now  at  West 
Point,  on  the  Hudson. 

All  the  territory  which  Hull  had  lost  was  now  recovered.  The  Indian 
Confederacy  on  the  north-western  border  of  the  republic  was  broken  up, 
and  war  in  that  region  was  ended. 

During  the  summer  of  1813  the  United  States  were  involved  in  war 
with  the  Indians  in  the  region  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  In  the  spring 
Tecumtha  went  among  them  to  arouse  them  to  wage  war  on  the  white 
people.  The  powerful  Creeks  yielded  to  his  persuasions.  Late  in 
August  a  large  party  of  them  surprised  and  captured  Fort  Menis,  on  the 
Alabama  River,  and  massacred  about  four  hundred  men,  women,  and 
children.  This  event  aroused  the  whole  South  to  vigorous  retaliation, 
and  General  Andrew  Jackson,  afterward  President  of  the  United  States, 
led  twenty-five  hundred  Tcnnesseeans  into  the  Creek  country,  where  ho 
waged  a  destructive  subjugating  war  against  them. 

Early  in  November  General  Coffee,  Jackson's  second  in  command, 
with  nine  hundred  men,  surrounded  an  Indian  force  at  Tsillashatchee, 
and  slew  two  hundred  of  them.  Not  a  warrior  escaped.  Within  ten 
weeks  afterward  bloody  battles  had  been  fought  at  Talladega  (November 
8th),  Autosee  (November  29th),  and  Emuckfaw  (January  22d,  1814), 


THE  CHEROKEE  NATION  RUINED.  407 

and  several  skirmishes  had  taken  place.  The  Tennesseeans  were  always 
victorious,  yet  they  lost  many  brave  soldiers.  The  Creeks  finally  estab- 
lished a  fortified  camp  at  the  Great  Horseshoe  Bend  of  the  Tallapoosa 
River,  and  there  a  thousand  warriors,  with  their  women  and  children, 
determined  to  make  a  last  decisive  stand.  On  March  27th,  1814,  they 
M'ere  surrounded  by  Jackson's  troops  and  attacked.  The  dusky  warriors 
fought  desperately,  for  they  knew  that  there  would  be  no  future  for 
their  nation  in  case  of  a  defeat.  They  disdained  to  surrender,  and 
almost  six  hundred  of  them  were  slain.  Only  two  or  three  were  made 
prisoners,  with  about  three  hundred  women  and  children.  The  result 
of  the  battle  crushed  the  spirit  and  the  power  of  the  Creek  nation.  It 
was  a  sad  picture  for  the  eyes  of  good  men  to  see  one  of  the  ancient 
tribes  of  our  land,  who  were  then  making  rapid  strides  in  the  progress 
of  civilization,  so  ruthlessly  and  utterly  ruined  by  the  destructive  hand 
of  war. 


408  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Eakly  in  1813  important  military  movements  occurred  at  Ogdensbur*^ 
and  its  vicinity.  There  were  hostile  incursions  by  both  parties  across 
the  St.  Lawrence.  Major  Forsythe,  in  command  at  Ogdensburg,  had 
crossed  over  to  Brockville  early  in  February,  released  all  the  prisoners 
in  jail  there,  and  seized  some  troops  and  citizens,  who  were  carried  to 
his  camp  in  triumph. 

Retaliation  soon  ensued.  Sir  George  Prevost,  Governor- General  of 
Canada,  arrived  at  Prescott,  opposite  Ogdensburg,  on  his  way  to  York, 
the  capital  of  Upper  Canada,  and  assented  to  a  proposal  for  troops  to 
cross  the  river  on  the  ice  and  assail  the  American  village.  Considering 
his  own  person  in  danger  of  capture,  Sir  George  hastened  forward 
toward  York,  directing  Lieuteuant-Colonel  McDonnell  to  conduct  the 
attack. 

At  dawn  on  the  morning  of  February  22d  McDonnell  appeared  on  the 
frozen  river  with  about  eight  hundred  soldiers,  in  two  columns,  and 
pushed  on  to  the  village  at  separate  points.  Forsythe,  informed  by  spies 
of  this  intended  assault,  had  prepared  to  receive  the  invaders  ;  but  he 
could  not  withstand  tliem.  It  M'as  a  sort  of  surprise.  Some  of  the 
inhabitants  were  in  bed,  others  were  at  breakfast.  They  nearly  all  fled 
in  consternation,  and  after  a  conflict  of  an  hour  in  the  streets,  Forsythe 
and  liis  troops  retreated  to  Black  Lake,  eight  or  nine  miles  distant.  The 
British  became  masters  of  the  village.  They  plundered  every  house  in 
the  town  excepting  three,  burned  the  barracks  near  the  river  and  two 
gun-boats  and  two  armed  schooners  frozen  in  the  ice,  and  returned  to 
Canada  with  a  great  amount  of  plunder.  These  events  accelerated  the 
gathering  of  militia  on  the  northern  frontier,  especially  at  Sackett's 
Harbor. 

General  Dearborn,  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  Northern  Depart- 
ment, unable  to  afford  assistance  to  the  exposed  points  of  the  frontier  of 
New  York,  resolved  to  invade  Canada.  He  M^as  then  in  direct  command 
of  the  Army  of  the  North,  which  was  about  six  thousand  strong,  and 
were  all  within  the  State  of  New  York.  These  were  to  defend  the 
frontier  from  Buffalo  to  St.  Regis.  Dearborn  determined  to  attempt 
the  capture  of  Montreal,  in  Lower  Canada,  and  York  (now  Toronto), 
the  capital  of  the  upper  province.     Chauncey,  as  we  have  seen,  had 


EXPEDITION  AGAINST  YORK  (TORONTO). 


409 


gained  the  control  of  Lake  Ontario,  and  believed  he  could  keep  the  ice- 
bound British  navy  in  the  harbor  of  Kingston  until  the  reduction  of 
York. 

Dearborn  concentrated  troops  at  Sackett's  Harbor  and  Buffalo  ;  but 
in  March  (1813)  he  found  only  three  thousand  troops  at  the  former 
place.  He  directed  General  Brown  to  summon  several  hundred  militia 
to  the  field,  and  called  Brigadier-General  Z.  M.  Pike  to  the  harbor  with 
four  hundred  of  his  best  men,  then  at  Plattsburg,  on  Lake  Champlain. 
Henry  Eekford  was  charged  with  the  building  of  six  war  schooners  at 
the  harbor,  and  Chauncey  was  authorized  to  purchase  as  many  vessels 
as  the  exigencies  of  the  service 
might  require. 

At  the  middle  of  April  a  f)lan 
■was  matured  for  a  land  and  naval 
force  to  cross  the  lake,  capture 
York,  and  assail  Fort  George, 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara 
Biver.  At  the  same  time  troops 
were  to  cross  the  river  at  Buf- 
falo, capture  Fort  Erie  and  the 
redoubt  at  Chippewa,  and  meet- 
ing the  force  from  York  at  Fort 
George,  reduce  that  work,  and 
then  all  press  on  to  the  capture 
of  Kingston. 

On  April  25th  (1813)  seven- 
teen hundred  troops,  under  the  immediate  command  of  General  Pike, 
sailed  from  Sackett's  Harbor  in  Chauncey's  fleet,  and  on  the  morning  of 
the  27th  appeared  before  York,  then  pretty  strongly  fortified.  The  land 
forces  were  disembarked  about  two  miles  west  of  the  British  outworks  in 
the  face  of  a  destructive  fire  from  regulars  and  Indians  under  General 
Sheaffe.  The  former  were  soon  driven  to  their  fortifications,  and  the 
Americans,  led  by  Pike,*  pressed  forward  and  captured  two  redoubts. 
At  the  same  time  Chauncey  was  smiting  the  foe  with  a  tempest  of  grape- 
shot  from  his  naval  cannons.     The  Indians,  terrified  by  the  roar  of  artil- 


ZEBULON  MONTGOMERY  PIKK. 


*  Zebulon  M.  Pike  was  born  at  Lamberton,  N.  J.,  in  January,  1779.  He  entered  the 
army  in  his  youth,  and  was  made  captain  in  1806.  In  1805  and  1806  he  was  engaged  in 
searching  for  tlic  sources  of  the  Mississippi  River,  and  exploring  a  portion  of  the  vast 
territory  of  Louisiana.  He  was  commissioned  a  major  in  1808,  and  rose  to  brigadier-gen- 
eral in  1813.  Early  in  that  year  he  was  appointed  adjutant  and  inspector-general  in  the 
Northern  Department.     He  lost  his  life  in  an  attack  upon  York,  April  37th,  1813. 


410  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

lery,  liad  deserted  the  British  at  tlie  beginning,  and  fled  as  fast  as  their 
legs  could  carry  them.  , 

Sheaffe  now  took  post  with  the  garrison  near  the  governor's  house, 
and  opened  a  heavy  fire  of  round  and  grape-shot  from  a  battery.  This 
battery  was  soon  silenced  by  Pike's  heavy  guns,  and  he  was  expecting  a 
white-flag  token  of  submission,  when  an  awful  catastrophe  occurred. 
The  British,  unable  to  hold  the  fort,  fired  a  magazine  of  gunpowder  on 
the  edge  of  the  lake.  The  explosion  which  followed  was  terrible  in  its 
effects.  Timbers  and  stones,  of  which  the  magazine  was  built,  w^ere 
scattered  many  hundred  feet  in  every  direction,  carrying  death  and 
destruction.  Fifty-two  Americans  and  forty  British  soldiers  were  slain, 
and  a  much  larger  number  were  wounded. 

General  Pike  at  the  time  of  the  explosion  w'as  sitting  on  the  stump  of 
a  tree  talking  with  a  captive  British  officer.  Tlie  general,  two  of  his 
aides,  and  the  captive  officer  were  mortally  hurt  by  the  flying  missiles. 
The  dying  leader  was  taken  on  board  Chauncey's  flag-ship.  His  dulled 
ears  heard  the  shouts  of  victory,  and  just  before  he  died  the  captured 
British  flag  was  brought  to  him.  He  smiled,  and  made  a  sign  to  have  it 
placed  under  his  head.  It  was  done,  and  a  moment  afterward  he 
expired. 

Early  in  May  the  victoriovis  Americans  sailed  from  Sackett's  Harbor 
to  attack  Fort  George.  The  British  had  at  that  post  and  smaller  works 
along  the  Niagara  River  about  eighteen  hundred  men,  commanded  by 
General  Yincent.  The  American  troops  landeji  and  encamped  five 
miles  east  of  Fort  Niagara,  where  they  j^repared  for  the  task  before 
them.  On  the  morning  of  May  27th  they  "were  conveyed  by  Chauncey's 
squadron  to  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  on  the  Canada  side. 

Led  by  Colonel  Winfield  Scott  and  Commodore  Perry,  the  latter  in 
command  of  the  boats,  the  invaders  ascended  the  bank  in  the  face  of  a 
shower  of  bullets  and  of  glittering  bayonets,  and  after  a  sharp  conflict 
they  pushed  back  the  British.  Yincent,  discouraged,  ordered  the  guns 
of  Fort  George  to  be  spiked,  the  ammunition  to  be  destroyed,  and  the 
garrison  to  join  him  in  a  retreat  toward  Burlington  Bay,  at  the  west  end 
of  Lake  Ontario.  The  whole  British  force  retreated  first  to  a  strong 
position  in  the  hilly  region  of  the  Beaver  Dams,  where  Yincent  had  a 
magazine  of  stores  and  provisions.  Forts  Erie  and  Chippewa  were 
abandoned,  and  the  Niagara  frontier  in  Canada  passed  into  the  possession 
of  the  Americans. 

Generals  Chandler  and  Winder  were  sent  in  pursuit  of  Yincent. 
They  encamped  at  Stony  Creek  on  the  night  of  June  6th,  seven  miles 
east  of  the  British  forces,  where  they  were  attacked  by  the  latter  at  mid- 


BRITISH  ATTACK  ON  SACKETT'S  HARBOR.  411 

night.  The  darkness  was  intense  ;  surprised  and  confused  in  the  gloom, 
the  two  American  generals  were  made  prisoners.  Expecting  a  renewal 
of  the  attack,  the  Americans  made  a  hasty  retreat  toward  the  Niagara, 
menaced  on  the  way  by  a  British  squadron  on  the  lake  at  their  left,  and 
by  barbarians  and  local  militia  on  the  heights  at  their  right.  They 
reached  Fort  George  in  safety. 

Sackett's  Harbor  was  now  the  chief  depot  of  the  military  and  naval 
supplies  of  the  Americans  on  Lake  Ontario,  and  offered  a  tempting 
object  to  the  enemy.  When  the  British  at  Kingston  heard  of  the  de- 
parture of  a  large  portion  of  Chauncey's  squadron  with  the  land  troops 
from  the  harbor,  they  resolved  to  attempt  the  capture  of  that  post. 

On  the  evening  of  May  27th  Sir  James  Lucas  Yeo,*  the  commander 
of  the  British  squadron,  sailed  from  Kingston,  and  at  about  noon  the 
next  day  appeared  off  Sackett's  Harbor  with  six  armed  vessels  and  forty 
bateaux,  bearing  over  a  thousand  land  troops,  the  whole  armament  under 
the  command  of  Sir  George  Prevost,  the  governor-general. 

There  were  only  a  few  regular  troops  at  the  harbor,  commanded  by 
Colonel  Backus.  General  Brown,  who  was  at  his  home  a  few  miles  dis- 
tant, hastened  to  the  threatened  post.  He  sent  expresses  in  all  directions 
to  summon  the  militia  to  the  field,  and  fired  alarm-guns  to  rouse  the 
inhabitants.  The  militia  on  their  arrival  were  sent  to  Horse  Island, 
close  by,  where  it  was  supposed  the  invaders  would  first  attempt  to  land. 

The  British  troops  were  embarked  from  the  war-vessels  in  bateaux, 
but  were  soon  ordered  back,  when  the  whole  squadron  put  to  sea.  Sir 
George,  who  was  a  timid  man,  had  been  alarmed  by  the  appearance  of 
some  American  gun-boats  bearing  a  regiment  from  Oswego  to  re-enforce 
the  little  garrison  at  the  harbor.  As  soon  as  he  perceived  the  real  weak- 
ness of  the  approaching  foe  he  returned,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  29th 
landed  a  considerable  force,  with  artillery,  upon  Horse  Island.  The 
American  militia  were  called  from  the  island  and  placed  behind  a  gravel- 

*  Sir  James  Lucas  Yeo  was  born  in  Southampton,  England,  in  1782,  and  died  in  his 
native  country  in  1819.  He  was  an  active  but  very  cautious  officer.  He  was  given  to 
boasting  and  promising  more  than  lie  could  perform.  Offended  with  Captain  Porter,  of 
the  American  ship  Essex,  because  of  the  latter's  disparaging  remarks  concerning  the 
baronet,  he  sent,  by  a  paroled  prisoner,  a  message  to  Porter  inviting  him  to  a  combat  be- 
tween their  two  ships,  saying  he  "  would  be  glad  to  have  a  tete-a-tete  anywhere  between 
the  Capes  of  the  Delaware  and  the  Havana,  when  he  would  have  pleasure  to  break  his 
own  [Captain  Porter's]  sword  over  his  d — d  head,  and  put  him  down  forward  in  irons." 
Porter  accepted  the  challenge  in  more  decorous  terms,  but  owing  to  the  extreme  caution 
of  Sir  James,  the  meeting  never  occurred.  His  conduct  on  Lake  Ontario  on  two  or  three 
occasions  was  such  that  the  wits  of  the  day  interpreted  his  cautious  movements  as 
specimens  of  "heart  disease"  known  to  cowards.  He  had  been  instructed  to  "risk 
nothing." 


412  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

ridge  on  the  main,  from  which  they  scampered  at  the  first  fire  of  the 
invaders.  The  indignant  General  Brown  attempted  to  rally  them  while 
the  regulars  and  a  few  Alhany  volunteers  disputed  the  advance  of  the 
foe  inch  by  inch.  At  that  moment  a  dense  smoke  arose  in  the  rear  of 
the  American  forces.  Brown  was  alarmed,  but  was  soon  relieved  of 
anxiety  when  he  learned  that  a  friend  and  not  a  foe  was  the  incendiary. 
Wlien  the  militia  fled  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  public  property  at  the 
harbor,  believing  the  post  would  be  taken,  set  fire  to  the  store-houses 
and  their  contents,  and  a  ship  on  the  stocks. 

General  Brown  sent  some  regulars  to  intercept  the  fugitive  militia. 
These,  with  the  gathering  of  others,  deceived  and  alarmed  Sir  George. 
He  had  mounted  a  high  stump  and  swept  the  horizon  with  his  field- 
glass.  Seeing  numerous  men,  he  supposed  them  to  be  re-enforcetnents 
of  regulars  in  large  numbers,  and  imn)ediately  ordered  a  retreat.  That 
movement  became  a  disorderly  flight.  The  fugitives  left  their  dead  and 
wounded  behind,  fled  pell-mell  to  their  vessels,  and  the  whole  squadron 
hastily  withdrew  from  the  harbor.  The  post  and  the  ship  on  the  stocks 
were  saved,  but  stores  worth  half  a  million  dollars  were  lost.  Sackett's 
Harbor  was  never  again  attacked,  and  it  remained  a  chief  place  of 
deposit  of  supplies  for  the  Northern  Army  during  the  remainder  of  the 
war. 

General  Vincent  established  an  advanced  post  at  the  Beaver  Dams 
under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Fitzgibbon.  Late  in  June  Colonel 
Boerstler  was  sent  from  Fort  George,  with  six  hundred  men,  to  capture 
the  garrison  and  stores  at  the  Beaver  Dams.  Informed  of  their 
approach,  Fitzgibbon  was  prepared  to  receive  them.  Furiously  assailed 
by  Indians  under  John  Brant,  and  alarmed  by  an  exaggerated  account 
of  the  number  of  the  foe,  BcBrstler  surrendered  his  whole  force,  when 
the  British  pressed  forward  and  menaced  Queenstovvn  and  Fort  George. 
The  infirmities  of  General  Dearborn  now  caused  him  to  resign  his  com- 
mand, and  he  was  succeeded  by  General  James  Wilkinson,  another 
officer  of  the  old  war  for  independence. 

The  attempts  to  seize  Canada  had  been  decided  failures,  and  yet  the 
Government  seemed  not  to  have  learned  wisdom  by  dear-bought  experi- 
ence.    The  Secretary  of  War  was  John  Armstrong,*  who  had  been  a 

*  John  Armstrong  was  born  at  Carlisle,  Pa.,  in  Xovcmber,  1758,  and  ilied  at  Red 
Hook,  N.  Y.,  in  April,  1«43.  He  was  a  student  at  Princeton  when  the  Kevolutionaiy 
War  broke  out,  joined  a  Pennsylvania  regiment  as  a  volunteer,  and  was  on  the  staff  of 
General  Mercer.  He  was  afterward  on  the  staff  of  General  Gates  with  the  rank  of  major, 
and  remained  .so  until  the  end  of  the  war.  He  wrote  the  famous  "  Newburg  Ad- 
dresses."    He  held  important  civil  offices  in  Pennsylvania  ;  conducted  military  operations 


MOVEMENTS   ON  THE  NIAGARA  FRONTIER. 


413 


subaltern  in  the  war  for  independence.  He  was  possessed  of  a  fiery  and 
obstinate  spirit.  lie  and  Wilkinson  could  not  agree.  There  was 
another  fiery  spirit  in  the  field  in  Kew  York  at  that  time — Wade 
Hampton,  of  South  Carolina — the  largest  slaveholder  in  the  republic, 
who  had  been  a  partisan  officer  with  Marion.  He  was  haughty  and 
imperious,  and  could  not  brook  otfieial  control.  These  old  Kevolutionary 
officers,  jealous  of  each  other,  could  not  bear  with  complacency  com- 
mands from  one  of  their  number  who  might  be  superior  in  official  station. 
They  were  aC  decided  disadvantage  to  the  service  from  the  beginning, 
and  until  they  were  succeeded  by 
younger  men  the  American  armies 
were  generally  unsuccessful. 

Made   bold   l)y  their   success  at  (^    ,.  _      W4' 

the  Beaver  Dams,  the  British  be- 
came aggressive  on  the  Niagara 
frontier.  They  closely  invested  Fort 
George.  On  the  night  of  July 
4th,  1813,  a  few  Canadian  militia 
and  Indians  crossed  the  river  to 
Schlosser,  and  captured  a  guard, 
arms,  ammunition,  and  stores.  On 
the  11th  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bis- 
sliopp,  with  a  motley  force  of  four 
hundred  regulars,  Canadians,  and 
Indians,  crossed  the  river  from  Fort 

Erie  and  surprised  the  post  at  Black  Bock,  a  little  before  dawn. 
His  object  was  to  seize  the  stores  collected  there  and  the  shipyard. 
They  were  defended  by  a  few  militia.  These,  with  others  at  Buffalo, 
two  miles  distant,  were  under  the  command  of  General  Peter  B.  Porter. 
The  militia  at  Black  Eock  fled.  Porter  rallied  a  portion  of  them,  and 
with  fifty  volunteer  citizens  drove  the  invaders  across  the  river.  Bis- 
shopp  was  mortally  w^ounded  in  the  flight,  and  died  five  days  afterward. 

Wilkinson  prepared  for  another  invasion  of  Canada,  or  to  "  strike  a 
deadly  blow  somewhere.' '     He  left  eight  hundred  troops  at  Fort  George, 


JOHN   ARMSTRONG. 


against  settlers  in  the  Wyoming  Valley,  in  1784  ;  and  declined  the  office  of  judge  for  the 
North-western  Territory,  in  1787.  Two  years  later  he  married  a  sister  of  Chancellor 
Livingston,  and  purchasing  a  farm  within  the  bounds  of  the  Livingston  Manor,  devoted 
himself  to  agriculture.  lie  was  United  States  senator  in  1800-1804,  and  succeeded  his 
brother-in-law,  Livingston,  as  minister  at  the  French  Court.  In  1812  he  was  commis- 
sioned a  brigadier-general,  and  entered  Madison's  cabinet  the  next  year  as  Secretary  of 
War,  resigning  in  1814.     He  never  entered  public  life  afterward. 


414 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


under  Colonel  Winfield  Scott,  and  with  the  remainder  of  the  forces  on 
the  Niagara  frontier  he  sailed  eastward  to  undertake  an  expedition 
against  Montreal.  He  instructed  Scott,  in  case  the  British  should  leave 
that  frontier,  to  join  his  expedition  on  the  St.  Lawrence.  This  con- 
tingency soon  occurred.  When  Vincent  heard  of  the  defeat  of  Proctor 
on  the  Thames,  lie  called  his  troops  from  the  Niagara  to  Burlington 

Heights.  Meanwhile  the  Secretary 
of  War  (Armstrong)  had  come  on 
to  reconcile  differences  between 
Wilkinson  and  Hampton,  and  to 
assume  the  conduct  of  the  invading 
expedition.  Armstrong  established 
the  seat  of  the  War  Department  at 
Sackett's  Harbor. 

When  Wilkinson  *  took  com- 
mand of  the  Army  of  the  North 
in  the  summer  of  1813,  military 
affairs  on  Lake  Champlain  and  in 
its  vicinity  were  in  a  peculiar  posi- 
tion. Captain  Thomas  Macdonough 
had  been  charged  with  the  con- 
struction of  a  fleet  on  tlie  lake  in 
the  spring.  At  the  beginning  of 
June  he  had  two  stanch  armed  ves- 
sels— Eagle  and  Growler — ready  for  service.  They  were  sent  to  the  foot 
of  the  lake  to  look  after  some  British  gun-boats  that  were  depredating 
there.  They  ran  far  into  the  Sorel,  when,  turning  southward,  they 
were  chased  by  British  armed  vessels  and  assailed  by  land  troops  on 
each  side  of  the  narrow  river.  The  Eagle  was  sunk  by  a  heavy  round- 
shot,  and  the  OrowUr  was  captured. 

*  James  Wilkinson  was  born  in  Maryland  in  1757,  and  died  near  the  city  of  Mexico  in 
December,  1825.  He  joined  the  Continental  Army  at  Cambridge  in  1775,  and  was  an 
active  subaltern  officer  during  the  whole  war.  At  its  close  he  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  in  Lexington,  Ky.  He  was  lieutenant-colonel  in  an  expedition  against  the  Ind- 
ians in  1791,  and  was  made  brigadier-general  the  next  year.  He  commanded  the  right 
wing  of  Wayne's  army  on  the  Maumee  in  1794,  and  was  general-in-chief  of  the  United 
States  Army  from  1796  to  1798  and  from  1800  to  1812.  He  was  one  of  the  commis.sion- 
ers  to  receive  Louisiana  from  the  French  late  in  1803,  and  was  governor  of  that  territory 
from  1805  to  1807.  Wilkinson  beciime  entangled  with  Burr.  Made  major-general  in 
1813,  he  was  ordered  to  the  command  on  the  northern  frontier.  His  campaign  against 
Montreal  was  a  failure,  chiefly  because  of  the  conduct  of  Wade  Hampton.  He  left  the 
army  at  the  close  of  the  war.  Having  become  possessed  of  large  estates  in  Mexico,  he 
removed  to  that  country,  and  died  there. 


JAMES  WILKINSON. 


EXPEDITION  AGAINST  MONTREAL.  415 

Early  in  August  Macdonougli  had  tliree  armed  schooners  and  six  gun- 
boats ready  for  service,  fitted  and  manned.  At  about  the  same  time 
Plattsburg,  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake,  left  uncovered  by  any  military 
force,  had  been  seized,  plundered,  and  scorched  by  a  British  land  and 
naval  force,  fourteen  hundred  strong,  under  Colonel  Murray,  while 
General  Plampton,  the  commander  of  that  region,  lying  at  Burlington, 
twenty  miles  distant,  with  four  thousand  troops,  had  made  no  attempt 
to  oppose  the  invaders. 

In  the  mean  time  Chauncey  had  been  busy  on  Lake  Ontario.  He 
sought  a  conflict  with  Sir  James  Yeo,  but  the  latter  evaded  him  for 
weeks,  for  he  had  been  instructed  to  "  risk  nothing."  The  saved  ship 
at  the  harbor  had  been  completed  and  named  the  General  Pike. 
Chauncey  made  her  his  flag-ship.  He  had  twelve  other  vessels,  mostly 
merchantmen  altered  into  war-craft.  Sir  James  had  six  vessels  built  at 
Kingston  expressly  for  war. 

One  night  in  July  the  belligerents  were  about  to  engage  in  an 
encounter  when  a  sudden  tornado  capsized  two  of  Chauncey's  vessels, 
and  all  on  board  perished  excepting  sixteen  men.  Finally,  at  the  middle 
of  September,  Chauncey  compelled  the  baronet  to  fight.  The  Pike 
fought  the  heavier  vessels  of  the  foe.  The  conflict  was  quick,  sharp, 
and  decisive.  The  Wolfe,  Yeo's  flag-ship,  too  much  bruised  to  fight 
any  longer,  hurried  away  before  the  wind,  covered  by  the  Royal  George. 
Chauncey  pursued  to  Burlington  Bay,  but  the  equinoctial  gale  made  it 
prudent  for  him  to  return  to  Niagara.  He  did  little  more  during  the 
season  than  to  watch  the  enemy  and  assist  the  expedition  on  the  St. 
Lawrence. 

Armstrong  directed  Wilkinson  to  command  the  expedition  against 
Montreal,  and  ordered  Hampton,  who  was  in  command  of  the  right 
wing  of  the  army,  to  co-operate  with  the  forces  on  the  St.  Lawrence. 
Hampton  moved  forward  from  Plattsburgh  at  about  the  middle  of  Sep- 
tember with  four  thousand  effective  infantry,  a  squadron  of  cavalry,  and 
a  train  of  artillery,  and  on  the  24tli  encamped  on  the  Chateaugay  River 
near  the  site  of  the  present  village  of  Chateaugay,  where  he  awaited 
orders. 

At  the  middle  of  October  the  troops  destined  for  Montreal  sailed  from 
Sackett's  Harbor  in  a  flotilla  of  open  boats,  and  at  the  same  time 
Hampton  was  ordered  to  push  on  to  the  St.  Lawrence,  at  the  mouth  of 
the  ,  Chateaugay.  The  flotilla  was  dreadfully  smitten  by  a  gale  on  the 
lake,  and  was  dispersed.  Much  property  was  lost.  The  scattered  troops 
rendezvoused  at  Grenadier  Island,  excepting  a  detachment  under  Gen- 
eral Brown,  which  pushed  on  to  French  Creek,  now  Clayton,  on  the  St. 


41G  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Lawrence,  where,  on  November  Ist,  tliey  liad  a  sharp  but  successful 
encounter  witli  British  infantry  on  gun-boats  and  schooners. 

The  wliole  expedition  was  concentrated  at  French  Creek  in  the  first 
week  in  November.  On  tlie  5tli  the  whole  armament  moved  down  the 
river  in  three  hundred  open  boats.  A  Canadian  winter  was  just  at  hand. 
Snow  had  already  fallen,  and  the  cold  was  becoming  severe.  Their  flags 
were  furled  and  their  nmsic  was  silent,  for  they  wished  to  elude  the 
vigilance  of  the  British  ;  but  they  were  discovered  and  pursued  by  troops 
in  a  heavy-armed  galley  and  some  gun-boats  through  the  sinuous 
channels  of  the  Thousand  Islands.  They  had  a  battle  by  moonlight  in 
Alexandria  Bay. 

Land  troops  from  Kingston  arrived  at  Preseott  before  Wilkinson  could 
reach  Ogdensburg,  on  the  opposite  shore.  He  disembarked  above  that 
village,  marched  around  it  to  avoid  the  artillery  on  the  Canada  shore, 
and  at  a  point  a  few  miles  below  re-entered  the  boats,  which  had  been 
safely  taken  past  the  batteries  by  General  Brown.  On  November  10th 
the  flotilla  lay  anchored  a  short  distance  above  the  head  of  the  Long 
Rapids. 

Meanwhile  British  troops  under  Lieutenant- Colonel  Morrison,  in  boats 
and  on  shore,  had  pursued  the  flotilla,  and  some  of  them  were  posted  at 
the  foot  of  the  rapids  to  intercept  the  Americans  when  they  should  come 
down.  Many  of  the  latter,  under  Generals  Brown  and  Boyd,*  were  on 
the  Canada  shore.  Brown  pushed  forward  with  a  detachment  to  dis- 
lodge the  British  at  the  foot  of  the  rapids,  arid  on  the  11th  Boyd  met 
the  enemy  face  to  face,  who  were  in  battle  array  on  the  farm  of  John 
Chrysler,  a  few  miles  below  Williamsburg,  in  Canada.  A  severe  battle 
was  fought  in  sleet  and  snow.  Boyd  was  ably  supported  by  Generals 
Swartwout  and  Covington,  and  Colonels  Coles,  Eipley,  and  Swift.  The 
Americans  were  driven  from  the  fleld  with  considerable  loss.  General 
Covington  was  mortally  wounded.  Under  cover  of  night  the  little 
American  force  withdrew  to  the  flotilla,  which  descended  the  Long 
liapids  with  safety  the  next  morning. 

General   Wilkinson   was   then   very   ill.     Word   came   that   General 

*  John  Parker  Boyd  was  born  at  Newburyport,  Mass.,  in  December,  1768,  and  died  in 
Boston  in  October,  1830.  lie  entered  llie  military  service  and  soon  afterward  went  to 
tlie  East  Indies,  wliere  he  entered  tlie  Maliratta  service  and  soon  rose  to  the  rank  of  com- 
mander, k'ading,  at  one  time,  10,()00  men.  He  served  for  some  time,  wlien,  his  presence 
being  no  longer  needed,  he  sold  out  and  went  to  Paris.  He  returned  home  in  1808  and 
re-entered  the  United  States  Army  as  colonel.  He  was  distinguished  in  the  battle  of  Tip- 
pecanoe. In  1812  he  was  commissioned  a  brigadier-general,  and  commanded  an  important 
part  of  Wilkinson's  exjxMlition  down  the  St.  Lawrence  in  1813.  General  Boyd  was  made 
naval  officer  at  Boston  in  1830,  but  died  soon  afterward. 


NIAGARA  FRONTIER  DESOLATED.  417 

Hampton  could  not  form  the  ordered  junction  with  the  expedition,  but 
would  return  to  Lake  Cham23lain.  He  would  not  serve  under  Wilkinson. 
The  expedition  did  not  proceed  farther,  but  went  into  winter  quarters  at 
French  Mills,  on  the  Salmon  River.  So  ended  in  disaster  another 
attempt  to  invade  and  conquer  Canada. 

Distressing  events  closed  the  campaign  of  the  Northern  Army  on  the 
Niagara  frontier.  Early  in  December  General  McClure,  regarding  Fort 
George  as  untenable  with  his  little  garrison  of  forty  men,  abandoned  it 
and  crossed  over  to  Fort  Niagara.  Before  leaving  Canada  he  set  fire  to 
the  beautiful  village  of  Newark.  One  hundred  and  fifty  houses  were 
destroyed  (December  10th),  and  scores  of  men,  women,  and  children 
were  turned  into  the  keen  wintry  air,  homeless  wanderers.  This  savage 
act  created  the  most  fiery  indignation,  and  fierce  retaliation  followed. 
The  British  captured  Fort  Niagara  and  massacred  a  part  of  the  garrison. 
The  Indians  were  given  full  liberty  to  plunder  and  destroy.  Every 
village  and  hamlet  on  the  New  York  side  of  the  river  was  sacked  and 
burnt.  Black  Rock  and  Buff^alo,  though  defended  by  some  troops,  did 
not  escape.  The  latter  village  contained  about  eighteen  hundred  inhab- 
itants. All  but  four  of  its  buildings  were  laid  in  ashes.  An  immense 
amount  of  public  and  private  property  was  destroyed.  With  these 
events  the  campaign  of  1813  in  the  north  was  closed.  We  have  already 
considered  the  war  with  the  Indians  in  the  region  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

The  naval  operations  on  the  ocean  during  1813  were  very  important. 
As  these  were  not  specially  connected  with  the  history  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  it  is  our  province  only  to  notice  them  very  briefly. 

The  United  States  sloop-of-war  Hornets  Captain  Lawrence,  fought 
the  British  brig  Peacock  (February  24th,  1813)  off  tiie  mouth  of  the 
Demarara  River,  South  America.  The  Peacock  surrendered  after  a 
sharp  contest  of  fifteen  minutes,  and  immediately  sunk,  carrying  down 
with  her  nine  British  seamen  and  three  Americans.  The  generous  con- 
duct of  Lawrence  on  that  occasion  drew  from  the  survivors  of  the  Pea- 
cock a  letter  of  thanks  after  their  arrival,  as  prisoners,  at  New  York. 

Lawrence  was  promoted  to  the  command  of  the  American  frigate 
Chesapeake.  On  June  1st  he  sailed  from  Boston  to  respond  to  a  chal- 
lenge by  the  commander  of  the  frigate  Shannon,  Captain  Broke.  He 
found  the  boaster  on  the  same  day  thirty  miles  from  Boston  Light.  At 
five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  a  furious  struggle  began.  The  vessels 
became  entangled.  The  Britons  boarded  the  Chesapeake,  and  after  a 
desperate  hand-to-hand  combat  the  Americans  were  overpowered  and 
the  British  flag  was  hoisted  over  the  dreadfully  injured  vessel.  Early 
in  the  conflict  a  musket-ball  mortally  wounded  the  gallant  young  Law- 


418  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

rence.  As  he  was  being  taken  to  the  cockpit  he  said  :  "  Tell  the  men  to 
lire  faster  and  not  to  give  up  the  ship.  Fight  her  till  she  sinks  !"  These 
dying  words  of  Lawrence—"'  Don't  give  up  the  ship  !" — became  a  battle 
cry  of  the  Americans,  The  loss  of  men  on  the  Chesapeake  was  fearful. 
She  was  taken  to  Halifax.  Lawrence  died  on  the  way.  Public  honors 
were  awarded  him.  His  monument  stands  in  Trinity  church-yard,  IN^ew 
York  City. 

In  the  spring  of  1813  the  American  brig  Argus,  Captain  Allen,  carried 
Mr.  Crawford  to  France  as  the  accredited  American  Minister  at  the  French 
court.  For  two  months  after  her  arrival  in  Europe  she  greatly  annoyed 
the  British  shipping  in  the  English  Channel.  Several  vessels  were  sent 
out  to  capture  her.  At  the  middle  of  August  she  surrendered  to  the 
Pelican,  sloop-of-war.  Perry  gained  his  great  victory  on  Lake  Erie  less 
than  a  month  afterward,  and  on  September  5th  the  British  brig  Boxer, 
Captain  Blythe,  surrendered  to  the  American  \)r\g  Enterprise,  Lieutenant 
Burrows,  after  a  contest  of  forty  minutes,  off  the  coast  of  Maine.  Both 
commanders  were  slain,  and  their  bodies  were  buried  in  one  grave  at 
Portland.  During  the  year  1813  the  American  frigate  Essex,  Captain 
Porter,  made  a  long  and  successful  cruise  in  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific 
oceans.  She  carried  at  her  masthead  the  popular  motto  :  "  Free  Trade 
and  Sailors'  Rights."  In  the  spring  of  1814  she  was  captured  in  the 
harbor  of  Valparaiso  by  the  British  frigate  Phoebe  and  the  sloop-of-war 
Cheruh,  after  a  most  desperate  struggle.  Porter  wrote  to  the  Secretary 
of  War  :  "  We  have  been  unfortunate,  but  not  disgraced." 

While  Porter  was  performing  great  exploits  on  the. calm  Pacific  Sea, 
Commodore  Rodgers  was  out  on  a  long  cruise  on  the  stormy  Atlantic  in 
the  American  frigate  President.  He  sailed  from  Boston  at  the  close  of 
April,  1813,  and  returned  to  Newport,  R.  I.,  after  a  cruise  of  one 
hundred  and  forty-eight  days.  He  had  captured  eleven  British  merchant 
vessels  and  the  armed  British  schooner  Highflyer. 

During  the  spring  and  summer  of  1813  a  most  distressing  amphibious 
warfare  was  carried  on  along  the  coast  of  the  United  States  from  Dela- 
ware Bay  to  the  harbor  of  Charleston  by  a  British  squadron  commanded 
by  Admiral  Cockburn,  which  bore  some  land  troops.  This  force 
destroyed  American  shipping  in  Delaware  River,  cannonaded  the  town 
of  Lewiston  on  the  shores  of  Delaware  Bay,  and  plundered  and  burnt 
the  villages  of  Frenchtown,  Havre  de  Grace,  Georgetown,  and  Fred- 
erickton,  on  the  shores  of  Chesapeake  Bay.  It  sailed  into  Hampton 
Roads  and  menaced  Norfolk.  Driven  off  by  troops  on  Craney  Island,  in 
the  Elizabeth  River,  under  Major  Faulkner  (June  22d),  the  squadron 
made  a  marauding  voyage  down  the  coast  of  North  Carolina,  and  carried 


NAVAL  FORCE  OF  THE  AMERICANS,   1813.  419 

away  a  great  many  negroes,  whom  Cockburii  sold  as  booty  in  the  West 
Indies.  In  pleasant  contrast  with  the  conduct  of  Cockburn  was  the 
deportment  of  Commodore  Hardy,  who  commanded  a  blockading 
squadron  on  the  New  England  coasts  during  the  same  season.  Pie  was 
a  liigh-minded  gentleman  and  a  generous  enemy. 

During  most  of  the  year  1813  the  Americans  had  only  three  frigates 
afloat  on  the  sea — namely,  the  President^  the  Congress,  and  the  Essex. 
The  Constitution  was  undergoing  repairs,  the  Constellation  was  blockaded 
during  the  summer  at  Norfolk,  and  the  Macedonia  and  United  States 
were  blockaded  in  the  harbor  of  New  London.  The  Adams  was  under- 
going repairs,  the  John  Adams  was  unfit  for  service,  and  the  New  York 
and  Boston  were  virtually  condemned.  All  the  brigs  had  been  captured 
excepting  the  Enterprise ;  and  yet  the  Americans,  with  indomitable 
courage,  determined  to  continue  the  war  on  the  ocean,  with  vigor. 


420  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Early  in  the  year  1814  the  British  Government  seemed  disposed  to 
prosecute  the  war  against  the  United  States  with  increased  vigor.  Tlie 
allied  forces  of  Europe  had  checked  tlie  victorious  career  of  Napoleon, 
They  had  united  to  crush  him  and  to  sustain  the  sinking  Bourbon  dynasty 
in  France.  Their  armies,  approaching  from  diiferent  directions,  reached 
the  suburbs  of  Paris  at  the  close  of  March,  when  the  emperors  of  Russia 
and  Prussia  entered  the  city.  Nearlj^  half  a  million  disciplined  troops 
were  back  of  them.  Napoleon,  hoping  to  secure  his  crown  for  his  son, 
abdicated  in  his  favor  (April  4th,  1814),  and  retired  to  the  island  of 
Elba.  Peace  for  Europe  appeared  to  be  secured.  British  troops  were 
withdrawn  from  the  Continent,  and  early  in  the  summer  of  1814  fourteen 
or  fifteen  thousand  of  Wellington's  veterans  were  sent  to  Canada  to 
defend  that  province  or  to  invade  the  State  of  New  York. 

At  the  beginning  of  1814  British  war  vessels  swarmed  in  American 
waters,  and  kept  the  seaport  towns  in  such  a  state  of  continual  alarm  that 
all  projects  for  the  conquest  of  Canada  were  kept  in  abeyance  for  a  while. 
They  were  not  abandoned,  however. 

At  this  time  the  people  of  the  United  States  were  more  united  in  sup- 
port of  the  war  than  ever  before.  The  best  men  of  the  Federal  Party 
patriotically  aided  the  Government  in  its  struggle.  There  were  but  few 
opponents  of  the  Government  outside  of  the  unpatriotic  Peace  Faction 
and  the  sphere  of  its  influence.  The  bulk  of  that  faction  was  in  New 
England.  They  did  everything  in  their  power  to  embarrass  the  Govern- 
ment, especially  in  its  financial  operations.  They  upheld  violators  of 
the  revenue  laws  ;  (encouraged  smuggling  \  secretly  furnished  the  British 
blockading  squadron  off  the  New  England  coasts  with  supplies^  and 
rejoiced  when  disasters  befell  the  arms  of  the  United  States.  At  length 
their  mischievous  disloyalty  and  treason  became  so  conspicuous  and 
obnoxious  that  the  great  bulk  of  the  inhabitants  of  New  England  vehe- 
mently condemned  their  course,  and  they  gradually  disappeared  from 
public  view.  To  the  credit  of  the  State  of  New  York,  very  few 
members  of  the  Peace  Faction  resided  within  its  borders. 

In  February  (1814)  General  Wilkinson  with  a  part  of  his  force 
removed  from  the  vicinity  of  the  St.  Lawrence  to  Plattsburgh,  on  Lake 
Champlain,  and  General  Brown,  with  two  thousand  men,  marched  to 


THE  MASTERY   OF  LAKE  ONTARIO.  421 

Sackett's  Harbor,  preparatory  to  his  departure  for  the  Niagara  frontier. 
Late  in  March  Wilkinson  erected  a  battery  at  Rouse's  Point,  at  the  foot 
of  Lake  Chanj plain,  on  the  Canada  border.  He  had  resolved  to  march 
on  Montreal,  with  or  without  orders  from  "Washington.  Informed  that 
a  considerable  British  force  was  about  to  be  gathered  at  La  Colle  Mills, 
three  or  four  miles  within  the  Canada  line,  he  pressed  forward  with 
about  four  thousand  men  to  preoccupy  the  place.  The  British  arrived 
there  first,  and  were  garrisoned  in  a  very  strong  stone  mill.  They  were 
regulars  under  Major  Hancock.  Although  Wilkinson  was  informed 
that  re-enforcements  for  Hancock  were  approaching  and  were  near,  he 
persisted  in  making  an  effort  to  dislodge  the  troops  in  the  mill  and  in  a 
strong  position  near  it.  After  a  sharp  engagement  for  two  hours  the 
Americans  were  repulsed,  with  a  loss  of  sixty-three  men.  With  this 
event  the  military  career  of  Wilkinson  was  ended.  He  was  tried  by  a 
court-martial,  but  was  acquitted.  Suspended  from  command  at  the  time, 
he  left  the  army  and  his  troops  were  assigned  to  General  Izard. 

Both  parties  had  been  preparing  during  the  winter  and  spring  to  make 
a  struggle  for  the  mastery  of  Lake  Ontario.  As  soon  as  the  ice  in 
Kingston  Harbor  gave  way.  Sir  James  Yeo,  in  command  of  a  British 
squadron  there,  went  out  upon  the  lake  with  about  three  thousand  fight- 
ing men.  On  May  5th  he  appeared  off  Oswego  with  the  design  to 
attempt  the  seizure  of  a  large  quantity  of  provisions  and  naval  stores 
which  the  Americans  had  gathered  at  the  falls  of  the  Oswego  River,  at 
the  (oresent)  village  of  Fulton.  The  post  was  defended  by  a  fort  on 
the  bluff  at  the  east  side  of  the  harbor  and  garrisoned  by  three  hundred 
men  commanded  by  Colonel  Mitchell,  and  a  small  flotilla  under  Captain 
Woolsey.  Commodore  Chauncey  was  not  quite  ready  to  leave  Sackett's 
Harbor.  The  British  effected  a  landing  at  Oswego,  and  after  a  sharp 
skirmish  with  the  little  garrison,  in  the  open  field,  the  latter  retired,  and 
the  invaders  took  possession  of  the  fort.  But  they  dared  not  attempt  to 
penetrate  the  country  in  quest  of  the  coveted  prize,  but  hastily  withdrew 
early  on  the  morning  of  the  7th,  carrying  away  as  prisoners  several 
prominent  citizens.  The  British  lost  in  the  contest  two  hundred  and 
thirty- five  men. 

The  principal  military  force  of  the  British  in  Upper  Canada  was  now 
placed  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-General  Drunmiond,  and  were 
stationed  chiefly  on  the  peninsula  west  of  the  Niagara  River.  Toward 
that  frontier  General  Brown  marched  from  Sackett's  Harbor  at  the  close 
of  June,  and  on  July  1st  he  was  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Niagara  near 
the  desolated  town  of  Buffalo. 

Brown  had  orders  from  Washington  to  invade  Canada.     He  regarded 


422 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


Ill's  force  sufficient  for  that  achievement.  It  consisted  of  two  brigades  of 
infantry,  commanded  respectively  by  Generals  Scott  *  and  Eipley ; 
some  artillery  under  Captains  Towson  and  Ilindman,  and  a  small 
squadron  of  cavalry  led  by  Captain  S.  D.  Harris.  These  were  all  regu- 
lars. He  also  had  a  brigade  of 
Kew  York  and  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteers, and  nearly  six  hundred  In- 
dians. The  latter  comprised  almost 
all  of  the  military  force  of  the  Six 
Nations  remaining  within  the  State 
of  New  York,  of  whom  Red 
Jacket  t  was  the  chief.  This  com- 
bined force  was  commanded  by 
Gelieral  Peter  B.  Porter. 

The  Americans  made  the  first 
aggressive  movement  on  July  3d, 
when  Generals  Scott  and  Ripley 
crossed  the  Niagara  River  to  attack 
Fort  Erie,  nearly  opposite  Buffalo, 
which  was  then  the  chief  impedi- 
ment in  the  way  of  an  invasion  of  Canada.  Scott  led  several  regiments 
and  a  corps  of  artillery  to  the  Canada  shore,  in  boats,  before  the  dawn  on 
the  3d.  He  was  followed  by  General  Brown  and  his  staff.  It  was  a  late 
hour  before  the  more  tardy  Ripley  joined  them  with  several  regiments, 


WINFIELD   8COTT,  1830. 


*  Winfield  Scott  was  born  in  Petersburg,  Ya.,  in  June,  1786,  and  died  at  West  Point, 
N.  Y.,  in  May,  1866.  He  wiis  admitted  to  tlie  bar  in  1806,  but  entered  the  army  as  cap- 
tain of  artillery  two  years  later.  He  became  lieutenant-colonel  in  1812,  and  adjutant- 
general,  with  the  rank  of  colonel,  earh'  in  1813.  He  was  made  prisoner  at  the  battle  of 
Queenstown.  In  the  spring  of  1814  he  was  commis.sioned  a  brigadier-general,  and  fought 
battles  on  the  Niagara  frontier  for  which  he  received  the  thanks  of  C'ongress  and  a  gold 
medal.  After  the  war  he  was  sent  to  Europe  in  a  military  and  diplomatic  cjipacity.  He 
remained  in  the  armj-.  His  services  in  the  South — in  Charleston  during  the  nullitication 
movements,  in  the  war  with  the  Seminoles  and  Creeks,  and  in  the  partial  removal  of  the 
Cherokees  from  Georgia  in  1838 — were  very  salutarj'.  He  was  a  discreet  pacitier  of 
trouble  on  the  northern  frontier  in  1839,  and  on  the  borders  of  New  Brunswick.  He 
performed  admirable  servi(;e  in  the  war  with  Mexico.  When  the  Civil  War  broke  out,  in 
1861,  he  wa.s  general-in-chief  of  the  armies  of  the  I'nit(!d  States,  but  being  infirm  he  soon 
resigned  his  trust.  In  1852  he  was  an  unsuccessful  candidate  for  the  Presidency  of  the 
United  States. 

t  Red  Jacket  {Sn-go-ye-wnt-ha)  was  a  celebrated  Seneca  orator.  He  was  born  near 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  in  1751.  His  nation  was  on  the  side  of  the  British  during  the  old  war 
for  independence.  He  was  (conspicuous  for  his  oratory  at  a  council  held  at  Fort  Stanwix 
(Schuyler)  in  1784,  in  a  speech  against  ceding  lands  to  the  white  people.  In  an  interview 
with  President  Washington  he  received  from  the  latter  a  silver  medal,  which  he  ever 


CAPTURE   OF  FORT  ERIE. 


423 


wlien  the  combined  troops  invested  the  fort.  Brown  demanded  its 
surrender.  There  was  a  parley,  but  little  fighting,  and  in  the  afternoon 
the  fort  was  given  up.  At  six  o'clock  the  little  garrison,  commanded  by 
Major  Buck,  marched  out  and  laid  down  tlieir  arras.  They  were  sent 
across  the  river  and  marched  to  tlie  Hudson,  prisoners  of  war.  During 
the  forenoon  cannons  had  been  fired  from  the  fort,  which  killed  four 
Americans  and  wounded  two  or 
three.  The  Americans  had  driven 
in  the  British  pickets  and  killed 
one  man.  This  was  all  the  blood 
shed  in  the  capture  of  Fort  Erie. 

Measures  were  promptly  take 
to  secure  the  advantages  of  th 
victory  to  the  Americans.  Gen- 
eral Riall,  an  able  soldier  and  chief 
commander  of  the  British  under 
Drummond  on  that  frontier,  was 
marching  toward  Fort  Erie  when 
he  heard  of  the  investment  of  that 
post.  He  at  once  sent  forward 
some  veterans  to  re-enforce  the 
garrison.  At  Cliippewa  they  heard 
of  the  capture  of  the  fort,  when 
Riall  resolved  to  press  forward  and 
attack  the  invaders  at  once.  In- 
formed that  re-enforcements  were  coming  to  him  from  York,  he  post- 
poned the  attack  until  the  next  morning.  General  Brown  sent  General 
Scott  with  his  brigade,  accompanied  by  Towson's  artillery,  to  meet  this 
force.  '  Scott  moved  early  on  the  morning  of  the  4th  (July,  1814). 
General  Ripley  was  ordered  in  the  same  direction,  but  always  tardy 
and  slow  to  obey,  it  was  late  in  the  afternoon  before  he  was  prepared  to 
move.     Scott  pushed  on  toward  Chippewa,  and  drove  in  a  British  ad- 


KED   JACKET. 


afterward  wore  with  pride.  It  is  in  posses.sion  of  Colonel  Parker,  now  (1887)  chief  of  the 
remnant  of  the  nation.  In  1810  he  informed  the  United  States  Government  of  the  attempt 
of  Tecumtha  to  draw  the  Senecas  into  the  North-western  Confederacy.  He  fought 
for  the  United  States  in  the  War  of  1813-15.  Red  Jacket  was  a  persistent  opposer  of 
Christian  missionaries.  His  influence  over  the  remnant  of  his  nation  was  supreme.  He 
remained  a  thorough  Indian,  and  held  in  contempt  the  language,  dress,  and  customs  of 
the  English-speaking  people.  Late  in  life  he  became  an  intemperate  man.  In  1884  a 
beautiful  monument  to  his  memory  was  erected  in  a  cemetery  at  Buffalo  (where  he  died 
in  January,  1830),  under  the  auspices  of  the  Buffalo  Historical  Society.  Colonel  Wil- 
liam L.  Stone  wrote  and  published  a  life  of  Red  Jacket. 


424  THE  EMPIRE  STATE 

vaiiced  detachment  ihout  a  mile  from  that  post.  There  he  was  joined 
at  evening  by  Brown's  entire  force,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  5th  tlie 
hostile  armies  were  only  two  miles  apart. 

Scott  was  joined  by  General  Porter,  with  his  volunteers  and  Indians, 
at  noon  on  the  5th.  Riall  had  been  re-enforced.  There  was  skirmishing 
during  the  afternoon.  Toward  evening  Riall  advanced  with  his  whole 
force.  A  desperate  battle  ensued  between  Street's  Creek  and  Chippewa. 
It  was  very  sanguinary.  At  length  the  British  line  gave  way  under 
the  pressure  of  a  flank  movement  by  Major  McNeil  and  a  terrific  fire 
from  a  corps  under  Major  Jesup.  The  foe  broke  and  fled  to  the  intrench- 
ments  at  Chippewa,  tearing  up  the  bridge  over  Chippewa  Creek  behind 
them,  and  so  leaving  an  impassable  barrier  between  themselves  and  the 
victorious  Americans.  The  battle-field  was  strewn  with  the  dead  and 
wounded — six  hundred  and  four  of  tlie  British,  and  three  hundred  and 
fifty-five  of  the  Americans.  A  shower  of  rain  descended  like  an  angel  of 
mercy  that  night,  and  gave  comfort  to  the  maimed  and  dying  of  both  armies, 
who  were  tenderly  cared  for.  Much  of  the  next  and  following  day  were 
spent  by  the  Americans  caring  for  the  wounded  and  in  burying  the  dead. 

Drummond  was  mortified  by  this  discomfiture  of  his  veteran  troops 
by  what  he  deemed  to  be  raw  Americans,  and  he  resolved  to  wipe  out 
the  stain.  lie  gathered  troops  from  every  available  point,  in  number 
about  one  tliird  larger  than  that  under  Brown,  and  soon  advanced  to 
meet  the  invader. 

Brown  was  anxious  to  push  on  toward  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara, 
where  he  expected  Chauncey  would  co-operate  with  him.  lie  crossed 
the  Chippewa  Creek  in  boats  with  a  part  of  his  army  before  daylight  on 
the  morning  of  the  8th,  when  Riall  fled  to  Queenstown,  put  some  of  his 
troops  into  Forts  George  and  Mississaugua,  and  established  his  head- 
quarters near  the  lake,  twenty  miles  westward.  Brown  pushed  on  to 
Queenstown  and  menaced  Fort  George.  After  waiting  many  days  he 
learned  that  Chauncey  was  sick  and  his  squadron  was  blockaded  at 
Sackett's  Harbor.  Hopeless  of  aid  from  the  navy,  he  ordered  the  army 
to  fall  back  to  the  battle-ground  of  Chippewa  and  await  developments. 
They  did  not  rest  long,  for  on  the  morning  of  the  24th  Brown  was 
startled  by  the  intelligence  that  Dnimmond  had  landed  with  a  thousand 
troops  at  Lewiston,  many  of  tliem  Wellington's  veterans  ;  that  a  British 
force  occupied  Queenstown,  and  that  Riall  had  joined  the  lientenant- 
general  with  his  own  troops  and  a  body  of  loyal  Canadians. 

Brown  now  ordered  Scott  to  marcii  rapidly  with  a  part  of  the  army 
and  menace  the  forts  at  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara.  He  pushed  forward 
toward  evening  with  his  brigade,  Towson's  artillery,  and  some  mounted 


BATTLE  OF  LUNDY'S  LANE.  4;i5 

men,  and  near  the  verge  of  the  great  cataract  he  saw  some  British  officers 
come  out  of  a  house,  leap  into  their  saddles,  and  ride  swiftly  away.  He 
dashed  into  the  woods,  expecting  to  find  a  small  detachment  of  the  British 
army,  but  soon  discovered  that  Riall  was  there  with  a  force  larger  than  he 
led  at  Chippewa.  Scott  measured  the  peril  of  his  situation  instantly. 
To  stand  still  would  be  fatal,  and  to  retreat  might  demoralize  the  army 
he  had  just  left  ;  so  he  resolved  to  fight  with  great  odds  against  him. 

A  desperate  battle  began  at  sunset,  and  did  not  cease  until  almost  mid- 
night. The  British  line  encountered  by  Scott,  eighteen  hundred  strong, 
was  on  a  hill  over  which  passed  a  highv/ay  known  as  Lundy's  Lane. 
Near  its  crest  the  British  had  a  fine  battery  of  brass  cannon,  which 
inflicted  fearful  havoc  in  the  ranks  of  the  Americans.  While  Scott  was 
hotly  engaged  with  Eiall,  Major  Jesup  secretly  led  a  small  force  in  the 
gloom  to  the  rear  of  the  British  and  kept  back  re-enforcements  sent  by 
Drummond.  Meanwhile  General  Brown,  apprised  of  the  situation  by 
the  booming  of  cannons  and  from  messengers,  pushed  forward  with  his 
whole  army.  Perceiving  the  battery  on  the  hill  to  be  the  key  to  the 
enemy's  position,  he  turned  to  Colonel  James  Miller  and  asked  : 

"  Can  you  storm  that  work  and  take  it  ?" 

"  I'll  try  !"  said  Miller. 

The  battery  was  soon  taken,  and  the  exploit  led  to  victory.  Miller 
was  promoted  to  brigadier- general. 

Scott,  fighting  gallantly,  was  severely  wounded  in  his  shoulder  by  a 
musket-ball.  Brown,  too,  v^^as  badly  wounded,  and  the  command 
devolved  upon  the  inefficient  Ripley.  The  British  had  already  been 
driven  from  the  field,  notwithstanding  Drummond  had  brought  them  a 
re-enforcement  of  fifteen  hundred  men.  The  Americans  retired  to 
Chippewa,  a  short  distance  off,  but  could  not  take  the  captured  battery 
with  them.  Brown  ordered  Ripley  to  return  after  a  brief  rest  and  take 
possession  of  the  battle-field  and  the  battery  before  daylight.  That  always 
tardy  and  disobedient  officer  hesitated  to  obey.  The  British  returned, 
retook  the  battery,  and  held  the  field,  while  Ripley  led  the  little  American 
army  back  to  Fort  Erie,  and  deprived  them  of  all  the  advantages  they 
had  gained  at  this  battle  of  Lundy's  Lane.  He  was  immediately  super- 
seded by  General  E.  P.  Gaines.     Both  parties  claimed  the  victory.* 

Drummond  was  wounded  in  the  battle.     As  soon  as  he  was  able  he 

*  The  British  had  about  four  thousand  five  hvindred  troops  in  this  battle,  and  the 
Americans  two  thousand  six  hundred.  The  latter  lost  about  one  third  of  their  number, 
and  the  British  lost  a  few  more.  The  conflict  is  sometimes  called  the  battle  of  Bridge- 
water,  from  a  hamlet  near  by,  and  also  the  battle  of  Niagara,  it  having  been  fought  in 
sight  of  the  great  cataract. 


426 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


pushed  forward  and  besieged  Fort  Erie  with  about  live  thousand  men. 
From  the  7th  to  tlie  14th  of  August  (1814)  ahnost  continuous  cannonad- 
ing between  the  besiegers  and  the  besieged  was  kept  up.  At  evening 
twih'glit  on  the  14th  a  shell  hurled  from  a  British  mortar  came  screaming 
into  the  fort,  lodged  in  an  almost  empty  magazine,  and  blew  it  up. 
Drummond,  supposing  he  had  fired  one  of  the  principal  magazines  ot 
the  fort,  proceeded  to  assail  the  works  in  strong  force.  Before  dawn  on 
the  loth  fifteen  hundred  of  his  men  furiously  attacked  the  fort.  They 
gained  a  bastion,  but  were  repulsed  at  all  other  points.  They  held  the 
bastion  with  tenacity.  The  Americans  mined  it  and  blew  it  up.  The 
explosion  was  terrific.  Mingled  earth,  timbers,  stones,  and  human 
bodies  rose  one  hundred  feet  in  the  air  and  spread  a  shower  of  ruins  to  a 

great  distance.  The  British,  amaz- 
ed, soon  afterward  broke  and  fled, 
and  victory  remained  with  the 
Americans. 

Both  parties  prepared  to  renew 
the  struggle.  General  Brown  had 
recovered,  and  was  again  in  com- 
mand of  his  army.  Drummond's 
force  again  invested  Fort  Erie,  but, 
occupying  low  ground,  many  died 
of  typhoid  fever. 

On  September  17th  a  sortie  was 
made  from  the  fort,  and  after  a 
severe  contest  the  Americans  cap- 
tured the  advanced  works  of  the 
enemy.  The  British  were  driven  back  to  Chippewa,  with  a  loss  of  almost 
a  thousand  men,  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners.  "Thus,"'  wrote  Gen- 
eral Brown  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  "  one  thousand  regulars  and  an 
equal  proportion  of  militia  destroyed  the  fruits  of  fifty  days'  labor,  and 
diminished  his  [Drummond's]  effective  force  one  thousand  men." 

This  victory,  won  by  the  Americans  so  soon  after  those  achieved  at 
Chippewa  and  Lundy's  Lane,  and  occurring  a  few  days  after  a  triumph 
of  their  arms  at  Plattslmrgh,  on  Lake  Champlain,  and  the  expulsion  of 
the  British  from  Baltimore,  diffused  great  joy  throughout  the  country, 
and  dispelled  the  gloom  which  the  recent  capture  of  the  national  capital 
by  the  enemy  had  spread  over  the  land. 

General  Izard,*  the  successor  of  General  Wilkinson,  led  about  five 

*  George  Izard  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  where  he  was  born  in  1777,  and  died  at 
Little  Rock,  Ark.,  in  November,  1828.     He  was  educated  in  England,  and  soon  after 


GENERAL    IZAUU. 


STIRRING  EVENTS  ON  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 


437 


thousand  troops  to  the  Niagara  frontier  in  October,  and,  ranki..g  Brown, 
took  the  chief  command.  The  combined  forces,  numbering  about  eight 
thousand  men,  were  preparing  to  attack  Drumraond,  when  he  withdrew 
to  Fort  George  and  Burlington  Heights.  Perceiving  that  further  offen- 
sive operations  on  the  Canadian  peninsula  would  be  perhaps  perilous, 
Izard  caused  Fort  Erie  to  be  abandoned  and  blown  up  early  in  November, 
and,  leaving  Canada,  lie  crossed  the  Niagara  and  put  the  troops  into 
winter  quarters  at  Buffalo,  Black 
Kock,  and  Batavia. 

There  were  stirring  scenes  on 
Lake  Cham  plain  early  in  Septem- 
ber, 1S14.  When,  in  August,  Izard 
marched  westward  he  left  about 
fifteen  hundred  regulars  near  Platts- 
burgh  under  the  command  of  Gen- 
eral Alexander  Macomb.  General 
Benjamin  Mooers  *  was  at  the  head 
of  the  militia  force  in  that  region. 

Daring  the  summer  the  Ameri- 
cans and  the  British  had  been  busy 
in  the  preparation  of  vessels  of  war 
on  Lake  Champlain.  The  Ameri- 
can squadron  was  placed  in  charge 
of  Captain   Thomas  Macdonough, 

and  was  ready  for  service  at  the  middle  of  August.  At  the  beginning 
of  September  Macomb  was  in  command  of  about  three  thousand  four 
hundred  armed  men  all  told.  "With  great  exertions  he  had  completed 
redoubts  and  block-houses  there  and  other  preparations  for  defence.  He 
also  took  measures  to  prevent  expected  invaders  from  Canada  crossing  the 
Saranac  Kiver.     He  had  learned  that  fifteen  thousand  of  Wellington's 


BENJAMIN   MOOERS. 


liis  return  he  entered  the  army  (1794)  as  a  lieutenant  of  artillery.  In  1799  he  was  ap- 
pointed aide  to  General  Hamilton,  and  resigned  his  office  in  1803.  He  was  appointed 
colonel  of  artillery  in  the  spring  of  1812,  and  brigadier-general  a  year  later.  On  Lake 
Champlain  and  on  the  Niagara  frontier,  he  commanded  with  skill  and  prudence,  with  the 
rank  of  major-general.  In  1825  he  was  appointed  governor  of  the  Arkansas  Territory, 
and  so  remained  until  his  death. 

*  Benjamin  Mooers,  born  in  Massachusetts  in  1761,  was  a  young  soldier  in  the  old  war 
for  independence.  He  was  chosen  commander  of  one  of  the  two  great  divisions  of  the 
militia  of  the  State  of  New  York  in  1812,  but  did  not  appear  active  on  the  field  until  the 
invasion  of  the  Champlain  region  by  the  British  in  1814,  M'hen  he  was  in  command  of  the 
militia  wlio  defended  Plattsburgh.  In  that  position  he  did  his  duty  nobly.  He  died  at  his 
residence  on  Cumberland  Head,  in  February,  1838. 


428 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


veterans  were  at  Montreal,  under  the  command  of  Sir  George  Prevost,  the 
Governor-General  of  Canada,  who  was  preparing  to  invade  the  State  of 
New  York. 

At  the  beginning  of  September  Prevost,*  with  fourteen  thousand  men, 
chiefly  Wellington's  soldiers,  penetrated  the  country  from  the  St.  Law- 
rence to  a  point  a  few  miles  from  Pittsburgh.  He  avowed  his  intention 
to  seize  and  hold  Northern  New  York  as  far  south  as  Ticonderoga,  and 
by  proclamation  called  on  the  inhabitants  to  cast  off  their  allegiance  to 
their  government  and  to  furnish  him  with  supplies.     At  the  same  time 

the  British  squadron,  built 
on  the  Sorel,  moved  into 
Lake  Champlain,  under 
the  general  command  of 
Commodore  Downie. 

On  the  morning  of  Sep- 
tember 6tli  Prevost  ad- 
vanced upon  Plattsburgh  in 
two  columns.  One  of 
these  encountered  and  had  a 
severe  skirmish  with  a  small 
force  of  regulars  and  mili- 
tia under  Captain  Wool, 
the  hero  of  Queenstown. 
The  Americans  were  press- 
ed back  by  overwhelming  numbers,  and  retired  to  the  south  side  of  the 
Saranac,  tearing  up  the  bridges  behind  them  and  using  the  timbers  for 
breastworks.  In  trying  to  force  their  way  across  the  Saranac  the  British 
were  repulsed  by  a  company  of  musketeers  in  a  strong  stone  mill. 
Prevost  soon  learned  that  his  invasion  was  not  to  be  a  pleasant  holiday 
excursion,  and  he  paused  for  the  coming  up  of  batteries  and  supplies,  and 
for  the  construction  of  works  to  command  those  of  the  Americans  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river. 

Meanwhile  the  British  naval  force  liad  appeared  off  Cumberland  Head, 
at  the  entrance  to  Plattsburgh  Bay,  in  which  lay  the  squadron  of  Mac- 


BTONE  MILL  AT  PLATTSBURGH. 


*  Sir  George  Prevost  was  born  in  New  York  in  1767,  and  died  in  England  in  1816. 
He  entered  the  British  Army  in  his  youth,  and  served  with  distinction  in  the  West 
Indies  late  in  the  last  centnry.  In  1805  he  was  commissioned  a  major-general,  and  the 
same  year  was  created  a  baronet.  He  was  second  in  command  at  the  capture  of  Mar- 
tinique in  1808,  and  became  Governor  of  Nova  Scotia  the  same  year.  He  was  made 
lieutenant-general  in  1811,  and  the  same  year  was  appointed  Governor-General  of  Canada. 
He  retained  that  office  until  his  return  to  England,  in  1814. 


NAVAL  BATTLES  NEAR  PLATTSBURGH. 


429 


THOMAS  MACDONOUGH. 


donougli.*  His  flag-ship  was  the  Saratoga,  which  was  assisted  by  one 
brig,  two  scliooners,  and  ten  gun-boats,  or  galleys.  Downie's  flag-ship 
was  the  Confiance,  which  was  assisted  by  one  brig,  two  sloops,  and 
twelve  gun-boats.  The  British  land 
and  naval  forces  began  an  attack  at 
about  the  same  time  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  11th,  The  battle  was 
opened  by  the  navy.  Macdonough 
was  only  thirty-one  years  of  age, 
pious,  and  trustful  in  Providence. 
AVhen  his  ship  was  cleared  for  action 
he  knelt  on  her  deck,  \\\i\\  his  chief 
officers  around  him,  and  implored 
the  aid  of  the  Almighty.  Very 
soon  the  thunders  of  great  guns 
boomed  over  the  lake,  and  a  sharp 
naval  battle,  which  lasted  nearly 
two  hours  and  a  half,  began,  f  Tlie 
sublime    spectacle    was     seen     by 

hundreds  of  spectators  on  the  headlands  of  the  Vermont  shore  of  the  nar- 
row lake.  The  battle  ended  in  a  complete  victory  for  the  Americans. 
Both  squadrons  were  dreadfully  shattered.  "  There  was  not  a  mast  in 
either  squadron,"  Macdonough  wrote,  "  that  could  stand  to  make  a  sail 

*  Thomas  Macdonough  was  born  in  Delaware  in  December,  1783,  and  died  at  sea, 
November  14th,  1825.  He  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  He  became  a  midshipman  in 
the  United  States  Navy  in  1800,  lieutenant  in  1807,  and  commander  in  1813.  He  had 
served  with  Decatur  and  Bainbridge  in  the  Mediterranean,  and  won  a  signal  victory  in  a 
naval  battle  off  Plattsburgh  on  September  11th,  1814,  for  which  service  he  received  the 
thanks  of  Congress  and  a  gold  medal,  and  other  rewards.  Civil  honors  were  bestowed 
upon  him  in  several  places.  His  health  declined  from  the  close  of  the  war,  and  he  lived 
but  ten  years  afterward. 

f  At  the  beginning  of  the  battle  a  shot  from  a  British  vessel  demolished  a  hen-coop  on 
the  Saratoga,  where  a  young  game-cock  which  the  sailors  had  brought  from  the  shore, 
released  from  confinement  and  startled  by  the  sound  of  cannons,  flew  up  on  a  gun-slide, 
and  flapping  his  wings,  crowed  lustily  and  defiantly.  The  sailors  regarded  the  incident 
as  an  omen  of  victory,  and  felt  their  courage  strengthened.  In  a  rhyming  Epistle  of 
Brother  Jonathan  to  Johnny  Bull,  written  at  the  close  of  the  war,  is  the  following  allu- 
sion to  this  event  : 

"  O,  Johnny  Bull,  my  Joe,  John, 

Behold  on  Lake  Champlain, 
With  more  than  equal  force,  John, 

You  tried  your  flst  again  ; 
But  the  cock  eaw  how  'twas  goinar,  John, 

And  cried  '  cock-a-doodle-doo,' 
And  Macdonough  was  victorious,  John, 

O,  Johnny  Bull,  my  Joe." 


430 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


on."  "  Our  masts,  yards,  and  sails,"  wrote  an  officer  of  the  Covfiance^ 
"were  so  shattered  that  one  looked  like  so  many  bundles  of  matches, 
and  the  other  like  so  many  bundles  of  rags."  The  Americans  lost  one 
hundred  and  ten  men,  the  British  over  two  hundred.  Among  the 
latter  was  Commodore  Downie,  who  wais  slain,  and  was  buried  at 
Plattsburgh. 

There  was  a  sharp  and  decisive  conflict  on  the  land  at  Plattsburgh  while 

the  battle  was  raging  on  the 
water.  At  the  discharge  of  the 
first  gun  on  the  lake  the  British 
troops  moved  forward  in  three 
columns  to  force  their  way  across 
the  Saranac  at  the  sites  of  the  two 
destroyed  bridges  and  at  a  ford 
three  miles  from  the  mouth  of 
the  river,  to  carry  the  American 
works  by  storm.  After  a  des- 
perate battle  for  about  two  hours, 
with  varying  fortunes  for  both 
sides,  the  British  were  repulsed 
by  the  brave  men  under  Macomb* 
and  Mooers.  The  Americans 
were  driving  back  some  of  the 
enemy  who  had  forced  their  way  across  the  river,  when  Hiram 
"Walworth  (afterward  Chancellor  of  the  State  of  New  York)  dashed 
lip,  his  horse  flecked  with  foam,  and  announced  that  the  British 
squadron  on  the  lake  had  surrendered  !  The  Americans  gave  hearty 
cheers.  The  enemy  wavered.  The  timid  Prevost,  seeing  the  militia, 
who  had  come  streaming  over  from  Vermont  and  from  the  surrounding 
country,  gathering  on  his  flanks  and  rear,  sounded  a  retreat.  At  mid- 
niglit  he  fled  Canadaward  with  such  precipitation  that  he  left  his  sick 


ALEXANDER  MACOMB. 


*  Alexander  Macomb  was  son  of  a  fur  merchant,  and  was  born  in  Detroit  in  April, 
1782.  Died  in  Washington,  D.  C,  in  June,  1841.  He  entered  the  army  as  cornet  of 
cavalry  in  1799.  At  the  beginning  of  the  second  war  for  independence  (1813-13),  he  was 
a  lieutenant  of  engineers  and  adjutant-general  of  the  army.  In  the  artillery  service,  he 
distinguished  himself  on  the  Niagara  frontier.  He  was  promoted  to  brigadier-general 
early  in  1814,  and  was  left  in  chief  command  in  the  Lake  Champlain  region  in  the  sum- 
mer of  that  year.  His  victory  over  the  British  at  Platt-sburgh  in  September  won  for  him 
great  honors — the  thanks  of  ('ongress  and  a  gold  medal,  and  awards  from  others.  On 
the  death  of  General  Brown,  in  1835,  he  was  made  general-in-chief  of  the  armies  of  the 
United  States,  which  position  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death.  His  remains  reix).se  be- 
neath a  handsome  monument  in  the  Congressional  burying  ground  at  Washington. 


THE  BRITISH  REPULSED  AT  PLATTSBURGH.  431 

and  wounded  and  a  vast  amount  of  stores  behind.  A  pursuit  was  begun, 
but  heavy  rains  compelled  the  pursuers  to  give  up  the  chase.  The 
British  had  lost  in  killed,  wounded,  and  deserted,  from  the  6th  to  the 
11th  of  September,  about  twenty-five  hundred  men.  Macomb  and 
Macdonough  became  the  recipients  of  high  honors  and  of  solid  rewards. 
The  flight  of  Prevost  to  Canada  ended  military  operations  of  impor- 
tance on  the  northern  frontier  of  New  York.*  The  active  and  efiicient 
Cliauncey  had  been  compelled  to  remain  inactive  during  a  large  portion 
of  the  season.  Tie  was  blockaded  at  Sackett's  Harbor  by  a  British 
squadron,  and  when  he  was  ready  to  go  out  and  fight  the  blockaders  he 
was  prostrated  by  severe  sickness.  While  convalescing  he  went  out  on 
a  cruise  and  blockaded  the  British  squadron  in  Kingston  Harbor.     A 


*  The  victory  at  Plattsburgh  and  the  flight  of  Prevost  formed  the  burden  of  one  of 
the  most  popular  of  the  many  songs  composed  during  the  war.  It  was  written  by  Micajah 
Hawkins,  and  was  first  sung  at  a  theatre  in  Albany  by  him,  in  the  character  of  a  negro 
sailor.     It  was  entitled 

THE  SIEGE  OF  PLATTSBURGH. 
Tune,  "  Boyne  Waters' 

Backside  Albany  stan'  Lake  Champlain, 

Little  pond  half  full  o'  water  ; 
Plat-te-burgh  dar  too,  close  "pon  de  main  ; 

Town  small,  he  grow  bigger,  do,  herearter. 
On  Lake  Champlain  Uncle  Sam  set  he  boat, 

An'  Massa  Macdonongh  sail  'em  ; 
While  Gineral  Macomb  make  Plat-te-burgh  he  home 

Wid  de  army  whose  courage  nebber  fail  "em. 

On  'lebenth  day  Sep-tem-ber, 

In  eighteen  hun'red  and  fourteen, 
Gubbernor  Probose  an'  he  British  so-jer 

Come  to  Plat-te-burgh  a  tea-party  courtin'. 
An'  he  boat  come,  too,  arter  Uncle  Sam's  boat. 

Massa  'Donough  look  sharp  out  de  winder  ; 
Den  Gineral  Macomb  (ah  !  he  always  at  home) 

Cotch  lire  too,  Sirs,  like  tinder. 

Bang  !  bang  !  bang  !  den  de  cannons  'gin  to  roar 

In  Plat-te-burgh  an'  al!  'bout  dat  quarter  ; 
Gubbernor  Probose  try  he  han'  'pon  de  shore, 

While  he  boat  take  he  luck  'pon  de  water. 
But  Massa  Macdonough  knock  he  boat  in  he  head. 

Break  he  heart,  break  he  shin,  'tove  he  caff'ii  in  ; 
An'  Gineral  Macomb  start  ole  Probose  home, 

'Tot  me  soul  den  I  muss  die  a  lafiiu. 

Probose  scare  so  he  lef  all  behine. 

Powder,  ball,  cannon,  tea-pot  an'  kittle  ; 
Some  say  he  cotch  a  cole— trouble  in  he  mine, 

'Cause  he  eat  so  much  raw  an'  cole  viltle. 
Uncle  Sam  berry  sorry,  to  be  sure,  for  he  pain  ; 

Wish  he  nuss  hisself  up  well  an'  hearty. 
For  Gineral  Macomb  and  Massa  'Donough  home 

When  he  notion  for  anudder  tea-party. 


435}  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

vessel  named  /St.  Lawrence^  pierced  for  one  hundred  and  twelve  guns, 
was  completed  at  Kingston  on  September  Ist,  when  Chauncey  prudently 
raised  the  blockade  and  returned  to  the  harbor.  That  ship,  carrying 
over  one  thousand  men,  with  other  vessels  of  war,  made  Sir  James  Yeo 
lord  of  the  lake  during  the  remainder  of  the  season.  The  Americans 
determined  to  match  the  St.  Lawrence.,  and  laid  the  keels  of  two  first- 
class  frigates  at  Sackett's  Harbor.  The  New  Orleans.,  nearing  com- 
pletion when  peace  came  early  in  1815,  is  still  on  the  stocks  at  the  Harbor. 
A  land  and  naval  force  was  prepared  in  the  spring  of  1814  for  the 
purpose  of  recapturing  Fort  Mackinaw  in  the  far  North-west.  It  left 
Detroit  early  in  July.  It  destroyed  the  post  of  the  North-west  Fur 
Company  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Mary.  The  agents  of  this  company  had 
been  persistent  in  inducing  the  Indians  to  make  war  on  the  frontier 
settlements  of  the  United  States  beyond  the  Ohio.  The  garrison  of  the 
fort  to  be  taken  was  too  strong  for  the  small  Ameilcaii  force,  and  the 
enterprise  was  abandoned. 


THE  BRITISH  ON  THE  NEW  ENGLAND  COASTS.  433 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

While  the  military  events  we  liave  considered  in  tlie  preceding 
chapter  were  occurring  on  the  borders  of  the  State  of  New  York  during 
1814,  others  of  equal  importance  were  taking  place  at  various  points  in 
the  republic. 

Late  in  August  (1814)  General  Duncan  McArtlmr,  with  seven  hundred 
mounted  men  of  Kentucky  and  Ohio,  left  Detroit,  crossed  into  Canada, 
and  made  a  terrifying  raid  through  the  western  portion  of  the  province 
from  Lake  St.  Clair  eastward  to  the  Grand  River,  and  back  to  Sandwich. 
He  spread  alarm  everywhere.  Fear  magnified  the  number  of  his  men 
to  thousands.  The  object  of  the  raid  was  to  create  a  diversion  in  favor 
of  the  Americans  on  the  Niagara  frontier.  It  was  elfectual.  For  four 
weeks  McArtlmr  skurried  hundreds  of  miles  through  the  enemy's 
country,  disarming  and  paroling  the  militia,  and  destroying  public  prop- 
erty ;  but  he  was  generous  to  inoffensive  citizens. 

New  England  had  experienced  very  little  actual  war  before  the  year 
1814.  From  the  end  of  1 813  until  the  close  of  the  contest,  British  block- 
ading squadrons  and  single  cruisers  hovered  along  its  coasts,  barred  its 
sea-ports  against  commerce,  and  kept  its  maritime  cities  and  villages  in  a 
state  of  continual  alarm  and  dread. 

Pursuant  to  an  order  of  the  British  Admiral  Cochran  given  to  the 
commanders  of  war- vessels  to  "  destroy  the  sea-port  towns  and  desolate 
the  country,"  much  property  was  wasted  on  the  coasts  of  Maine  and 
Massachusetts  ;  and  Stonington,  in  Connecticut,  a  little  east  of  New 
London,  suffered  a  severe  bombardment.  Formidable  squadrons  block- 
aded the  Delaware  Riv^er,  New  York  Harbor,  New  London,  and  Boston. 
The  largest  of  these  squadrons  on  the  New  England  coast  was  com- 
manded by  Commodore  Sir  T.  M.  Hardy. 

After  seizing  a  portion  of  Eastern  Maine,  Hardy  menaced  Portsmouth 
and  Boston.  The  last-named  city  was  almost  defenceless.  Stimulated 
by  alarm  and  the  instinct  of  self-preservation,  citizens  of  Boston  of  every 
class  turned  out  daily  with  implements  of  labor,  and  worked  energetically 
in  the  construction  of  defences  for  the  town.  Informed  of  these  prep- 
arations, and  having  a  wholesome  fear  of  Fulton's  torpedoes,  with  which 
common  report  said  some  of  the  American  sea-port  harbors  were  strewn, 
Hardy  did  not  venture  within  the  roads,  and  Boston  was  saved. 


434  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

New  York  was  equally  excited  by  patriotism  and  alarm.  In  daily 
expectation  of  an  attack  by  a  British  land  and  naval  force  which  had 
been  operating  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  men  of  all  classes  and  occupations 
worked  daily  in  building  fortifications  at  Brooklyn  and  Harlem.  De 
Witt  Clinton  was  then  mayor  of  the  city  of  New  York.  He  issued  a 
stirring  appeal  (Augnst  2d,  1814)  to  the  patriotism  and  the  interests  of 
the  citizens,  calling  upon  them  to  offer  their  personal  services  and 
pecuniary  means  to  aid  in  the  completion  of  the  unfinished  fortifications 
around  the  town.  The  response  to  this  appeal  was  prompt  and  gen- 
erous.* Members  of  various  churches  and  of  social  and  benevolent 
organizations  went  out  in  groups,  as  such,  to  the  patriotic  task.  So  also 
did  different  craftsmen  under  their  respective  banners  : 

"  Plumbers,  founders,  dyers,  tinners,  tanners,  shavers. 
Sweeps,  clerks,  and  criers,  jewellers,  engravers. 
Clothiers,  drapers,  players,  cartmen,  hatters,  nailers, 
Gaugers,  scalers,  weighers,  carpenters,  and  sailors." 

Within  four  days  after  Clinton's  address  three  thousand  persons  were 
at  work  on  the  fortifications  under  the  direction  of  a  Defence  Committee 
and  engineers  guided  by  lines  drawn  by  General  Joseph  G.  Swift.  The 
enthusiasjni  of  the  people  was  intense.  School-teachers  and  their  pupils 
went  together  to  the  patriotic  task,  and  little  boys,  too  small  to  handle  a 
spade  or  pickaxe,  carried  earth  on  shingles,  and  so  added  their  mites  in 
rearing  the  breastworks.  New  York  City  was  soon  well  defended  by 
fortifications  and  numerous  militia,  and  no  blockader  ventured  within 
the  harbor.  Samuel  Woodworth  concluded  a  stirring  poem  published 
at  that  time  with  the  following  lines,  addressed  to  the  British  if 

"  Better  not  invade  ;  recollect  the  spirit 
Which  onr  dads  displayed  and  their  sons  inherit. 

*  Money  to  erect  fortifications  must  be  had  at  once.  The  Legislature  was  not  in  ses- 
sion. The  credit  of  the  National  Government  was  so  low  at  that,  the  most  critical  period 
of  the  war,  that  the  banks  would  not  loan  money  on  its  stock  or  its  Treasury  notes  with- 
out other  seciu'ity.  It  was  understood,  however,  that  if  Treasury  notes  were  deposited, 
endorsed  by  Governor  Tompkins,  the  banks  would  advance  four  or  five  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  Rufus  King  went  to  the  governor  and  said,  "  The  time  is  arrived  when  it  is  the 
duty  of  every  man  to  put  his  all  at  the  reqiiisition  of  the  Government,"  and  that  he  him- 
.self  (though  a  leader  of  tlie  opponents  of  Mr.  Madison)  was  ready  to  do  so.  The  governor 
said  he  sliould  be  obliged  to  take  the  responsibility,  and  should  be  ruined.  "  Ruin  your- 
self if  it  becomes  necessary  to  save  your  country,"  said  the  patriotic  Mr.  King,  "  and  I 
pledge  you  my  honor  that  I  will  support  you  in  whatever  you  do."  The  governor  en- 
dorsed the  notes  and  the  banks  loaned  the  money. 

t  The  whole  poem,  in  eight  stanzas,  may  be  found  in  Lossing's  Pictorial  Field  Book 
of  the  War  of  1812,  page  970. 


THE  NATIONAL  CAPITAL  THREATENED.  435 

If  you  still  advance,  friendly  caution  slighting. 
You  may  get,  by  chance,  a  bellyful  of  fighting. 

Pick-axe,  shovel,  spade,  crowbar,  hoe  and  barrow  ; 

Better  not  invade  ;  Yankees  have  the  marrow. ' ' 

Philadelphia  exhibited  a  similar  spirit  on  a  like  occasion  at  that  time, 
and  the  amphibious  marauders  met  with  such  resistance  at  every  point 
that  the  terrible  order  of  Cochran  could  not  be  executed.  Ilardj  was 
kept  out  of  the  Thames  and  from  Kew  London  by  Commodore  Lewis 
with  some  gun- boats  on  Long  Island  Soimd,  and  he  was  discomfited  at 
Stonington  and  driven  away  by  a  few  determined  men. 

Ejirly  in  January,  1814,  the  National  Government  was  informed  that 
four  thousand  British  troops  destined  for  the  United  States  had  landed 
at  Bermuda.  At  the  close  of  April  intelligence  was  received  of  the 
temporary  downfall  of  Napoleon,  as  we  have  observed,  which  would 
release  many  British  troops  from  service  on  the  Continent  and  allow 
them  to  come  to  America  ;  and  on  July  1st  official  intelligence  reached 
the  President  that  a  fleet  of  transports  with  a  large  land  force  bound  to 
some  port  in  the  United  States,  "  probably  in  the  Potomac,"  was  about 
to  sail  from  Bermuda. 

The  Government  gave  little  heed  to  these  warnings,  and  when,  at  the 
middle  of  August,  a  British  squadron  of  about  sixty  sail  appeared  in 
Chesapeake  Bay,  with  six  thousand  land  troops  under  General  Ross,  one 
of  Wellington's  best  officers,  destined  for  the  capture  of  the  national 
capital,  there  was  no  force  to  oppose  the  invaders  excepting  a  small 
flotilla  of  armed  barges  and  a  schooner  under  Commodore  Joshua  Barney, 
and  a  few  scattered  militia.  The  British  fleet  drove  Barney's  flotilla 
into  the  Patuxent  Iliver,  and  blockaded  it  there.  The  flotilla  went  far 
up  the  river  to  a  point  not  to  be  reached  by  the  British  ships. 

Meanwhile  the  invaders  in  armed  barges  pursued  the  flotilla,  when 
Barney  blew  it  up,  and  with  his  marines  joined  the  forces  which  General 
Winder,*  the  commander  of  the  district,  was  hastily  gathering.  Five 
thousand  of  the  British  force  landed  at  Benedict,  thirty  miles  from  the 
mouth  of  the  Patuxent.     Finding  the  American  flotilla  a  smoking  ruin, 

*  William  H.  Winder  was  a  native  of  Somerset  County,  Md. ,  and  was  born  in  February, 
1775.  He  died  in  Baltimore  in  May,  1824.  He  was  a  successful  lawyer  in  Baltimore 
from  1798  until  1812,  when  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  infantry  in  July,  and  served  on 
the  Niagara  frontier.  In  the  spring  of  1813  he  was  commissioned  brigadier-general  ; 
made  prisoner  at  Stony  Creek,  Canada  ;  was  exchanged,  and  made  inspector-general  in 
May,  1814.  He  commanded  the  Tenth  District,  and  was  engaged  in  the  defence  of  Wash- 
ington City  and  the  city  of  Baltimore  in  the  summer  of  1814.  After  the  war  he  resumed 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  served  with  credit  in  important  civil  stations.  He 
was  a  State  senator  of  Maryland  at  one  time. 


436  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

they  pressed  forward  toward  Washington.  "Winder,  who  had  only  about 
tliree  thousand  men,  most  of  tliem  undisciplined,  retreated  in  tlie  direc- 
tion of  the  capital,  and  that  night  (August  23d)  the  invaders,  who  had 
been  joined  by  Cockburn  and  his  amphibious  marauders,  encamped 
within  ten  miles  of  Washington. 

Winder  left  some  troops  at  Bladensburg,  four  miles  from  the  capital, 
and  with  others  watched  the  highways  leading  from  it,  uncertain  what 
point  might  be  first  attacked.  On  the  morning  of  the  24th,  while 
Winder  and  the  Cabinet  were  in  consultation,  word  came  to  the  general 
that  the  British  were  pressing  toward  Bladensburg.  He  hurried  to  that 
village  with  re-enforcements.  His  little  army  was  in  great  peril,  for  the 
invaders  were  overwhelming  in  number.  To  retreat  would  be  perilous. 
He  must  either  fight  or  surrender.  He  chose  to  fight,  and  at  a  little 
past  noon  a  sliai'p  battle  was  begun.  Many  of  the  militia  soon  fled. 
Barney  and  his  men  sustained  the  brunt  of  the  conflict  until  that  leader 
was  badly  wounded,  when  Winder,  seeing  no  ground  for  hope  of  a 
victory,  ordered  a  retreat.  The  invaders  had  lost  fully  five  hundred 
men  in  killed  and  wounded  during  a  struggle  of  four  hours.  Among 
their  lost  were  several  officers  of  distinction. 

The  President  (Madison)  and  some  of  his  Cabinet,  who  had  watched 
the  battle,  hastened  back  to  the  city  as  fast  as  fleet  horses  could  carry 
them,  conveying  the  first  news  of  impending  danger.  The  victors 
followed,  and  entered  the  city  at  evening  twilight.  They  at  once  began 
to  plunder  and  destroy.  The  President's  house,  the  Capitol,  the 
Treasury  buildings,  the  arsenal  and  the  barracks  were  burned.  Of  the 
public  buildings  only  the  Patent  Office  was  saved.  Some  private  houses 
were  sacked  and  some  were  burnt.  Meanwhile  the  commandant  of  the 
Navy- Yard  fired  the  public  property  there — buildings,  vessels,  and  stores 
— in  obedience  of  an  order  to  prevent  their  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy.  Altogether  property  of  the  estimated  value  of  $2,000,000  was 
laid  waste. 

While  the  people  of  England  loudly  condemned  and  deplored  this 
barbarous  act,  the  British  Government  caused  the  Tower  guns  to  be  fired 
in  honor  of  Ross's  victory,  and  at  his  death,  a  few  weeks  later,  it  decreed 
him  a  monument  in  Westminster  Abbey.  This  was  well,  for  he  was  a 
brave  and  humane  soldier. 

The  British  now  menaced  Baltimore.  They  started  from  Washington 
on  the  night  of  the  25th,  and  after  resting  and  recruiting  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Patuxent,  they  appeared  in  force  on  Patapsco  Bay,  at  the  head  of 
which  Baltimore  stands,  then  a  city  of  forty  thousand  inhabitants.  The 
people  of  that  city  had  wisely  prepared  for  the  reception  of  the  invaders. 


THE  BRITISH   REPULSED  AT  BALTIMORE.  437 

Fort  McHenry,  wliicli  defended  the  harbor,  was  garrisoned  by  a  thousand 
men  under  Major  Arniistead  ;  redoubts  were  erected,  and  a  large 
number  of  troops  were  gathered  around  the  city. 

On  the  morning  of  September  12th  General  Ross,  with  nine  thousand 
troops,  landed  at  Korth  Point,  twelve  miles  from  Baltimore,  The 
Americans  had  about  the  same  number  within  call.  Three  thousand  of 
these,  under  General  Strieker,  were  sent  out  to  watch  the  invaders. 
Confident  of  success,  Ross  and  Cockburn  were  riding  gayly  at  the  head 
of  the  advancing  British  troops,  when  a  rifie-ball  from  a  company  of 
concealed  sharpshooters  mortally  wounded  the  British  commanding 
general.  The  troops  were  then  led  by  Colonel  Brooke.  They  pressed 
on  toward  Baltimore,  encountering  General  Strieker's  advanced  troops 
in  a  sharp  engagement.  The  British  bivouacked  on  the  battle-Held  that 
night. 

In  the  mean  time  a  heavy  British  naval  force  was  anchored  before  Fort 
McHenry  out  of  range  of  its  moderate-sized  guns,  and  prepared  to  bom- 
bard it  and  its  supporting  redoubts  the  next  morning  (September  13th), 
when  the  British  land  force  should  move  upon  Baltimore.  This  was 
done  at  the  appointed  time.  xVrmistead  gallantly  defended  the  fort 
through  all  the  bombardment,  and  kept  the  assailants  at  bay.  The  contest 
continued  twenty-five  hours,  during  which  time  fully  twenty-five  hundred 
shells  were  thrown.*  The  land  forces  of  the  enemy  were  confronted  by 
determined  troops  under  Generals  Strieker  and  Winder.  Very  soon  the 
British  commanders  became  convinced  that  they  could  not  take  Balti- 
more, and  the  bombardment  of  Fort  McHenry  suddenly  ceased  on  the 
morning  of  the  14th.  The  British  troops  hastily  withdrew  to  their  ships 
in  darkness  and  rain  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  the  entire 
armament  went  down  the  bay,  greatly  crestfallen.  Sir  George  Prevost, 
who  had  returned  to  Montreal  from  Plattsburgh,  postponed  rejoicings 
there  because  of  the  capture  of  Washington  until  he  should  hear  of  the 

*  The  bombardment  of  Fort  McHenry  was  the  occasion  which  inspired  Francis  S.  Key 
to  write  the  popular  song,  "The  Star-spangled  Banner."  Dr.  Beans,  a  distinguished 
and  much-loved  physician  of  Maryland,  had  been  carried  by  the  British,  when  retreating 
from  Washington,  on  board  their  ship.  Mr.  Key  and  Mr.  Skinner,  of  Baltimore,  went  to 
the  tleet  with  a  flag,  to  procure  Dr.  Beans's  release.  They  also  were  detained  on  board 
as  the  fleet  was  about  to  sail  for  Baltimore.  They  were  compelled  to  witness  the  bom- 
bardment from  one  of  the  British  ships.  Their  anxiety  was  very  great  when,  before  the 
dawn  of  the  14th,  the  fort  was  silent.  They  did  not  know  whether  it  had  surrendered  or 
not.  They  were  rejoiced  when,  "  at  the  dawn's  early  light,"  they  saw  that  "  our  flag  was 
still  there,"  waving  over  the  fort.  It  was  while  pacing  the  deck  at  that  early  hour  in 
the  morning,  filled  with  doubt,  that  Key  composed  that  stirring  song.  The  prisoners 
were  sent  on  shore  when  the  fleet  departed. 


438  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

seizure  of  Baltimore,  that  both  events  might  be  celebrated  at  the  same 
time.     lie  was  denied  tiiat  gratification. 

Let  us  turn  for  a  moment  to  the  consideration  of  operations  on  the 
ocean  during  the  remainder  of  tlie  war. 

In  May,  1814,  Captain  Johnston  Blakely  crossed  the  sea  with  the  sloop- 
of-war  Wasp,  of  eighteen  guns,  and  spread  terror  among  the  British 
shipping  in  the  Englisli  Channel.  She  captured  one  sloop-of-war  and 
fouirht  others.  Durinij:  the  autumn  she  was  lost  somewjiere  with  all  her 
com])any.     She  was  never  heard  of  afterward. 

Captain  Warrington  had  sailed  on  a  cruise  from  New  York  in  the 
sloop-of-war  Peacock^  and  in  April  captured  the  British  sloop-of-war 
E2)eroier,  a  valuable  prize  having  $118,000  in  specie  on  board  of  her. 
In  a  later  cruise  to  the  shores  of  Portugal  the  Peacock  captured  fourteen 
vessels,  and  returned  to  New  York  in  October. 

The  frigate  Constitution  was  thoroughly  repaired  after  Bainbridge 
relinquished  the  command  of  her,  and  she  went  to  sea  under  the  com- 
mand of  Captain  Charles  Stewart  *  late  in  1813.  She  sailed  to  the  coast 
of  Surinam,  South  America,  captured  the  sloop-of-war  Pictou^  and, 
returning  to  the  New  England  coast,  was  chased  into  the  harbor  of 
Marblehead  by  two  powerful  British  frigates.  She  did  not  go  to  sea 
again  until  near  the  close  of  December,  1814,  when  she  started  on  a 
cruise,  crossed  the  Atlantic,  and  late  in  February,  1815,  she  fought  at 
the  same  time  and  captured  two  British  vessels  (the  frigate  Cyane  and 
sloop-of-war  Levant)  off  the  coast  of  Portugal.  Peace  had  then  been 
declared. 

This  exploit  gained  for  Stewart  great  renown.  Congress  gave  him 
thanks  and  a  gold  medal,  and  the  city  of  New  York  awarded  him  the 
honor  of  the  freedom  of  the  city  in  a  gold  box.     After  that  the  Consti- 

*  Charles  Stewart  was  born  in  Philadelphia  in  July,  1778  ;  died  at  Bordentown,  N.  J., 
in  November,  1869,  in  the  ninety-second  year  of  his  age.  He  was  the  youngest  of  eight 
children,  and  lost  his  fatlier  when  lie  was  two  years  old.  He  went  to  sea  as  a  cabin  boy, 
and  became  captain  of  an  Ejust  Indiaman  when  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age.  In  1798 
he  was  commi.ssioned  a  lieutenant  in  the  navy,  and  was  in  command  of  the  schooner 
Expenment,  in  1800,  in  a  fight  with  tlie  French  schooner  The  Two  Friendx,  which  lie  cap- 
tured. He  soon  made  other  conquests.  He  served  gallantly  against  the  Barbary  powers, 
and  in  May,  1804,  became  a  master  commandant,  and  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  frigate 
Essex.  He  became  captain  in  1806.  In  1812  he  was  placed  in  command  of  the  Constella- 
tion. His  chief  exploit  was  the  capture  of  two  vessels  at  the  same  time  with  the  Consti- 
tution. After  the  War  of  1812-15  lie  was  in  command  of  the  Mediterranean  stiuadron, 
and  was  almost  continually  in  the  naval  .service  \mtil  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War  in 
1861.  In  1857  he  was  pla(-ed  on  the  retired  list,  but  in  1859  he  was  replaced  on  the  active 
list  (then  (iighty-one  years  of  age)  by  special  legislation.  In  1862  he  was  promotetl  to 
rear-admiral  on  the  retired  list. 


AMERICAN  PRIVATEERING. 


439 


tution  was  called  Old  Ironsides,  and  Stewart  bore  tl)e  same  title  until 
his  death  in  1869,  when  he  was  in  the  ninety-second  year  of  his  age,  and 
held  the  rank  of  rear-admiral.     The  Constitution  still  (1 887)  survives. 

In  the  sumn)er  of  1814  Commodore  Decatur,  whose  vessels  had  been 
blockaded  at  New  London  a  long  time,  M^as  placed  in  command  of  the 
frigate  President  and  three  other  vessels — Peacock.,  Captain  Warring- 
ton ;  Hornet,  Captain  Biddle,  and  a  store-ship — destined  for  a  raid  on 
the  British  shipping  in  the  East  Indies.  The  President  left  tlie  harbor 
of  New  York  at  the  middle  of  January,  1815,  eluded  the  blockades  at 
Sandy  Hook,  and  pnt  to  sea.  She  was  chased  by  four  British  ships-of- 
war.     Heavily  laden  for  a  long  cruise,  the  President  could  not  sail  fast, 


A  ClilPPER-BUlLT   SCHOONER. 


and  after  a  protracted  chase  and  running  fight  she  was  compelled  to 
surrender. 

Late  in  January  the  commanders  of  the  other  vessels  of  Decatur's 
squadron,  ignorant  of  the  fate  of  the  President,  put  to  sea  and  sailed  for 
an  appointed  place  of  rendezvous  at  one  of  a  group  of  islands  in  the 
South  Atlantic  Ocean.  There  the  Hornet  met  the  British  sloop  Penguin. 
They  had  a  desperate  fight,  and  the  Hornet  gained  the  victory  in  twenty 
minutes.  This  brilliant  exploit  won  for  Biddle  honors  and  rewards. 
Captain  AVarrington  proceeded  to  the  East  Indies,  and  in  June,  1815, 
the  Peacock  captured  the  Nautilus  in  the  Straits  of  Sunda.  Informed 
the  next  day  of  the  ratification  of  the  treaty  of  peace  some  months 
before,  Warrington  gave  up  the  prize.  On  his  return  home  liQ  also 
received  honors.  The  war  was  over,  and  every  American  cruiser, 
public  and  private,  had  returned  to  port. 

The  achievements  of  American  privateers  upon  the  ocean  during  the 
war  were  wonderful.     The  romantic  story  of  their  exploits  has  filled  a 


440 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


large  volume  (Coggeshairs  Ilistory  of  American  Privateerfs),  and  yet 
the  half  has  not  heen  told.  These  exploits  were  but  a  repetition  of  the 
doings  in  the  regular  service.  After  tlie  first  six  months  of  the  war  the 
bulk  of  the  naval  conflicts  upon  the  sea  on  the  part  of  the  Americans 
was  carried  on  l)y  private  armed  vessels,  which  "  took,  burned,  and 
destroyed  "  .nxteen  hundred  British  merchantmen,  of  all  classes,  in  the 

space  of  three  years.  The  most 
famous  of  these  privateers  for 
speed  and  efficiency  were  the  Bal- 
timore clippers. 

A  large  number  of  privateers 
were  sent  out  from  the  port  of 
New  York,  and  many  merchants 
reaped  more  bountiful  pecuniary 
harvests  by  this  means  than  they 
could  have  done  by  the  slower 
processes  of  commerce.  The  most 
noted  of  these  I^ew  York  priva- 
teers was  the  General  Armstrong, 
Captain  Samuel  C.  Reid.*  In 
September,  1814,  while  she  was 
lying  in  tlie  harbor  of  Fayal,  at 
one  of  the  islands  of  the  Azores, 
of  the  same  name,  belonging  to 
Portugal,  she  was  suddenly  at- 
tacked by  a  part  of  a  large  British  squadron.  The  attacking  vessels 
carried  one  hundred  and  thirty-three  guns  in  the  aggregate,  while  the 
General  Armstrong  carried  only  seven.  There  were  three  attacks  between 
the  evening  and  the  morning  twilight.  A  terrific  conflict  lasting  forty 
miimtes  occurred  at  midnight.  At  each  attack  the  plucky  Armstrong 
repulsed  her  assailants,  who  lost  in  the  struggle  of  ten  hours  over  three 
hundred  men,  while  the  Americans  lost  only  two  killed  and  seven  M'onnded. 


CAPTAIN   SAMUEL   C.    REID. 


*  Samuel  Chester  Ileid  was  born  at  Norwich,  Conn.,  in  August,  1783  ;  died  in  New^ 
York  in  January,  1861.  He  went  to  sea  when  only  eleven  years  of  age.  He  was  an 
acting  midshipman  under  Commodore  Truxton  ;  became  enamored  with  the  naval  ser- 
vice, and  began  the  adventurous  business  of  a  privateersman  at  the  beginning  of  the  War 
of  1812-15.  After  the  war  he  was  appointed  sailing-master  in  the  navy,  and  held  that 
position  until  his  deatli.  He  was  for  a  time  warden  of  the  Port  of  New  York,  and  the 
inventor  of  the  semaphore  or  telegraph  used  at  the  Narrows  before  the  electro-magnetic 
telegraph  was  perfected.  Captain  Reid  has  the  honor  of  being  the  designer  of  the  present 
form  of  our  national  flag — that  is,  retaining  only  thirteen  stripes,  and  adding  a  star  for 
each  State  admitted  to  the  Union. 


JACKSON  CALLED   TO   NEW  ORLEANS.  441 

War  at  the  Xortli  was  now  ended,  but  there  was  trouble  in  the  South- 
west late  in  1814.  We  have  considered  Jackson's  campaign  against  the 
Creek  Indians.  The  British,  favored  by  the  Spanish  governor  of 
Florida,  had  given  the  Creeks  hope,  and  induced  them  to  join  the  forces 
from  Great  Britain  against  the  Americans.  A  British  squadron,  by 
permission  of  the  Spanish  authorities,  took  possession  of  Pensacola,  and 
there  fitted  out  an  expedition  against  the  fort  at  the  entrance  to  Mobile 
Bay.  British  land  troops  and  Creek  Indians  attacked  it  at  the  middle 
of  September.     They  were  repulsed. 

General  Jackson,  then  at  Mobile,  holding  the  Spanish  governor 
I'esponsible  for  the  attack  on  the  fort,  marched  from  that  town  with  two 
thousand  Tennessee  militia,  seized  Pensacola,  drove  the  British  from  the 
harbor,  and  compelled  the  Spanish  governor  to  beg  for  mercy  and  to 
surrender  the  town  and  the  military  works  unconditionally.  On  return- 
ing at  once  to  Mobile,  the  victorious  general  found  messengers  with 
urgent  calls  for  him  to  hasten  to  Xew  Orleans  to  assist  in  defending  that 
city  and  Louisiana  from  a  threatened  formidable  invasion.  The  British 
cruising  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  had  been  re- enforced  by  thousands  of 
troops  from  Great  Britain. 

Jackson  instantly  obeyed  the  call.  He  arrived  at  I^ew  Orleans  on 
December  2d  (1814),  and  found  the  people  in  a  state  of  fearful  alarm 
and  confusion.  He  assumed  heavy  responsibilities.  He  declared 
martial  law,  and  by  vigorous  measures  under  that  rule  he  soon  placed 
the  city  in  an  attitude  of  comparative  security.  When  an  efficient  officer 
fresh  from  the  Spanish  peninsula.  General  Pakenham,  with  about  twelve 
thousand  troops,  most  of  tliem  Wellington's  veterans,  entered  Lake 
Borgne,  Jackson  felt  confident  of  success  even  against  such  fearful  odds. 

After  a  naval  struggle  on  Lake  Borgne,  in  which  a  flotilla  of  American 
gun-boats  was  destroyed,  twenty-four  hundred  British  troops  under  the 
Irish  General  Keane  pushed  on  to  the  Mississippi  River,  nine  miles 
below  New  Orleans,  with  the  expectation  of  taking  that  city  by  surprise. 
Keane  was  betrayed  by  an  escaped  prisoner,  and  in  the  gloom  on  the 
night  of  December  23d  he  was  attacked  and  defeated  by  Americans  led 
by  General  Jackson  in  person.  In  this  affray  the  Americans  lost  in 
killed  and  wounded  aljout  two  hundred  men  ;  the  British  lost  about  four 
hundred.  The  Americans  were  assisted  by  an  armed  vessel  on  the  river, 
which  produced  a  panic. 

New  Orleans  was  saved  from  surprise  ;  now  it  had  to  be  saved  from 
open  invasion.  General  Pakenham  took  the  chief  command  of  the 
troops,  and  pushed  on  toward  New  Orleans.  Across  his  path  from  the 
Mississippi  to  a  deep  cypress  swamp  Jackson  cast  up  a  line  of  breastworks 


442  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

M'itli  great  celerity.  Wlien  the  invader  approached  to  the  plain  of 
Chalmette  (January  8th,  1815)  witli  his  whole  land  force,  and  stood  in 
battle  array  before  the  improvised  fortifications,  hope  for  the  Americans 
seemed  very  dim. 

Behind  those  breastworks  there  was  an  ominous  silence  as  the  British 
veterans  approached  to  the  attack.  When  they  had  reached  within 
cannon-shot  range  of  Jackson's  batteries  tlie  latter  opened  upon  them 
with  terrible  effect,  cutting  fearful  lanes  through  tlie  ranks  of  the  British. 
Yet  the  latter  pressed  forward  until  they  were  within  range  of  the 
American  rifles,  when  a  host  suddenly  arose  and  with  a  deadly  tempest 
of  bullets  swept  the  British  line.  Whole  platoons  were  mown  down  like 
grass  before  a  scythe.  Officer  after  officer  was  slain.  Pakenham  fell, 
bleeding  and  dying,  into  the  arms  of  McDougall,  his  favorite  aide.  Yery 
soon  the  assailants  broke  and  "fled,  their  retreat  covered  by  General 
Lambert  at  the  head  of  reserves.  The  slaughter  and  maiming  had  been 
dreadful.  The  vanquished  left  seven  hundred  of  their  dead  and  four- 
teen hundred  of  their  wounded  on  the  field,  and  five  hundred  were  made 
prisoners.  The  Americans  lost  only  eight  killed  and  thirteen  wounded. 
They  had  been  protected  by  breastworks,  while  the  invaders  were 
exposed  on  an  open  i:)lain. 

The  vanquished  Britons,  led  by  General  Lambert,  stole  away  under 
cover  of  darkness  on  the  night  after  the  battle,  and  escaped  to  their 
ships.  General  Jackson  and  his  men  entered  jS^ew  Orleans  as  victors. 
There  special  iionors  were  bestowed  upon  the  conqueror  as  a  deliverer. 
He  had  saved  the  city  and  the  State.  Thirteen  years  afterward  the 
people  of  the  United  States  chose  him  to  be  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  the 
republic. 

Before  this  conflict  on  the  plain  of  Chalmette  peace  between  the 
United  States  and  Great  Britain  had  been  secured  by  a  treaty  negotiated 
and  signed  at  Ghent,  in  Belgium.  Connnissioners  of  the  two  govern- 
ments,* chosen  for  the  purpose,  met  in  August,  1814,  and  conclnded 
their  labors  on  December  24th  following,  The  treaty  was  ratified  by 
the  British  Government  on  the  28th,  and  by  that  of  the  United  States 
on  February  17th,  1815.  As  the  news  of  peace  went  slowly  over  the 
land  intense  joy  and  satisfaction  were  everywhere  felt. 

Nowhere  was  the  intelligence  more  welcome  than  in  the  commercial 
city  of  New  York.  The  news  was  brought  to  that  port  on  the  evening 
of  February  11th  by  the   sloop-of-war   Favorite^  forty-tM'-o  days  from 

*  The  United  States  Commissioners  were  John  Quincy  Adams,  James  A.  Bayard, 
Henry  Clay,  Jonathan  Russell,  and  Albert  Gallatin.  The  British  Commissioners  were 
Lord  Gambier,  Hemy  Goulbourn,  and  William  Adams. 


PEACE   WITH   GREAT  BRITAIN  PROCLAIMED.  443 

Portsmouth.  Now  it  might  come  in  forty-two  seconds  !  The  streets 
•were  speedily  thronged  with  an  excited  multitude.  Placards  were 
printed  by  the  Mercantile  Advertiser^  announcing  the  happy  event,  and 
thrown  out  of  the  window.  They  were  caught  up  and  read  with  the 
greatest  avidity  by  the  people.  The  air  was  soon  resonant  with  huzzas. 
Cannons  thundered,  bells  were  rung,  and  bonfires  blazed.  In  cities  and 
large  villages  all  over  the  land  the  abounding  joy  was  manifested  by 
banquets,  orations,  and  illuminations.  There  were  rejoicings  in  Great 
Britain  ;  and  there  were  rejoicings  in  Canada  because  of  the  deliverance 
of  the  people  from  the  fear  of  invasion. 

This  sudden  outbreak  of  joy  was  soon  tempered  by  the  unpleasant 
reflection  that  much  advantage  expected  to  be  gained  by  the  war  and 
the  treaty  had  not  been  acquired.  Indeed,  the  subjects  of  impressments, 
the  right  of  search,  the  orders  in  council  and  paper  blockades,  had  all 
been  passed  over  without  specific  notice  in  the  treaty.  These  omissions 
were  made  powerful  weapons  in  the  hands  of  the  opponents  of  the  war. 
The  New  York  Evening  Post,  anticipating  this  failure,  printed  in  the 
"  New  Year's  Address"  of  its  carriers,  several  weeks  before  the  arrival 
of  the  treaty,  the  following  stanza  : 

"  Your  commerce  is  wantonly  lost, 

Your  treasures  are  wasted  and  gone  ; 
You've  fought  to  no  end,  but  with  millions  of  cost ; 
And  for  rivers  of  blood,  you've  nothing  to  boast, 

But  credit  and  nation  undone." 

But  the  war  did  secure  the  positive  and  permanent  independence  of 
the  United  States,  and  gave  our  republic  a  position  among  the  most  con- 
spicuous of  the  nations  of  the  earth. 

The  haughty  spirit  manifested  by  the  British  Government  during  the 
negotiations  at  Ghent  in  demanding  terms  which  were  humiliating  to 
the  Americans. had  excited  anew  the  war  spirit  here,  and  the  Govern- 
ment determined  to  prosecute  the  struggle  with  more  vigor  than  ever. 
Conscription  was  resorted  to  in  the  early  fall  of  1813.  This  measure, 
which  offended  State  pride,  brought  matters  to  a  crisis  in  New  England, 
where  the  Peace  Faction  was  yet  quite  powerful.  The  people  of  that 
section  had  been  suspected  of  disloyalty  to  the  National  Government, 
while  the  latter  adopted  some  injudicious  measures  calculated  to  promote 
such  a  feeling.  Suspicions  and  discontents  culminated  in  a  conference 
of  sympathizing  New  England  States  to  consult  upon  public  matters  and 
to  consider  a  radical  reform  in  the  National  Constitution.  A  convention 
composed  of  twenty-six  delegates  assembled  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  on 
December  15th,  1814,  and  held  their  sessions  in  secret. 


444  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

The  sittings  of  tlie  Hartford  Convention  continued  about  tliree  weeks. 
At  tiie  time  of  its  adjournment  it  was  believed  a  necessity  might  require 
the  members  to  assemble  again,  and  the  seal  of  secrecy  was  not  removed 
from  their  proceedings.  This  gave  rise  to  wild  rumors,  conjectures,  and 
suspicions.  The  convention  had  been  suspected  of  treasonable  designs, 
and  had  been  closely  watched  ;  now  the  members  were  regarded  as  dis- 
loyal to  the  Government,  and  dared  not  avow  it.  When,  in  after  years, 
the  proceedings  were  made  public,  it  was  perceived  that  the  Hartford 
Convention  was  composed  of  as  loyal  and  patriotic  men  as  any  in  the 
land.  Their  political  opponents,  however,  made  the  most  of  the  public 
prejudice  which  had  been  created,  and  for  more  than  a  score  of  years 
afterward  the  partisan  cry,  "  a  Hartford  Convention  Federalist !"  cast 
in  some  degree  a  sort  of  undefined  odium  on  the  man  to  whom  the 
epithet  was  applied. 


GOVERNORS  TOMPKINS  AND  CLINTON.  445 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

During  tlie  war  we  have  just  been  considering^,  and  which  made  the 
northern  and  western  frontiers  of  the  State  of  New  York  tlie  theatre  of 
ahnost  continually  stirring  military  events,  the  civil  affairs  of  the  com- 
monwealth were  conducted  in  an  admirable  manner  under  the  guiding 
liand  of  Daniel  D.  Tompkins,  who  was  Governor  of  the  State  from  1807 
until  1817.  He  was  energetic,  judicious,  courageous,  and  patriotic.  In 
politics  he  was  of  the  "  Jefferson  School."  He  had  served  his  country 
in  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  ;  in  the  State  Legislature  ;  in 
Congress  ;  as  eludge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State,  and  as  Chan- 
cellor of  the  University.  He  was  commander  of  the  Third  Military 
District  during  the  war,  and  he  contributed  greatly  to  the  success  of  the 
national  arms  by  his  energy  in  calling  out  and  equipping  troops  for  the 
service.  Governor  Tompkins  was  Yice-President  of  the  United  States 
during  the  eight  years  of  Monroe's  administration,  and  early  in  the  last 
year  of  his  governorship  he  won  immortal  honor  by  recommending  to 
the  Legislature  in  a  special  message  the  total  abolition  of  slavery  in  the 
State  of  New  York  after  July  4th,  1827. 

During  the  first  quarter  of  this  century  De  "Witt  Clinton  was 
undoubtedly  the  foremost  public  man  of  the  State  in  point  of  mental 
force,  wisdom,  sagacity,  energy,  and  statesmanship  ;  and  he  was  more 
active  and  effective  in  the  promotion  of  measures  for  the  general  benefit 
of  society  than  any  other  citizen  of  his  time.  We  have  noticed  his  career 
up  to  the  breaking  out  of  the  AVar  of  1812-15,  He  was  appointed 
Mayor  of  the  city  of  New  York  in  1803,  and  held  that  important  position 
continuously  until  1815  (excepting  two  years  when  he  was  lieutenant- 
governor)  with  great  acceptance  to  the  people.  He  divided  the  nation 
with  Mr.  Madison  as  a  candidate  for  the  presidency,  but  did  not  win  the 
prize.  In  1817  he  was  chosen  Governor  of  the  State  almost  without  a 
contest,  and  was  re-elected  in  1820,  and  again  in  1824.  His  was  the 
chief  moral  and  intellectual  force  which  carried  forward  from  conception 
to  completion  the  great  Erie  Canal. 

It  was  in  the  year  1812  that  Martin  Van  Buren,*  who  so  long  held  a 


*  Martin  Van  Burcn,  the  eighth  President  of  the  United  States,  was  born  in  Kinder- 
hook,  N.  Y.,  December  5th,  1782  ;  died  there  July  34th,  1863.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1803.  Fond  of  politics,  he  took  an  active  part  in  elections  while  yet  a  youth.  At 
the  age  of  twenty -four  he  was  appointed  Surrogate  of  Columbia  County,  and  in  1813  was 


446 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


conspicuous  position  in  the  politics  of  the  State  and  nation,  made  his 
first  appearance  in  a  legislative  capacity  as  a  senator  from  the  Middle 
District  of  New  York.  His  mental  abilities,  tact,  and  capacity  for 
adroit  management  of  men  speedily  gave  him  the  position  of  leader  of 
the  Democratic  members  of  the  Legislature.  He  was  a  zealous  "  Clin- 
tonian"  then,  and  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  war. 

It  was  at  this  period   that  the  Legislature  took  a  step  which  was 

of  vast  benefit  to  the  cause  of  popu- 
__     ^  lar   education.      At   the   middle   of 

January,  1812,  they  appointed  Gide- 
on Hawley,  an  energetic,  hard-work- 
ing, benevolent-minded  and  modest 
young  lawyer  of  Albany,  Super- 
intendent of  Public  Schools,  under 
the  provisions  of  an  act  passed  at  the 
previous  session.  He  perfected  a 
system  for  the  management  of  the 
school  fund  and  for  its  equitable  dis- 
tribution into  every  school  district  in 
the  State,  which  he  liad  organized 
in  every  neighborhood.  He  devised 
a  plan  of  operations  by  which  this 
vast  machinery  might  be  moved  and 
managed  by  a  single  individual.  For 
these  important  services,  with  others,  the  State  paid  Mr.  Hawley  $300  a 
year  !  Posterity  has  rewarded  this  fine  scholar  and  public  benefactor  with 
full  appreciation  and  unstinted  praise  when  contemplating  the  result  of 
his  benevolent  labors.  Mr.  Hawley  died  in  1870  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five  years,  having  served  as  a  Pegent  of  the  University  twenty-seven 
years,  and  a  Pegent  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution  twenty- four  years.* 

sent  to  the  State  Senate.  From  1815  to  1819  he  was  Attorney-General  of  the  State.  In 
1819  lie  Ixij^an  a  reorganization  of  the  Democratic  Party,  and  became  the  leader  of  the 
jx)liticians  known  as  the  "  Albany  Regency."  In  1821  he  became  a  member  of  the 
United  States  Senate,  and  again  in  1827  ;  was  chosen  Governor  of  New  York  in  1828  ; 
entered  President  Jackson's  Cabinet  as  Secretary  of  State  in  1829,  and  was  sent  Minister 
to  England  in  1831.  The  Senate  refused  to  ratify  his  appointment,  and  he  was  chosen 
Vice-President  of  the  United  States.  He  was  elected  President  in  1836.  His  adminis- 
tration was  marked  by  great  commercial  troubles.  In  1848  he  was  an  unsuccessful 
candidate  of  the  "  Free  Soil  "  Party  for  President.  He  visited  Eurojje  in  1853-55. 
When  the  Civil  War  broke  out  Mr.  Van  Buren  took  decided  grounds  against  the  enemies 
of  the  Republic. 

*  Gideon  Hawley  was  born  in  Huntington,  Conn.,  in  1785  ;  died  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in 
August,  1870.     He  was  a  graduate  of  Union  College.     In  1794  he  took  up  his  abode  at 


MARTIN  VAN   BUKEN. 


CIVIL  AFFAIRS   IN  THE   STATE.  447 

In  tlie  session  of  the  Legislature  early  in  1813  sharp  collisions  began 
to  occur  between  the  two  houses  on  all  questions  which  related  to  the 
prosecution  of  the  war.  The  militia  which  had  been  called  out  the  pre- 
vious autumn  bv  the  governor  had  returned  dissatisfied  with  the  service. 
The  Federal  politicians  took  advantage  of  this  dissatisfaction,  and  pro- 
moted it  so  as  to  increase  their  own  power  and  influence. 

The  National  Government  had  already  become  embarrassed  by  lack  of 
money  to  carry  on  the  war  ;  and  this,  too,  was  used  as  a  weapon  of 
attack  by  the  Federalists.  A  resolution  which  was  adopted  by  the  State 
Senate  to  loan  to  the  National  Government  $500,000  was  defeated  by 
the  Federalists  in  the  Assembly.  During  the  same  year  Solomon  South- 
wick,*  the  able  editor  of  the  Albany  Register^  the  organ  of  the  Demo- 
cratic Party,  showed  lukewarmness  in  support  of  the  war,  and  lost  the 
confidence  of  the  party  leaders.  They  made  the  Argus,  jast  established 
by  Jesse  Buel,f  their  organ. 

The  next  session  of  the  Legislature  (1814)  was  marked  by  liberal 
appropriations  of  money  to  be  raised  by  lottery  for  the  benefit  of  Union, 

Saratoga.  In  1813  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Albany,  and  the  next  year  became 
secretary  to  the  Regents  of  the  University.  He  was  a  regent  of  the  University  from  1814 
to  1841,  and  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution  from  1846  until  his  death.  Mr.  Ilawley  wrote 
and  printed  for  private  distribution  Essays  on  Truth  and  Ktwicledge. 

*  Solomon  Southwick  was  for  some  years  a  brilliant  journalist  in  Albany.  He  was  a 
son  of  Solomon  Southwick,  a  journalist  of  Newport,  R.  I.,  where  this  son  was  born  in 
1774.  He  learned  the  trade  of  a  baker,  but  became  a  practical  printer  in  Albany.  About 
the  year  1800  he  was  the  assistant  editor  of  the  Albany  liegister,  which  finally  became 
the  accredited  organ  of  the  Democratic  Party.  Southwick  became  sole  editor  in  1807, 
and  conducted  it  with  great  ability.  He  was  personally  popular,  with  a  handsome  face 
and  pleasing  deportment.  He  was  a  firm  .supporter  of  De  Witt  Clinton  and  his  friends. 
In  1809  he  was  appointed  Sheriff  of  Albany,  and  in  1811  was  a  bank  president  there.  He 
was  printer  to  the  State  ;  also  a  regent  of  the  University.  He  quarrelled  with  his  party 
leaders,  when  the  liegister  was  abandoned  by  th§m,  and  in  1818  it  died.  He  had  been 
su'perseded  as  State  printer,  and  he  lost  the  office  of  postmaster  at  Albany  in  1822.  Vari- 
ous speculations  of  his  were  unsuccessful.  In  1821  he  established  The  Ploughboy,  and 
then  the  National  Democrat.  Both  were  short-lived.  He  became  a  candidate  for  gov- 
ernor of  the  State  in  1822,  when  he  was  defeated  by  an  overwhelming  vote.  He  was 
again  a  candidate  for  the  same  offlce  in  1828,  representing  the  Anti-Masonic  Party,  and  at 
the  same  time  became  the  editor  of  the  National  Observer,  an  Anti-Masonic  journal.  Mr. 
Southwick  died  in  1839. 

f  Jesse  Buel  was  born  in  Coventry,  Conn.,  in  1778,  and  died  in  Danbury,  1839.  He 
was  educated  a  printer.  He  published  the  Ulster  Bejjublicaii,  and  in  1813  went  to  Albany, 
where  he  established  the  Argus,  which,  on  the  party  defection  of  Solomon  Southwick,  be- 
came the  organ  of  the  Democratic  Party.  He  was  soon  chosen  State  printer.  He  left  the 
Argus  in  1821,  having  acquired  a  competency.  Buel  was  Whig  candidate  for  governor 
in  1836.  Two  years  before,  he  established  Tfie  Cultivator,  a  periodical  devoted  to  agricul- 
ture, which  for  years  exerted  a  wide  and  salutary  influence  among  farmers.  At  the 
time  of  liis  deatli  Mr.  Buel  was  a  regent  of  the  University. 


448 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


Columbia,  and  Hamilton  colleges  ;  an  African  church  ;  the  New  York 
Historical  Society,  and  various  medical  colleges.  At  the  same  session 
James  Kent  was  appointed  Chancellor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and 
Smith  Thompson  Cliief-Justice  of  its  Supreme  Court.  Tliey  were  both 
natives  of  Duchess  County. 

The  Legislature  put  forth  the  most  vigorous  exertions  to  place  and 

maintain  the  State  in  an  attitude  of 
secure  defence  against  invasion, 
and  to  aid  the  general  Government 
against  the  enemy.  They  increased 
the  pay  of  the  militia,  and  passed 
an  act  to  encourage  privateering  by 
authorizing  associations  for  that 
purpose.  This  was  done  in  spite 
of  a  very  learned  protest  from 
Chancellor  Kent*  and  others.  The 
chancellor  was  answered,  and  a 
controversy  in  the  newspapers  oc- 
curred, in  whicli  Judge  Kent, 
Colonel  Samuel  Young,  and  Martin 
Van  Buren  participated.  A  law 
was  passed  for  enlisting  twelve 
thousand  men  for  two  years  ;  and 
another  was  adopted  for  raising  a  corps  of  *'  sea  fencibles,"  a  sort  of 
minute-men  ;  and  still  another  for  raising  a  regiment  of  colored  men, 
among  whom  slaves  might  be  enlisted  by  consent  of  their  masters,  and 
M'ho  were  to  be  manumitted  when  honorably  discharged. 

Intelligence  of  the  prompt  passage  of  these  several  laws  by  the  Legis- 
lature of  New  York  at  tlie  short  session  in  the  fall  of  1814  was  received 
by  President  Madison  with  great  joy  and  satisfaction,    for  the  event 

*  James  Kent,  an  eminent  jurist,  was  born  at  Phillipstown,  Putnam  (then  Duchess) 
County,  N.  Y.,  in  July,  1763  ;  died  in  New  York  City  in  December,  1847.  lie  studied 
hiw  with  Egbert  Benson,  and  began  its  practice  at  Poughkeepsie  in  1787.  From  1790  to 
1798  he  was  a  member  of  the  New  York  Assembly.  In  the  latter  year  he  became  pro- 
fessor of  law  in  Columbia  College  ;  in  1796  he  was  made  Master  in  Chancery  ;  Recorder 
of  New  York  City  in  1797  ;  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  York  in  1798  ;  Chief 
Justice  in  1804,  and  was  Chanc(>llor  of  the  State  from  1814  to  1823.  He  look  an  active 
part  in  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  in  1821,  and  soon  afterward  again  became 
law  professor  in  Columbia  College.  The  lectures  he  delivered  there  form  the  basis  of 
his  famous  Commentaries  on  the  United  States  Constitution,  published  in  four  volumes. 
Judge  Kent  was  one  of  the  clearest  legal  writers  of  his  time.  In  1828  he  was  chosen 
President  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society.  In  liis  later  years  he  revised  his  Com- 
mentanes. 


JAMES   KENT. 


VIRGINIA  THE    "MOTHER   OF  PRESIDENTS."  449 

added  much  strength  to  the  then  exceedingly  weak  Government. 
Oppressed  by  painful  apprehensions,  the  President  gratefully  tendered 
to  Governor  Tompkins  the  important  position  in  his  Cabinet  of  Secretary 
of  War,  which  General  John  Armstrong,  of  New  York,  had  lately 
resigned.     Tlie  governor  declined. 

The  Federalists  gained  political  ascendancy  in  i!^ew  York  in  1815,  and 
the  Council  of  Appointment,  influenced  by  the  many  political  enemies 
of  De  Witt  Clinton,  proceeded  to  deprive  him  of  the  lucrative  office  of 
Mayor  of  New  York.  This  left  ]iim  in  straitened  pecuniary  circum- 
stances with  a  large  family,  but  he  maintained  his  dignity  of  deportment 
and  his  cheerfulness  of  spirits.  He  engaged  in  literary  pursuits,  and 
increased  his  efforts  to  induce  the  State  to  construct  the  great  Erie  Canal. 
He  was  successful,  as  we  have  observed. 

Governor  Tompkins  was  now  one  of  the  most  popular  men  in  the 
State,  and  was  an  aspirant  for  the  office  of  President  of  the  United 
States.  At  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Madison  began  to  give  tokens  that 
he  expected  Mr.  Monroe  to  be  his  successor.  Already  the  President  of 
the  republic  had  been  taken  from  Virginia  twenty-four  out  of  twenty- 
eight  years  of  the  existence  of  the  National  Government.  This  continu- 
ation of  the  "  Virginia  dynasty,"  as  it  was  called,  had  become  distaste- 
ful, especially  to  New  Yorkers.  At  the  same  time  the  Virginians  were 
evidently  jealous  of  New  York  because  of  her  rapid  growth  in  popula- 
tion, commerce,  wealth,  and  political  influence. 

AVlien  the  congressional  caucus  assembled  to  nominate  a  candidate  for 
the  presidency,  it  was  found  that  nearly  the  whole  delegation  from  New 
York  were  for  Governor  Tompkins.  The  majority  of  other  Democratic 
members  were  from  the  South,  and  were  opposed  to  him  ;  while  the 
New  England  delegates  Nvere  all  Federalists.  Monroe  was  nominated 
and  elected  in  181G,  and  To'.upkins  was  chosen  Vice-President. 

Great  was  the  rejoicing  in  the  legislative  halls  and  among  the  people 
all  over  the  State  when  the  news  of  peace  and  of  the  victory  at  New 
Orleans  was  spread  over  the  commonwealth.  Then  the  thoughts  of  all 
were  directed  to  the  pursuits  of  peace,  the  readjustment  of  business  rela- 
tions, and  the  development  of  the  resources  of  the  State,  especially  to 
the  importance  of  a  speedy  construction  of  the  projected  great  canal. 
The  friends  of  that  project  moved  with  vigor.  A  most  important  meet- 
ing held  in  New  York  City  in  the  autumn  adopted  strong  resolutions  in 
its  favor,  and  a  powerful  memorial  to  the  Legislature  was  drawn  up  by 
De  Witt  Clinton,  and  widely  circulated  and  signed,  commending  the 
project. 

This  movement  in  New  York  City  was  followed  by  a  large  gathering 


450  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

at  Canandaigua,  Ontario  County,  of  leading  gentlemen  in  Western  New 
York.  At  that  meeting  Myron  Ilolley,  one  of  the  canal  comnn'ssioners 
and  one  of  the  brightest  and  wisest  men  in  the  State,  was  the  chief 
actor.*  Governor  Tompkins,  in  his  message  at  the  opening  of  the 
session  of  the  Legislature  in  ISlfi,  expatiated  upon  the  vast  importance 
of  such  a  work  not  only  to  the  State  of  New  York,  but  to  the  nation  ; 
and  at  a  large  meeting  of  citizens  at  Albany  earnest  resolutions  in  favor 
of  the  project  were  adopted. 

Notwithstanding  the  treasury  of  the  commonwealth  had  been  nearly 
exhausted  by  the  efforts  to  sustain  the  National  Government  in  its  prose- 
cution of  the  war,  and  all  aid  from  that  Government  in  carrying  out  the 
project  had  been  withheld  ;  notwithstanding  the  resources  of  private 
enterprise  had  been  crippled  by  the  financial  embarrassments  of  the 
crisis  and  the  prevalence  of  an  impression  that  the  scheme  was  altogether 
visionary,  the  leaders  of  sober  thought  and  opinion  in  the  State  were 
strong  enough  to  induce  the  Legislature  to  authorize  the  prosecution  of 
all  necessary  surveys  for  the  great  work  ;  to  appropriate  $20,000  for  the 
purpose,  and  to  appoint  a  new  Board  of  Canal  Commissioners. f 

The  most  powerful  advocates  of  the  measure  at  that  time  were  De 
Witt  Clinton,  Martin  Van  Buren,  and  Samuel  Young.  It  was  observed 
that  most  of  the  leaders  of  the  opposition  to  the  canal  project  were 
political  enemies  of  Mr.  Clinton  ;  and  so  strong  was  this  partisan  enmity 
that  it  formed  the  chief  constituent  of  their  motives  in  opposing  the 
scheme. 

At  the  opening  of  the  session  of  1817  Governor  Tompkins,  as  we  have 

•  The  meeting  in  New  York  City  was  assembled  througli  the  instrumentality  of 
Thomas  Eddy,  Judge  Jonas  Phvtt,  De  Witt  Clinton,  John  Pintard,  and  a  few  others,  the 
zealous,  persistent,  and  earlier  friends  of  the  project.  They  sent  cards  of  invitation  to 
about  one  hundred  gentlemen  of  that  city,  to  meet  at  the  City  Hotel,  to  consult  concern- 
ing the  Canal.  WilHam  Bayard  presided  at  the  meeting,  and  John  Pintard  was  the  secre- 
tary. Judge  Piatt  made  a  convincing  address  to  the  meeting.  A  resolution  wa.s  pi-s-sed 
approving  the  .scheme,  and  a  committee,  composed  of  De  Witt  Clinton,  Thonuis  Eddy, 
Cadwallader  D.  Colden,  and  John  Swartwout,  was  appointed  to  prepare  and  circulate  a 
memorial  to  the  Legislature  in  favor  of  the  canal.  That  memorial^-a  masterpiece — was 
drawn  by  Mr.  Clinton. 

The  meeting  at  Canandaigua  was  lield  on  January  8th,  1817.  Gideon  Granger,  after- 
ward Postm!i.ster-General,  was  the  chief  speaker  on  that  occiision.  Important  resolutions, 
drawn  by  Myron  Holley,  were  adopted.  These  resolutions,  it  was  observed,  "  both  in 
matter  and  style  may  be  justly  denominated  a  near  relation  of  Afr.  Clinton's  memorial." 
The  proceedings  of  this  meeting  made  a  deep  impression  on  the  public  mind,  and  ih)w- 
erf  ully  contributed  to  the  enlightened  policy  which  the  Legislature  subsequently  pursued. 

+  Steiilien  van  l{en.sselacr,  De  Witt  Clinton,  Samuel  Young,  Joseph  Ellicott,  and 
Myron  Holley. 


ABOLITION   OF   THE   SLAVE   SYSTEM. 


451 


CS^^^r^ 


WILLIAM   JAY. 


observed,  recommended  the  imconditioiial  and  entire  abolition  of  the 
slave  sj'steni  in  the  State  of  New  York  after  July  4tli,  1827.  The 
recommendation  was  concurred  in  by  the  unanimous  voice  of  tlie  Legis- 
lature. Thus  were  the  persistent  benevolent  eflEorts  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  or  Quakers,  to  erase  from 

the  escutcheon  of  the  State  of  New  -^-- ^"  .s. 

York  the  dark  stain  of  human 
slavery  given    encouragement   and  '  / 

final  success.  In  bringing  about 
this  act  of  the  Legislature  in  1817 
they  were  powerfully  aided  by 
Cadwallader  D.  Golden  (grandson 
of  Governor  Golden),  Peter  A. 
Jay,  William  Jay,  *  Governor 
Tompkins,  and  other  earnest  labor- 
ers in  the  cause. 

On  March  10th,  1817,  the  canal 
commissioners  presented  to  the 
Legislature  an  elaborate  report. 
Most  strenuous  opposition  to  the 
canal  scheme  M'as  then  manifested 

in  and  out  of  the  Legislature.  It  was  ridiculed  as  the  conception  of 
lunatics  ;  condemned  as  a  project  which,  if  attempted,  would  ruin  the 
State  financially;  and  its  advocates  were  declared  to  be  enemies  of  the 
commonwealth.  The  excitement  throughout  the  State  was  intense.  But 
common-sense  and  sagacity  prevailed  in  the  Legislature,  and  on  Apiil 

*  William  .Jay,  LL.D.,  was  an  eminent  jurist  and  earnest  philanthropist,  son  of  Gov- 
ernor John  Jay.  He  was  born  in  New  York  City  in  1789,  and  died  at  Bedford,  West- 
chester County,  N.  Y.,  in  October,  1858  He  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  College.  On  ac- 
count of  weak  eyes  he  was  compelled  to  abaridoii  the  practice  of  law,  for  which  he  was 
prepared.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  American  Bible  Society,  in  1815,  and  was 
ever  an  active  member  of  it.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  advocates  of  the  temperance 
reform,  and  founded  a  temperance  society  in  1815.  He  was  active  in  founding  and  pro- 
moting the  work  of  tract,  missionary,  and  educational  societies.  In  1818  he  was  appointed 
Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Westchester  County,  and  was  first  judge  from 
1820  to  1842,  when  he  was  superseded  on  account  of  his  radical  anti-slavery  sentiments. 
He  was  one  of  the  founders  and  most  efficient  supporters  of  the  American  Anti- Slavery 
Society.  In  1843  Judge  Jay  visited  Europe,  and  with  the  eminent  Egyptologist,  Sir 
Gardiner  AVilkinson,  investigated  the  subject  of  slavery  in  Egypt.  Judge  Jay  held  a 
vigorous  pen,  and  wrote  much  on  the  subject  of  temperance,  slavery,  and  peace.  He 
was  for  several  years  President  of  the  American  Peace  Societj'.  His  numerous  publica- 
tions were  widely  circulated,  and  exercised  great  and  good  influence.  Judge  Jay  prepared 
a  biography  of  his  father,  John  Jay.  and  a  collection  of  his  writings,  in  two  volumes, 
which  was  published  in  1833. 


452  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

17tli  it  passed  an  act  authorizing  the  construction  of  tlie  great  work  of 
internal  improvement.  Tlie  work  upon  it  was  begun  less  than  three 
months  afterward. 

With  kaleidoscope  rapidity  and  variety  were  the  changes  in  the  posi- 
tion of  the  leaders  of  political  parties  and  factions  in  New  York  at  that 
time.  They  were  then  in  a  sort  of  transition  state.  Each  faction  was 
controlled  by  a  few  men.  Personal  politics  was  the  rule.  It  was  at  this 
time  that  a  small  clique  of  shrewd  politicians  known  as  the  "  Albany 
Regency"  came  into  power  and  ruled  the  State,  in  a  degree,  for  almost 
twenty  years.  The  leader  of  the  "  Regency"  was  Martin  Yan  Baren, 
and  his  chief  associates  were  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  Edwin  Croswell,  and 
William  L.  Marcy. 

We  have  seen  De  Witt  Clinton,  in  1815,  "  shelved  "  by  the  Council 
of  Appointment,  which  was  composed  chiefly  of  men  of  his  own  party, 
and  he  was  relegated  to  the  class  of  political  fossils.  Judge  Spencer,* 
between  whom  and  Clinton  there  had  long  been  maintained  bitter  polit- 
ical and  personal  animosity,  and  who  had  been  a  power  in  the  politics 
of  the  State  and  puissant  in  the  annual  creation  of  the  Council  of 
Appointment,  had  been  the  chief  instrument  in  destroying  the  confidence 
of  the  Democratic  Party  in  Mr.  Clinton.  Now  Spencer  was  menaced 
with  a  similar  fate,  and  sought  to  avert  it.  The  popularity  of  Tompkins 
and  the  talents  and  fascination  of  Van  Buren  made  them  exceedingly 
influential  among  the  members  of  the  Legislature,  M'ith  whom  they  were 
in  constant  intercourse.  They  were  now  the  political  antagonists  of 
Clinton,  and  disposed  to  give  the  cold  shoulder  to  Spencer.  The  latter 
well  knew  that  there  was  no  man  who  could  neutralize  the  influence  of 
these  rivals  more  effectually  than  Mr.  Clinton,  and  Spencer  sought  and 
obtained  a  reconciliation  with  his  old  friend  and  kinsman.  Mi's.  Spencer 
was  a  sister  of  Clinton. 

In  February,  1817,  Governor  Tompkins  resigned  his  seat  to  occupy 

*  Ambrose  Spencer,  LL.D.,  was  the  son  of  a  farmer  and  mechanic,  and  was  bom  in 
Salisbury,  Conn.,  in  1765.  He  died  at  Lyons,  N.  Y.,  in  March,  1848.  He  was  graduated 
at  Harvard,  and  studied  law  with  John  Cantield,  of  Sharon,  Conn.,  whose  daughter  he 
married  before  he  was  nineteen  yeans  of  age.  After  her  death  he  married  a  sister  of  De 
"Witt  Clinton.  They  settled  in  Hudson,  N.  Y.  In  1793  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly, 
and  was  State  senator  from  1795  to  1802.  He  was  the  author  of  a  bill  which  abolished 
the  penally  of  death  excepting  for  the  crimes  of  treason  and  murder  ;  also  for  the  erection 
of  a  Stat(!  prison  near  New  York,  and  for  the  amelioration  of  the  condition  of  prisoners. 
In  1802  he  was  appointed  attorney-general,  and  in  1804  was  made  Chief-Justice  of  the 
State  Supreme  Court.  Judg;-  Spencer  was  always  an  active  politician.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  State  Con.stitutional  ('onvention  in  1821  ;  was  Mayor  of  Albany,  and  from 
1829  to  1831  a  member  of  Congress.  In  1839  he  removed  to  the  village  of  Lyons,  where 
he  died. 


THE   FIRST  BOAT   ON  THE   ERIE  CANAL.  453 

that  of  Vice-President  of  the  United  States.  There  appeared  a  strong 
disposition  in  the  Legislature  to  nominate  Mr.  Clinton  for  governor. 
Mr.  Van  Buren  and  liis  friends  opposed  it.  Spencer  worked  valiantly 
for  it.  Clinton  was  nominated,  and  in  April  was  elected  by  an  almost 
unanimous  vote.  Tlie  Federalists  did  not  make  any  nomination,  and 
they  generally  voted  for  Clinton. 

How  "  the  whirligig  of  time  brings  about  its  revenges  "!  Only  two 
years  before,  Mr.  Clinton  had  been  expelled  by  his  party  from  the  office 
of  Mayor  of  New  York,  denounced  by  the  leading  Democrats  in  his 
native  State  and  the  nation  as  utterly  unworthy  of  their  confidence,  and 
consigned  to  political  perdition  ;  now  we  see  him  elevated  to  the  highest 
official  position  in  his  State  by  a  majority  of  the  Democratic  Party  and 
of  the  opposing  party  as  their  best  man  ! 

A  formidable  political  faction  opposed  to  Governor  Clinton  soon 
appeared,  and  gave  origin  to  two  distinctly  marked  parties  known  as 
"  Bucktails,"  or  Democrats,  and  "  Clintonians.'"  * 

Little  of  special  importance  outside  of  the  political  arena  occurred  in 
the  State  of  New  York  during  the  reiriainder  of  Governor  Clinton's 
administration.  The  construction  of  the  great  water  highway  across  the 
State  was  pushed  on  with  vigor,  and  on  October  22d,  1819,  the  first  boat 
on  the  Erie  Canal  floated  between  Rome  and  Utica,  with  the  governor 
and  other  distinguished  citizens  on  board. 

In  the  spring  of  1820  a  hot  contest  for  the  governorship  of  the  State 
occurred.  The  Bucktails  nominated  Vice-President  Tompkins  for  that 
position,  and  the  Clintonians  renominated  Mr.  Clinton.  The  canvass 
was  very  spirited,  and  resulted  in  the  re-election  of  Mr.  Clinton  by  about 
fourteen  hundred  majority. 

Just  before  the  election  a  most  singular  movement  took  place  among 
the  politicians  of  the  State,  designed  to  "  put  down  Mr.  Clinton  at  all 
hazards."  On  April  14th  fifty  professed  Federalists,  representing  the 
intelligence  and  wealth  of  the  State  (among  them  sons  of  the  late  General 
Hamilton  and  also  of  Rufus  King),  issued  an  address  to  the  people,  in 
which  they  affirmed  that  the  Federal  Party  no  longer  existed,  and 
avowed  their  intention  to  support  Mr.  Tompkins  for  governor  and  to 
attach  themselves   to  the  great  Democratic  Party  of  the  nation — the 

*  There  was  an  order  in  the  Tammany  Society  who,  on  certain  occasions,  wore  a  por- 
tion of  the  tail  of  a  deer  in  their  hats.  The  Tammanyites  were  all  opposed  to  Clinton, 
and  had  a  controlling  influence  in  the  Democratic  Party  in  the  State.  The  friends  of 
Clinton  gave  to  them  the  name  of  "  Bucktails,"  as  the  order  that  wore  that  insignia  was 
a  leading  one  in  the  society.  Hence  the  party  opposed  to  Mr.  Clinton  was  called,  for  a 
long  time,  the  Bucktail  Party. 


454  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Bucktails  in  New  York.  They  did  not  object  to  Mr.  Clinton's  capacity, 
liis  morals,  or  his  public  measures,  but  opposed  liim  solely  because,  they 
alleged,  he  was  attempting  to  form  a  "  personal  party."  At  the  same 
time  Mr.  Van  Buren  and  his  friends  were  as  strenuously  opposing  Mr. 
Clinton,  solely  on  the  professed  ground  that  the  Federal  Party  did  exist 
in  the  State,  and  that  he  was  secretly  inclined  to  favor  it.  They,  too, 
admitted  the  talents  and  virtues  of  Mr.  Clinton,  and  did  not  object  to 
his  public  measures,  but  they  suspected  him  of  political  coquetry  !  The 
common-sense  of  the  better  people  of  the  State  perceived  the  absurdity 
of  the  actions  of  the  intriguing  politicians,  and  gave  ^Ir.  Clinton  a 
triumphant  majority  vote.  Governor  Clinton's  success  at  tliis  time  was 
largely  due  to  his  popularity  as  the  leading  champion  of  the  canal 
interest. 

At  a  session  of  the  Legislature  held  in  November  (1820)  Governor 
Clinton  recommended  the  passage  of  a  law  for  the  choice  of  presidential 
electors  directly  by  the  people  ;  also  another  for  the  calling  of  a  conven- 
tion for  the  consideration  of  amendments  to  the  State  Constitution.  A 
bill  for  the  latter  purpose  was  passed  by  both  houses  in  January  follow- 
ing, but  was  rejected  by  the  Council  of  Revision  *  by  the  casting  vote 
of  the  governor,  who  did  not  approve  of  some  of  its  provisions. 

Early  in  the  session  of  1821  another  bill  providing  for  a  convention 
was  passed,  and  became  a  law.  The  Legislature  and  the  Council  of 
Appointment  w-ere  politically  opposed  to  the  governor,  and  the  latter 
body  soon  set  the  work  of  official  decapitation  in  motion.  One  of  the 
victims  was  Gideon  Hawley,  the  wise  and  able  Superintendent  of  Com- 
mon Schools,  whose  removal  was  without  excuse.  They  proceeded  to 
fill  his  place  by  appointing  to  the  position  a  young  lawyer  who  was 
utterly  incompetent  to  perform  the  duties.  The  removal  of  Hawley  was 
regarded  as  so  gross  an  outrage  against  the  best  interests  of  society  that 
the  political  friends  of  the  Council  in  the  Legislature  would  not  submit 
to  it.     r>y  an  almost  unanimous  vote  the  Legislature  abolished  the  office 

*  The  Council  of  Revision,  as  we  have  observed  on  page  259,  like  the  Council  of  Ap- 
pointment, was  a  part  of  the  machinery  of  the  Executive  Department  of  tlie  State  Gov- 
ernment. It  possessed  and  exercised  the  veto  jwwer.  All  bills  passed  by  the  Legislature 
were  submitted  to  its  inspection  and  revision  before  becoming  laws.  But  if,  after  bills 
had  been  rejected  and  returned  to  the  Legislature  with  objections  stated,  by  the  Council 
of  Revision,  they  should  again  be  ]wssed,  by  a  vote  of  two  tliirds,  they  iK'came  laws. 
This  council,  after  an  existence  of  about  forty  years,  was  alwlished  by  the  Conventicn 
of  1821,  and  its  jwwer  lodged  in  the  liands  of  the  governor  by  the  Constitution  framed 
that  year.  During  its  existence  the  Cotnicil  returned  one  hundred  and  sixty-nine  bills, 
with  their  objections,  to  the  Legislature.  Fifty -one  of  the  bills  so  returned  were  pas.sed 
into  laws  by  the  Legislature  by  a  two-thirds  vote. 


CONVENTION   TO   REVISE   THE   STATE   CONSTITUTION.  455 

of  Superintendent  of  Common  Schools,  and  assigned  the  duties  of  that 
official  to  the  Secretary  of  State. 

So  eager  were  the  people  for  a  revision  of  the  State  Constitution  that 
at  the  April  election  (1821),  when  the  subject  was  submitted  to  them, 
there  was  a  majority  of  nearly  seventy-five  thousand  votes  in  favor  of  a 
convention.  On  the  third  Tuesday  in  June  elections  of  delegates  to  a 
constitutional  convention  were  held  throughout  the  State.  Some  of  the 
most  distinguished  men  in  the  commonwealth  "svere  chosen  delegates, 
some  of  them  having  been  selected  on  account  of  their  superior  ability 
rather  than  for  any  partisan  consideration  ;  yet  a  larger  portion  of  the 
representatives  Avere  Democrats. 

The  convention  assembled  at  the  Capitol  *  in  the  city  of  Albany  on 
August  28th,  when  one  hundred  and  ten  delegates  were  present.  They 
presented  an  array  of  talent,  experience,  and  weight  of  personal  character 
unsurpassed  by  any  similar  body  of  men  ever  before  assembled  in  the 
republic. f  They  chose  Vice-President  Tompkins  to  preside  over  their 
deliberations,  and  John  F.  Bacon  and  Samuel  L.  Gardiner  to  record  the 
proceedings.  William  L.  Stone,  editor  of  the  New  York  Commercial 
Advertiser  j  '^.  H.  Carter,  of  i\iQ  Statesman  j  and  M,  I.  Cantine  Avere 
the  official  reporters. 

The  convention  remained  in  session  nearly  two  months  and  a  half,  and 
made  many  important  changes  in  the  fundamental  law  of  the  State. 
The  debates,  especially  those  concerning  the  right  of  suifrage,  were 
marked  by  signal  ability,  and  were  exceedingly  interesting.      The  labors 


*  The  State  Capitol  at  that  time  stood  on  the  site  of  tlie  new  one  not  yet  (1887)  coni- 
plct<>d,  at  the  head  of  State  Street,  one  hundred  and  tliirty  feet  above  tide-water.  Its 
corner-stone  was  laid  in  1806.  It  was  a  substantial  stone  building,  veneered  with  brown 
.sandstone  from  quarries  below  the  Hudson  Highlands.  The  columns,  i)ilasters,  and 
decorations  of  the  doors  and  windows  were  of  white  or  gray  marble  from  Berkshire, 
Mass.  As  it  was  in  part  designed  for  city  offices,  it  was  erected  in  part  at  tlie  expense  of 
the  city  of  Albany.  Tlie  wliole  expense  was  a  trifle  over  $120,000,  of  which  amount  the 
city  paid  $;U,000.     It  was  begun  in  1803  and  finished  in  1807. 

f  The  following  gentlemen  were  among  the  most  distinguished  delegates  elected  by 
the  Democrats  :  Nathan  Sandford,  Jacob  Radcliff,  William  Paulding,  Henry  Wlieaton, 
Ogden  Edwards,  .John  Oliver,  Sanmel  Nelson  (afterward  chief-justice  of  the  State),  Martin 
Van  Buren,  Daniel  D.  Tompkins,  Samuel  Young,  Jacob  Sutherhmd,  Erastus  Root,  Rufus 
King  (the  latter  liad  been  a  very  prominent  leader  among  tlie  Federalists),  General  James 
Tallmadge,  and  Peter  R.  Living-ston.  Those  most  distinguished  who  were  elected  b}^  the 
other  party  were  Stephen  van  Rensselaer,  Chancellor  Kent,  Ambrose  Spencer.  Abraham 
van  Vechten,  AVilliam  W.  Van  Ness,  Elisha  Williams,  .1.  Rutson  van  Rensselaer,  Peter 
A.  Jay,  Judge  Jonas  Piatt,  and  Ezekiel  Baum.  The  labor  of  re])or ting  and  preparing  for 
the  press  the  proceedings  of  the  convention  was  performed  almost  wholly  by  Colonel 
W.  L.  Stone.     It  was  done  with  remarkable  accuracy. 


456  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

of  the  convention  were  ended  on  IS'oveinber  lOtli  (1821),  when  it  ad- 
journed sine  die.* 

Allotted  space  will  allow  only  brief  allusion  to  the  most  important 
labors  of  the  convention  and  the  chief  new  features  given  to  the  instru- 
ment then  adopted.  The  subjects  of  (1)  the  Legislative  Department ; 
(2)  the  Executive  Department  ;  (3)  the  Judiciary  Department  ;  (4)  the 
•Council  of  Revision  ;  (5)  the  Council  of  Appointment  ;  (6)  the  Right 
of  Suffrage  ;  (7)  the  Rights  and  Privileges  of  Citizens  ;  (8)  Miscellaneous 
Matters  ;  (9)  the  Legislative  Year  and  Terms  of  Elective  Officers  ; 
(10)  the  Mode  of  Making  Future  Amendments,  were  referred  to  standing 
committees. 

The  Legislative  Department  was  declared  to  consist  of  a  Senate  com- 
posed of  thirty-two  members,  distributed  equally  over  eight  Senate  dis- 
tricts, elected  for  four  years,  one  fourth  of  this  number  going  out  each 
year  and  presided  over  by  the  lieutenant-governor,  with  a  casting  vote  ; 
and  an  Assembly  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  members, 
apportioned  among  the  several  counties  according  to  population,  and 
annually  elected. 

The  Executive  Department  to  consist  of  a  governor  and  lieutenant- 
governor  to  be  elected  biennially,  and  the  several  State  officers,  with  the 
exception  of  the  adjutant-general,  chosen  by  joint  ballot  of  the  Senate 
and  Assembly  once  in  every  three  years.  Sheriffs,  county  clerks,  and 
coroners  to  be  elected  by  the  people  of  the  several  counties  for  a  term  of 
three  years. 

The  judiciary  system  was  remodelled  by  the  substitution  of  circuit 
courts  in  eight  judicial  districts  into  which  the  State  was  divided,  in 
place  of  the  previous  system  of  trials  of  important  issues  before  one  of 
the  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  ;  the  reduction  of  the  Supreme  Court 
to  a  chief-justice  and  two  assistant  justices,  with  the  right  of  appeal  to 
the  Senate,  chancellor,  and  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  sitting  as  a 
court  for  the  correction  of  errors,  the  several  judges  to  hold  office  until 
the  age  of  sixty  years,  unless  previously  removed  for  cause  ;  and  the 
appointment  of  a  chancellor,  for  the  determination  of  all  cases  of  equity 
jurisdiction,  subject  to  the  same  right  of  appeal.  Judges  of  the  county 
courts  of  Common  Pleas  and  justices  of  the  peace  to  be  appointed  by 
the  governor  and  Senate. 


*  It  was  during  tliis  year  that  Martin  Van  Biiren  was  chosen  to  represent  the  State  of 
New  York  in  the  Senati!  of  the  United  States,  a  field  commensurate  witli  liis  ambitious 
aspirations  and  Ids  enunent  intellectual  ability.  lie  now  entered  the  arena  of  national 
polities,  and  rose  to  the  highest  station  in  the  republic. 


IMPORTANT   FEATURES    OF   THE   NEW   CONSTITUTION.  457 

The  Councils  of  Revision  and  Appointment  *  were  abolished.  The 
functions  of  the  latter  were  devolved  upon  the  governor  and  the  Senate, 
and  of  the  former  upon  the  governor,  who  was  vested  with  the  veto 
power. 

The  right  of  suffrage  w^as  extended  to  every  male  citizen  of  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years  and  upward,  with  no  other  restrictions  than  that  of 
residence  and  exemption  from  criminal  conviction,  and  the  requisition 
of  a  freehold  qualification  of  $250,  in  the  case  of  colored  voters. 

A  section  requiring  the  call  of  future  conventions  for  the  amendment 
of  the  Constitution  on  the  expiration  of  each  period  of  twenty  years 
thereafter  was  adopted.  Also  another,  authorizing  the  Legislature,  in 
the  mean  time,  by  a  two-thirds  vote,  to  submit  any  amendment  deemed 
requisite  to  a  popular  vote  for  its  ratification.  At  a  special  election  held 
in  February,  1S22,  the  new  Constitution  was  ratified  and  adopted  by  a 
majority  of  thirty-four  thousand  votes. 

*  The  Council  of  Appointment  was  one  of  the  most  gigantic  political  machines  subject 
to  partisan  purposes  ever  put  in  motion.  That  it  did  not  work  more  political  mischief 
than  it  did  must  be  credited  to  the  prevalence  of  great  public  virtue.  At  the  time  of  its 
abolition  the  Council  had  at  its  disposal  six  thousand  six  hundred  and  sixty-three  civil 
offices  and  eight  tliousand  two  hiindred  and  eighty- seven  military  offices.  The  patronage 
dispen.sed  by  the  civil  officers  was  enormous  in  amount.  The  Council  could  appoint  and 
dismiss  at  pleasure,  and  as  its  political  complexion  was  subject  to  frequent  and  sudden 
<hanges,  the  tenure  of  office  was  as  weak  as  a  rope  of  sand.  Such  a  condition  was  most 
demoralizing  to  the  civil  service, 


458  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CIIAPTEK   XXXIIl. 

The  population  of  the  State  of  New  York  at  the  time  of  the  adoption 
of  the  new  Constitution  was  about  one  million  four  hundred  thousand, 
of  whom  forty  thousand  were  colored,  including  a  little  more  than  ten 
thousand  slaves.  Albany,  the  political  capital  of  the  State,  contained 
between  twelve  and  thirteen  thousand  inhabitants,  and  New  York  City, 
its  commercial  metropolis,  had  a  population  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  thousand.  Its  agricultural  products ;  its  mineral  resources ;  its 
manufactures,  commerce,  and  trade  ;  its  accumulated  wealth  and  its 
political  influence  in  the  nation  gave  New  York  even  then  a  fair  claim 
to  the  title  of  The  Empire  State. 

The  Algerine  corsairs  in  tlie  Mediterranean  Sea  had  been  suppressed 
and  the  piratical  Barbary  Powers  had  been  humbled  by  a  squadron  of 
the  United  States  Navy,  commanded  by  Commodore  Decatur.*  Ameri- 
can commerce,  thns  untrammelled,  was  making  its  M'ay  even  to  the 
Levant  and  the  Golden  Horn,  and  her  white- winged  ships  flecked  the  seas 
of  far-off  India.  New  York  had  begun  to  send  its  argosies  everywhere, 
and  held  a  proud  position  among  its  sister  commonwealths.  Sagacious 
men  saw  clearly  that  it  was  at  the  entrance  upon  a  far  more  wonderful 
career  of  commercial  activity  and  general  prosperity  than  ever  before, 
for  the  Erie  Canal,  witli  all  its  possibilities  foreshadowed,  was  well 
advanced  toward  completion. 

But  little  of  importance  was  done  by  the  Legislature  which  convened 
early  in  January,  1822,  excepting  to  provide  for  setting  in  motion  the 
machinery  of  civil  government  under  the  amended  Constitution.  Gov- 
ernor Clinton  congratulated  the  Legislature  upon  tlie  great  progress 
made  in  the  construction  of  the  canals — the  Erie  and  the  Champlain — 
and  recommended  various  modifications  of  the  civil  and  criminal  laws. 


*  Commodore  Stephen  Decatur  was  sent  to  the  Mediterranean  with  a  squadron  to 
liumble  the  Barbary  Powers  and  to  break  up  the  nests  of  pirates  tliat  infested  those 
waters.  He  captured  two  pirate  vessels  and  then  saik'd  for  Algiers,  when  he  demanded 
the  instant  surrender  of  all  Anieriean  prisoners,  full  indemnity  for  all  i)roperty  destroyed 
by  English  vessels  which  were  allowed  to  enter  his  harbor,  and  absolute  relinquishment  of 
all  claim  to  tribute  from  the  llnited  States.  The  Dey  of  Algiers  yielded.  Decatur  tlien 
visited  Tunis  and  Tripoli  with  a  similar  result.  He  received  from  the  two  latter  lowers 
$71,000.     This  cruise  gave  full  security  to  American  commerce  in  the  Alediterranean  Sea. 


THE   ERA   OF   GOOD   FEELING." 


459 


The  new  Constitution  liaving  provided  that  no  lottery  should  there- 
after be  authorized  in  the  State,  and  the  sale  of  tickets  prohibited  except- 
ing in  lotteries  already  established,  two  persons  (Messrs.  Yates  and 
Mclntyre)  were  appointed  managers  of  the  State  Lottery  for  the  pro- 
vision of  funds  for  colleges,  etc.  At  the  termination  of  this  lottery  soon 
afterward  this  vicious  system  of  supporting  institutions  of  learning  in 
the  State  was  abandoned  forever. 

The  new  Constitution  changed  the  time  for  holding  the  general  State 
elections  from  April  to  November.  Mr.  Clinton  was  not  renominated 
for  governor.  Indeed,  in  the 
gradual  disintegration  of  parties 
then  in  progress,  the  Clintonian 
party  had  nearly  disappeared. 
So,  also,  had  the  Federal  Party 
in  the  State.  There  was  unu- 
sual quiet  in  the  political  arena 
throughout  the  republic.  This 
state  of  things  gave  to  the  second 
term  of  Mr.  Monroe's  adminis- 
tration the  title  of  "  The  Era 
of  Good  Feeling.'"'  Joseph  C. 
Yates,  *  of  Schenectady,  was 
elected  Governor  of  Xew  York 
M'itli  no  other  opposition  than  a 
few  scattering  votes  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  State  given  for 
Solomon  Southwick,  a  self-nom- 
inated candidate  for  governor.  Both  branches  of  the  Legislature  were 
overwlielmingly  Democratic. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Legislature  under  the  amended  Constitution 
(January,  1823)  measures  were  taken  for  adjusting  the  government 
machinery  in  accordance  with  its  requirements.  John  Savage  was  made 
Chief- Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  Jacob  Sutherland  and  John 
Wood  worth  were  created  associate  justices.  Nathan  Sandford  was  ap- 
pointed Chancellor  ;  J.    Yan   Ness  Yates,    Secretary  of   State  ;  W.   L. 


JOSEPH    C.    YATES 


*  Judge  Yates  was  born  in  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  in  November,  1768,  and  died  there  in 
Marcli,  1837.  He  was  a  son  of  Colonel  Christopher  Yates  of  the  Revolution  ;  gained 
eminence  as  a  lawyer,  and  from  1803  till  1823  was  a  judge  of  the  State  Supreme  Court. 
He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Union  College,  in  1795  ;  was  Mayor  of  Schenectady  in 
1798,  and  State  senator  in  1806-1807.  He  was  governor  of  the  State  in  1823-34,  and  after- 
ward remained  in  private  life. 


460  THE  EMPIRE  STATE, 

Marcy,  Comptroller  ;  S.  A.  Talcott,  Attorney-General,  and  Simeon  De 
Witt,  Surveyor-General,  an  office  he  had  then  held  about  fifty  years.  To 
the  classical  taste  of  Mr.  De  Witt  the  interior  of  the  State  of  New  York 
is  indebted  for  its  burden  of  ancient  names  given  to  townships  and 
villages.  One  might  easily  suppose  that  region  had  been  settled  by  Greek 
and  Roman  colonies.'*^ 

The  puissant  Democratic  Party  in  the  State  was  split  asunder  at  the 
fall  elections  in  1823  largely  by  the  question  of  submitting  the  choice  of 
presidential  electors  to  the  people.  A  new  organization  sprang  up 
known  as  "  The  People's  Party,"  and  carried  several  of  the  largest 
Democratic  counties  of  the  State.  Its  strength  was  increased  by  the 
unwise  action  of  the  Legislature  early  in  1824  in  refusing  to  give  the 
people  the  power  to  choose  presidential  electors,  and  by  an  extraordinary 
exhibition  of  personal  enmity  toward  Mr.  Clinton.  The  Senate  passed 
a  resolution  for  the  removal  of  Mr.  Clinton  from  the  office  of  canal  com- 
missioner.    The  Assembly  immediately  concurred  by  a  large  majority.f 

This  unwarrantable  and  purely  partisan  conduct  produced  intense 
indignation  throughout  the  State.  Large  public  meetings  were  held  in 
many  places,  at  which  the  conduct  of  the  Legislature  was  denounced  and 
the  high  character  and  valuable  public  services  of  Mr.  Clinton  w^ere 
recounted  and  approved.  A  State  Convention  held  at  Utica  nominated 
him  for  governor,  and  at  the  November  election  he  was  chosen  for  that 
office  over  Samuel  Young  by  a  majority  of  nearly  seventeen  thousand 
votes.  General  James  Tallmadge,  of  Duchess,  was  elected  lieutenant- 
governor  over  General  Root  by  thirty-four  thousand  four  hundred  and 
nine  majority,  having  received  the  combined  votes  of  the  Democratic  and 
the  People's  parties. 

*  Simeon  De  Witt  was  born  in  Ulster  County,  N.  Y.,  in  December,  1756  ;  died  in 
Albany  in  1834.  lie  was  a  graduate  of  Queens  (Rutgers)  College,  N.  J. ;  entered  the  Con- 
tinental Army,  where  he  held  the  position  of  "  geographer,"  and  was  with  Gates  at  the 
surrender  of  Burgoyue.  He  was  also  at  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis.  He  was  Surveyor- 
General  of  the  State  of  New  York  from  1784  until  his  death.  In  179(5  he  declined  the 
office  of  Surveyor-General  of  the  United  States.  In  1798  he  was  appointed  a  regent  of  the 
University  ;  1817,  Vice-Cliancellor,  and  in  1829,  Chancellor  of  the  State.  He  made  a  map 
of  the  State  of  New  York  in  1804.  Mr.  De  Witt  was  a  member  of  many  literary  and 
scientific  societies. 

•f  This  movement  was  probably  preconcerted.  Only  a  .short  time  before  the  hour 
fi.xed  for  the  adjournment  of  the  Tiegislature — "  perhaps  I  may  say  minutes,"  wrote  Mr. 
Hammond — Mr.  Bowman,  a  senator  from  Monroe  County,  submitted  a  resolution  for  the 
removal  of  Mr.  Clinton  from  the  office  of  canal  commissioner.  It  was  acted  ui>on  im- 
mediately, all  but  three  .senators  voting  in  the  affirmative.  The  resolution  was  fortliwith 
sent  to  the  As.sembly,  where  it  was  immediately  passed  by  a  vote  of  sixty-four  against 
thirty -four.     This  action  caused  the  political  death  of  Mr.  Bowman. 


LAFAYETTE   THE   NATION'S   GUEST. 


461 


At  the  middle  of  August,  1824,  Lafayette  arrived  in  the  United  States 
as  the  guest  of  the  nation,  after  an  absence  of  forty  years.  He  landed 
at  Staten  Island,  and  remained  there,  the  guest  of  Vice-President 
Tompkins,  until  the  next  day,  when  he  was  escorted  to  the  city  of  New 
York  by  a  large  fleet  of  vessels  of  every  kind.  There  he  was  received 
with  great  honors — booming  of  cannons,  pealing  of  bells,  and  shouts  of  a 
multitude — and  was  welcomed  by  the  municipal  authorities.  He  was 
conducted  to  the  City  Hall,  and  was  the  guest  of  the  corporation  for 
several  days.  He  visited  the  principal  institutions,  and  held  crowded 
receptions  of   the  citizens.     He  made  an    extensive   tour   through   the 


-ft 


CASTLE   GARDEN   IN    1853. 


United  States.  It  was  a  continued  ovation.  In  September  the  follow- 
ing year,  after  a  brilliant  reception  at  Castle  Garden  by  the  citizens  of 
New  York,  he  departed  for  his  home  in  France.  He  was  conveyed  to 
his  country  in  the  frigate  Brandijwine,  so  named  in  compliment  to  him. 
He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  on  Brandywine  Creek. 

\Yhile  Lafayette  was  in  the  United  States  a  presidential  election 
occurred,  and  resulted  in  the  choice  of  John  Quincy  Adams,  son  of 
ex-President  John  Adams,  as  Chief  Magistrate  of  the  republic.  There 
were  five  candidates  in  the  field— namely,  John  Quincy  Adams,  Henry 
Clay,  William  H.  Crawford,  Andrew  Jackson,  and  John  C.  Calhoun. 
The  Electoral  College  failed  to  make  a  choice,  and  that  duty  devolved 


40:^  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

upon  the  House  of  Representatives  for  tlie  second  time  in  tlie  liistorj  of 
the  Government.  One  of  the  earliest  acts  of  President  Adams  after  his 
inauguration  on  Marcli  4tli,  1825,  was  to  offer  Governor  Clinton  the 
position  of  Minister  of  the  United  States  ta  Great  I^ricain.  It  was 
respectfully  declined,  when  it  was  conferred  upon  Rufus  King,  of  New 
York. 

In  his  message  to  the  Legislature  at  the  beginning  of  1825,  Governor 
Clinton  recommended  the  passage  of  a  law  giving  the  choice  of  presi- 
dential electors  to  the  people  ;  the  creation  of  a  Board  of  Internal 
Improvements  for  the  completion  and  extension  of  the  canal  system  of 
the  State,  and  the  construction  of  a  great  highway  through  the  southern 
tier  of  counties,  then  rather  sparsely  settled.  The  Legislature  passed  an 
act  for  the  appointment  of  these  commissions  to  explore  and  cause  to  be 
surveyed  a  route  for  such  road.  It  was  never  built  by  the  State,  but 
canals  were  rapidly  multiplied  soon  afterward.* 

The  year  1825  was  a  memorable  one  in  the  history  of  the  State  of  New 
York.  It  was  the  beginning  of  a  new  era  in  its  wonderful  career  of 
prosperity.  The  great  Erie  Canal,  which  traversed  the  State  from  west 
to  east— the  most  gigantic  work  of  the  kind  in  the  world — was  completed 
in  the  autumn  of  that  year — an  artificial  navigable  riv^er  more  than  three 
hundred  and  sixty  miles  in  length.  Governor  Clinton,  its  mightiest 
champion,  had  made  a  tour  the  previous  summer,  first  to  Philadelphia, 
and  then  to  Ohio  and  Kentucky,  for  the  purpose  of  inspecting  public 
improvements  in  progress  in  those  States.  He  was  everywhere  received 
with  earnest  demonstrations  of  respect,  for  his  fame  was  now  national — 
nay,  even  international. 

The  half  decade  of  years  previous  to  1830  presented  in  the  State  and 
city  of  New  York  a  most  exciting  drama  to  the  eye  of  the  social  observer. 
It  was  the  great  transition  period  from  the  stagnation  of  business  and 
enterprise  caused  by  the  late  war  to  the  awakening  to  new  and  prosperous 
life  througliout  the  whole  country.  Nowhere  in  our  broad  land  was  that 
awakening  more  pronounced  and  the  results  more  marvellous  than  in  the 
State  of  New  York  and  its  great  seaport.  The  grandest  and  most 
puissant  of  the  forces  which  produced  this  awakening  in  New  York  and 

*  The  (/'ham plain  Canal  Wivs  completed  in  the  summer  of  1823.  A  gentleman  engaged 
in  the  lumber  trade  in  Northern  New  York  wrote  to  his  brother  from  Fort  Edward  on 
August  29th,  1822  :  "  Tliis  morning,  at  eight  o'clock,  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the 
water  pour  over  the  big  dam  [a  feeder  for  the  canal].  It  filled  in  about  sixty-two  hours 
after  the  planks  were  laid  down,  Avhich  was  much  quicker  than  was  anticipated,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  river  being  so  very  low.  The  canal  will  be  in  full  operation  by  Satur- 
day."   This  canal  connects  Lake  Champlain  with  the  Hudson  River  at  Fort  Edward. 


PROCESSION  OF  BOATS  OX  THE  ERIE  CANAL. 


463 


the  region  west  of  it  was  the  putting  into  operation  the  great  Erie  Canal. 
It  had  occupied  in  its  construction  the  time  of  eiglit  vears  and  four 
months  from  its  commencement  at  Rome  on  July  4th,  1817,  until  the 
celebration  of  its  completion  on  x^ovember  4th,  1825.  That  celebration 
presented  one  of  the  most  remarkable  pageants  ever  before  seen  in  the 
State  or  nation. 

The  first  flotilla  of  canal-boats  left  Buffalo,  on  Lake  Erie,  for  the  city 
of  New  York  on  the  morning  of 
October  26th.  On  that  morning 
the  waters  of  Lake  Erie  first  flowed 
into  the  "  Great  Ditch,"  as  doubt- 
ers and  opposers  of  the  canal  con- 
temptuously called  it.  Tidings  of 
this  event  were  sent  from  Buffalo 
to  Xew  York,  in  the  space  of  one 
hour  and  twenty  minntes,  on  the 
M'ings  of  sound  produced  by  dis- 
charges of  cannons  placed  at  inter- 
vals along  the  line  of  the  canal  and 
the  Hudson  Iliv^er. 

The  flotilla,  beautifully  decora- 
ted, was  led  by  the  barge  Seneca 
Chiefs  drawn  by  four  powerful  gray 
liorses.  It  bore  as  passengers  Gov- 
ernor CHnton,  Lieutenant-Governor 

Tallmadge,  General  Stephen  van  Rensselaer  (the  patroon^^  General 
Solomon  van  Rensselaer,  Colonel  W.  L.  Stone,*  a  delegation  from  New 
York  City,  and  gentlemen  and  ladies  who  were  invited  guests.  One 
large  boat  called  NoaJis  Ark  contained  a  bear,  two  fawns,  two  live 
eagles,  and  a  variety  of  birds  and  "  four-footed  beasts,"  with  two 
Seneca  Indian  youths  in  the  costume  of  their  dusky  nation. 

*  William  Leet  Stone  w<a.s  bora  at  Esopus,  N.  Y.,  in  April,  1793  ;  died  at  Saratoga 
Springs  in  August,  1844.  He  made  his  residence  at  Cooperstown  in  1809,  and  there 
learned  the  art  of  printing.  In  1813  he  became  editor  of  the  Herkiincr  American.  After- 
ward he  was  an  editor  at  Hudson,  and  at  Albany,  X.  Y.,  and  at  Hartford,  Conn.  From 
1821  until  his  death  he  was  the  able  editor  of  the  New  York  Commercial  Adwrtiser.  For 
.some  years  he  was  Superintendent  of  Common  Schools  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and 
did  efficient  service  in  the  cause  of  education.  Colonel  Stone  held  a  ready  pen,  and  wrote 
and  published  several  volumes  of  much  value.  The  most  conspicuous  of  these  are  The 
Life  of  Joxeph  Brant,  The  Life  of  Ihid  Jacket,  and  Harder  Warn  of  the  American  lievo- 
Intion.  At  ihe  time  of  liis  death  he  had  completed  the  collection  and  arrangement  of 
materials  for  a  life  of  Sir  William  .Johnson,  which  was  finished  and  published  by  his  son, 
William  L.  Stone,  himself  an  accomplished  writer. 


WILLIAM    L.    STONK. 


464  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Crowds  gathered  at  villages  and  hamlets  along  the  route  at  all  hours 
of  the  day  and  night  to  see  and  greet  the  novel  procession.  At  Rochester, 
where  the  canal  crosses  the  Genesee  River,  a  man  was  stationed  as  a 
sentinel  in  a  boat  on  the  Genesee,  and  when  the  Seneca  6%^^e/' entered 
the  aqueduct  he  called  out  : 

"  Who  comes  there  ?" 

"  Your  brothers  from  the  West,  on  the  waters  of  the  Great  Lakes," 
answered  a  voice  from  the  Chief. 

"  By  what  means  have  they  been  diverted  so  far  from  their  natural 
course  ?"  the  sentinel  inquired. 

"  Through  the  channel  of  the  grand  Erie  Canal,"  responded  the  same 
voice. 

"By  whose  authority  and  by  whom  was  a  work  of  such  magnitude 
accomplished  ?"  asked  the  sentinel. 

"  By  the  authority  and  by  the  enterprise  of  the  people  of  Xew  York," 
cried  many  voices  as  one  from  the  deck  of  the  Chief. 

A  canal- boat  called  llie  Young  Lion  of  the  West,  having  on  board 
several  distinguished  gentlemen,  two  living  wolves,  a  fawn,  a  fox,  four 
raccoons,  and  two  eagles,  here  joined  the  flotilla,  which  was  everywhere 
greeted  with  demonstrations  of  joy  as  it  glided  down  the  beautiful 
Mohawk  Valley.  At  Albany,  the  eastern  terminus  of  the  canal,  where 
it  is  cormected  with  the  Chainplain  Canal,  the  voyagers  were  received 
by  a  grand  civic  and  military  procession,  who  escorted  the  governor  and 
his  travelling  companions  to  the  Capitol,  where  interesting  services  were 
held  while  bells  rang  and  cannons  thundered.  People  had  gathered  at 
the  State  capital  from  all  parts  of  Northern  New  York,  Vermont,  and 
even  Canada  to  witness  the  imposing  spectacle.  Philip  Hone,*  the 
Mayor  of  New  York,  made  a  congratulatory  speech,  and  in  the  name  of 
his  constituents  invited  the  Corporation  of  Albany  to  accompany  the 
voyagers  down  tiie  river  and  partake  of  the  hospitality  of  the  commercial 
metropolis.     There  was  a  grand  illumination  in  Albany  that  evening. 

*  Philip  Hone  was  a  prosperous  and  public-spirited  merchant  of  New  York  City, 
where  he  was  born  in  1781  and  died  in  1851.  He  wixs  a  very  popular  man  of  business, 
and  in  social  life  a  fluent  public  spealier,  and  active  in  all  important  movements  in  the  city 
of  his  birth.  Mr.  Hone  was  the  chief  founder  of  the  Mercantile  Library  Association 
of  New  York.  In  1825-26  he  was  Mayor  of  New  York.  He  was  the  life  of  the  Hone 
Club,  composed  of  the  literary  and  other  celebrities  of  the  city.  President  Taylor  ap- 
pointed him  naval  officer  at  New  York,  which  post  he  held  at  the  time  of  liis  death. 
Dr.  J.  W.  Francis  wrote  of  Mr.  Hone  as  a  public-spirited  citizen  :  "  From  the  layins?  of 
a  Russ  pavement  to  the  elaboration  of  a  church  portico,  from  the  wideninj?  of  a  street  or 
avenue  to  the  magnificent  enterprise  which  resulted  in  the  Crotou  Aqueduct,  he  was  the 
efficient  coadjutor  of  his  fellow-citizens." 


GRAND   AQUATIC  DISPLAY  AT   NEW  YORK. 


465 


A  flotilla  of  canal-boats  M'as  towed  from  Albany  to  Kew  York  by 
Hudson  River  steamboats.  The  Chancellor  Livingston  was  the  flag- 
ship of  the  squadron,  having  in  tow  the  Seneca  Chief,  whose  passengers 
were  now  transferred  to  her  escort,  and  were  joined  by  many  others. 

The  aquatic  procession  moved  at  an  early  hour  in  the  morning.  It 
was  greeted  by  groups  or  crowds  of  men,  women,  and  children,  the  firing 
of  great  guns,  and  the  waving  of  flags  all  along  the  banks  of  the  Hudson. 
The  flotilla  was  fully  twenty-four  hours  descending  the  noble  stream  ;  and 
when  it  anchored  off  Greenwich  Village,  a  suburb  of  the  great  city, 
before  the  dawn  of  November  4th,  the  people  of  the  metropolis  were 
astir,  for  ample  preparations  had  been  made  for  celebrating  the  event. 

The  day  was  welcomed  by  the  ringing  of  bells  and  the  roar  of  cannons. 
At  a  signal  given  from  the  Chan- 
cellor Livingston  flags  were  un-  —  ,  ^ 
furled  all  over  the  city,  and 
the  new  steamboat  Washington, 
handsomely  decorated  and  bear- 
ing the  banner  of  the  corpora- 
tion, proceeded  to  the  fleet, 
conveying  a  committee  of  the 
nmnicipal  authorities  and  the 
oflicers  of  the  governor's  guard. 
When  within  hailing  distance  of 
the  Seneca  Chief,  one  of  the 
officers  of  the  Washington  in- 
quired of  the  strange  craft, 
' '  Where  are  you  from  and  what 
is  your  destination  ?" 

The  response  was,  "  From 
Lake  Erie  and  bound  for  Sandy  Hook."  At  an  early  hour  the  waters 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Hudson  and  the  harbor  of  New  York  were  dotted 
with  floating  craft  of  every  kind.  The  fleet  from  Albany  took  a 
position  between  the  Battery  and  Governor's  Island,  wdiere  it  was 
joined  by  several  steamboats  conveying  naval,  military,  and  civil  officers 
and  invited  guests.  After  receiving  salutes  from  the  Battery,  Castle 
Williams  on  Governor's  Island,  and  two  British  ships-of-war  lying 
in  the  harbor,  a  grand  procession  was  formed,  composed  of  twenty- 
nine  steamboats  and  sailing  ships,  schooners,  barks,  canal-boats,  and 
sail -boats  in  large  numbers,  led  by  the  Chancellor'  Livingston,  and 
moved  toward  the  sea.  After  passing  the  Narrows  and  receiving 
salutes   from   the   forts    there,    the    United    States   schooner   Dolphin 


PHILIP   HONE. 


466  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

approached,  as  a  "  messenger  from  Neptune,"  to  inquire  who  the  visitors 
were  and  what  was  the  ohject  of  their  coming.  This  querj  answered, 
tlie  motley  fleet  formed  a  circle  around  the  Dolphin  about  three  miles 
in  circumference,  preparatory  to  the  performance  of  the  grand  nup- 
tial ceremonies  of  wedding  the  gentle  lakes  and  the  sturdy  Atlantic 
Ocean. 

The  Seneca  Chief  ha.d  brought  from  Buffalo  two  handsomely  painted 
kegs  filled  with  water  from  Lake  Erie,  One  of  these  kegs  was  received 
by  Governor  Clinton  on  the  deck  of  the  Chancellor  Livingston.  Then 
there  was  silence  and  eager  watching  among  the  vast  multitude  floating 
on  the  unruffled  bosom  of  the  Atlantic  under  a  serene  and  cloudless  sky. 
Then  Governor  Clinton,  lifting  the  keg  of  Erie  water  in  full  view  of  the 
spectators,  stepped  to  the  side  of  the  Chancellor  Livingston  and  poured 
its  contents  into  the  sea,  saying  : 

"  Tin's  solemnity,  at  this  place,  on  the  first  arrival  of  vessels  from 
Lake  Erie,  is  intended  to  indicate  and  commemorate  the  navigable  com- 
munication which  has  been  accomplished  between  our  Mediterranean 
seas  and  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  in  about  eight  years,  to  the  extent  of 
more  than  four  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles,  by  the  wisdom,  public 
spirit,  and  energy  of  the  people  of  the  State  of  New  York  ;  and  may 
the  God  of  the  heavens  and  of  the  earth  smile  most  propitiously  on 
this  work,  and  render  it  subservient  to  the  best  interests  of  the  human 
race." 

After  a  long  address  by  Dr.  Samuel  L.  Mitchell,*  personal  congratu- 
lations between  men  of  the  seaboard  and  Western  New  York,  and  the 
firing  of  a  salute,  the  fleet,  enlivened  by  the  music  of  several  bands, 
moved  back  to  the  city  in  a  grand  triumphal  procession,  the  passengers 
on  the  steamboats  partaking  of  a  collation  on  the  way. 

Meanwhile  a  vast  civic  procession  such  as  had  never  before  been  seen 


*  Samuel  Latham  Mitchell,  M.D.,  was  an  eminent  scientist,  born  at  Hempstead,  L.  I., 
in  August,  1764,  and  died  in  New  York  City  in  September,  1831.  He  studied  both  law  and 
medicine.  He  was  a  member  of  the  New  York  Legislature  in  1790  ;  made  Professor  of 
Chemistry,  Natural  History,  and  Philosophy  in  Columbia  College  in  1792,  and  in  1796 
published  a  report  of  his  tour  along  the  Hudson  River  which  gave  him  fame  at  home  and 
abroad.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  a  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Agriculture, 
Manufactures,  and  the  Useful  Arts.  He  was  a  member  of  the  lower  house  of  Congress 
twice  between  1801  and  1813,  and  was  United  States  Senator,  1804-1809.  AVas  active 
in  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  and  the  Rutgers  Medical  School,  in  New 
York.  With  other  eminent  men  he  foimded  the  New  York  Literary  and  Philosophical 
Society.  A  warm  fricmd  of  Fulton,  he  accompanied  him  on  the  trial  trip  of  the  Clermont, 
in  1807.  Dr.  Mitchell  was  endowed  with  a  remarkably  retentive  memory,  and  possessed 
great  learning. 


WEDDING  THE  LAKES  AND  THE  SEA. 


467 


in  the  city  of  New  York  had  been  formed  and  paraded  throngh  the  prin- 
cipal streets.  It  was  composed  of  representatives  of  every  respectable 
class  in  the  metropolis  arranged  in 
organized  groups.  The  benevolent, 
literary,  and  scientific  institutions 
were  represented,  also  the  Fire  De- 
partment, the  bar,  the  pulpit,  and 
various  occupations.  Every  society 
seemed  emulous  to  excel  in  the  rich- 
ness; and  beauty  and  art  excellence  of 
its  banner  and  designs.  Twenty-two 
industrial  societies  had  furnished 
themselves  with  large  platforms,  upon 
which  the  artisans  M'ere  employed 
in  their  several  occupations  as  the 
procession  moved  through  the  streets. 
Upon  one  car  was  a    ])rin ting-press, 

from  which  were  continually  issued  and  scattered  among  the  people  copies 
of  a  long  "  Ode  for  the  Canal  Celebration,"  opening  with  the  following 

stanzas  : 

"  'Tis  (lone  !    'Tis  done  I     The  miglity  chain 
Which  joins  bright  Erie  to  the  Main 
For  ages  shall  perpetuate 
The  glory  of  our  native  State. 


KEG   WITH   LAKE   EKIE   WATER. 


'  To-day  the  >'<'/r  of  Ocean  takes 
A  sylvan  maiden  to  his  arms, 
The  Goddess  of  the  crystal  Lakes 
In  all  her  native  charms  I" 

The  festivities  of  the  day  Avere  closed  in  the  evening  by  the  illumina- 
tion of  tlie  public  buildings.  On  the  following  day  (Saturday)  the  dele- 
gations from  the  West  were  entertained  at  a  banquet  given  in  their  honor 
on  board  the  Chancellor  Livingston.  The  public  institutions  were 
opened  to  them.  Sunday  Avas  passed  quietly,  and  on  Monday,  the  Ttli, 
the  festivities  of  the  "  canal  celebration"'  were  closed  in  the  evening  by 
a  grand  ball  in  the  vast  rooms  of  tha  Lafayette  Amphitheatre  in  Laurens 
Street,  near  Canal  Street.  It  was  a  brilliant  assemblage  (estimated)  of 
more  than  three  thousand  persons.  Among  these  were  Governor  Clinton 
and  his  wife. 

To  every  guest  of  the  corporation  of  New  York  on  that  occasion,  both 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  a  beautiful  medal  was  presented,  bearing  on  one 
side  the  image  of  Pan  and  Neptune  in  loving  embrace,  and  also  a  well- 


468  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

filled  cornucopia  showing  the  productions  of  the  land  and  sea,  with  the 
words,  "  Union  of  Ekie  with  tup:  Atlantic."  On  the  other  side  were 
the  arms  of  the  State  of  New  York — the  State  which  had  borne  the 
wliole  burden  in  tlie  construction  of  the  great  work — and  a  representation 
of  a  section  of  the  canal,  its  locks  and  aqueducts,  and  a  view  of  the 
harbor  of  New  York.     On  this  side  were  the  words,  "  Erie  Canal, 

COMMENCED  4tH  DAY  OF  JcLY,  1817;  COMPLETED  26tH  OcTOBER,  1825. 

Presented  BY  the  City  of  Np:w  York."* 

"Wise  and  sagacious  men  had  prophesied  that  this  canal,  when  com- 
pleted, would  give  an  impetus  to  business  of  every  description  in  the  city 
of  New  York  and  in  the  interior  of  the  State,  and  produce  a  wonderful 
increase  in  the  population,  commerce,  and  wealth  of  both  sections.  This 
prophecy  was  speedily  fulfilled. f  The  canal  did  more.  It  presented  an 
ample  outlet  to  the  sea  for  the  products  of  the  then  rapidly  developing 
region  in  the  vicinity  of  the  great  lakes  and  the  valley  of  the  Ohio, 
which  added  untold  millions  to  the  value  of  that  then  almost  wilderness 
region  ;  and  thus  it  became  a  national  benefaction.  It  changed  the 
wliole  aspect  of  commercial  affairs  in  the  lake  region.  The  total  area  of 
these  four  great  inland  seas  is  about  nine  thousand  square  miles,  and 
their  inlets  drain  a  region  estimated  at  about  three  hundred  and  thirty- 
six  thousand  square  miles.  Upon  its  bosom  have  floated  products  of  the 
North-western  States  and  Territories  valued  at  billions  of  dollars.  In 
the  year  1872  the  value  of  property  transported  on  that  canal,  not- 
withstanding a  three-track  railway  lies  parallel  with  it,  was  about 
$168,000,000. 

The  Erie  Canal  was  built  by  the  State  of  New  York  at  a  cost  of 
$9,000,000.  A  greater  portion  of  the  country  through  which  it  passes 
was  then  an  uncultivated  wilderness.  It  was  by  far  the  most  extensive 
public  work  ever  attempted  in  this  country  up  to  that  time,  and  excited 

*  The  medals  were  made  of  white  metal.  Some  were  made  of  silver,  and  fifty-one 
gold  ones  were  struck  and  sent  to  European  monarchs  and  other  distinguished  jjcrsons. 
They  were  presented  by  a  committee  composed  of  Recorder  Richard  Riker,  John  Agnew, 
and  William  A.  Davis. 

f  In  the  year  1812,  five  years  before  the  construction  of  the  canal  was  begun,  the  lately 
appointed  canal  commissioners — Gouverneur  Morris,  Stephen  van  Rensselaer,  De  Witt 
Clinton,  and  Peter  B.  Porter— gave  the  following  prophetic  utterance  : 

"  Viewing  the  extent  and  fertility  of  the  country  with  which  this  canal  is  to  open  com- 
munication, it  is  not  extravagant  to  suppose  that,  when  settled,  its  protluct  will  equal 
the  present  export  of  the  United  States  [$58,000,000].  Will  it  appear  improbable  that 
twenty  years  hence  [1832]  the  canal  should  annually  bring  down  250,000  tons  ?" 
Twenty  years  after  the  completion  of  the  canal  (1845),  there  came  upon  it  to  tide-water 
1,107,000  tons  of  produce,  valued  at  $45,000,000,  the  tolls  upon  which  amounted  to 
$2,500,000. 


INFLUENCE   OF   THE  ERIE   CANAL. 


469 


universal  admiration.  It  lias  been  twice  enlarged,  and  is  now  seventy 
feet  wide  on  the  surface  east  of  Rochester  (and  larger  westward  of  that 
city),  fifty  feet  wide  at  the  bottom,  and  seven  feet  deep. 

The  canal  system  of  New  York  rapidly  extended  after  the  completion 
of  the  Erie  Canal,  embracing  nearly  every  section  of  the  State.  The 
whole  number  of  the  canals  is  fifteen.*  The  larger  ones  after  the  Erie 
are  the  Cham  plain  Canal,  64  miles  in  length,  finished  in  1822  ;  the 
Black  River  Canal,  with  its  feeder,  87. 5  miles  in  length,  finished  in 
1849  ;  the  Genesee  Valley  Canal,  with  its  Danville  branch,  125  miles 


BUFFALO   IN   1815. 


long,  begun  in  182(5  and   finished  in  1861  ;  and  the  Chenango  Canal,  97 
miles  in  length,  completed  in  1836. 

The  marvellons  influence  of  the  Eric  Canal  in  promoting  the  increase 
of  population  in  Western  New  York  may  be  approximately  estimated  by 
the  growth  of  two  of  its  chief  cities — Baffalo  and  Rochester.  The 
British,  as  we  have  observed,  literally  "  \viped  out"  Buffalo  in  1813. 
In  1825,  on  the  completion  of  the  canal,  it  contained  a  population  of 
about  sixty-three  hundred.  Five  years  later  the  population  had  doubled. 
Now  (1887)  it  is  over  two  hundred  thousand.  Rochester  was  a  wilder- 
ness three  fourths  of  a  century  ago.     The  first  dwelling — a  log-cabin — 

*  Erie  Canal,  364  mile's  in  length  ;  Champlain  Junction,  64  ;  Waterford  Junction,  2 
Oswego,  38  ;  Cayuga  and  Seneca,  21  ;  Crooked  Lake,  8  ;  Chemung,  39  ;  Chenango,  97 
Genesee  Valley,  108.5  ;  Danville  Branch,  11;  Black  River,  77.5  ;  Black  River  Feeder,  10 
Delaware  and  Hudson,  83  ;  Oneida,  8.     Total  length  of  canals  in  the  State,  946.10  miles. 


470 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


was  built  there  in  1812.     The  picture  shows  an  actual  occurrence  at  that 
time.     In  1825  it  had  a  population  of  about  eighteen  hundred.     Five 


^J^': 


K0CHE8TER  IN  1812. 


years   later  it  was  eleven  thousand, 
one  hundred  and  fourteen  thousand.^ 


Now  the  population  is  probably 


*  At  the  beginning  of  1813  tlie  Seneca  Indians,  at  a  great  gathering  of  the  tribe,  en- 
camped on  the  site  of  Rocliester,  performed  pagan  rites  there.  It  was  a  ' '  great  sacrifice 
and  thanksgiving"  after  tlie  corn  harvest  was  secured  and  tlie  barbarians  returned  from 
their  first  hunting.  The  festival  occupied  .several  days.  Two  dogs,  as  nearly  pure  white 
as  could  be  found,  were  killed  hy  strangulation  (for  the  effusion  of  blood  would  spoil  the 
victim  for  sacrificial  purposes)  at  the  door  of  the  council-house.  The  dogs  were  then 
painted  with  bright  colors,  decorated  with  feathers,  and  suspended  about  twenty  feet 
above  the  ground  at  the  centre  of  the  camp;  Then  the  ceremonies,  which  consisted 
chiefly  of  feasting  and  dancing,  began. 

Two  carefully  chosen  bands,  one  of  men  the  otlier  of  women,  ornamented  with  trinkets 
and  feathers,  each  person  furnished  with  an  ear  of  corn  in  the  right  hand,  danced  in  a 
circle  around  the  council  fire,  their  .steps  regulated  by  rude  music.  Thence  they  went  to 
every  wigwam  in  tlie  camp,  and  in  like  manner  danced  in  a  circle  around  each  fire.  On 
another  day,  .several  men,  clothed  in  the  skins  of  wild  beasts,  covering  their  faces  with 
hideous  masks  and  their  hands  with  the  shells  of  tortoi-ses,  went  among  the  wigwams, 
making  frightful  noises,  taking  the  fuel  from  the  fire  and  scattering  the  embers  and  the 
ash(!s  about  the  fioor  for  the  purpose  of  driving  away  evil  .spirits. 

Tliese  persons  were  supposed  thus  to  concentrate  within  themselves  all  the  sins  of  their 
tribe.  These  sins  were  transferred  into  one  of  their  own  number,  who,  by  magic, 
worked  off  from  himself  into  the  two  suspended  dogs  the  concentrated  wickedness  of 
the  tribe.  The  dogs  were  then  placed  on  a  pile  of  wood  which  was  ignitetl,  while  the 
surroiuuling  multitude  cast  tobacco  and  other  "  incense"  upon  the  flames,  the  odor  of 
which  was  supposed  to  be  a  "  sweet-smelling  savor,"  which  would  conciliate  the  favor 


STORY   OF  MORGAN,  A  FREE  MASOK  471 

In  his  message  at  the  opening  of  the  session  of  the  Legislature  early  in 
January,  1826,*  Governor  Clinton  urgently  called  attention  to  needed 
improvements  in  the  common-school  system  of  the  State,  and  recom- 
mended the  establishment  of  normal  schools  for  the  education  of  teachers. 
In  accordance  with  this  recommendation  John  C  Spencer,  a  son  of 
Judge  Ambrose  Spencer,  submitted  an  able  report  from  the  Literature 
Committee  of  the  Senate,  early  in  February,  concurring  with  the  gov- 
ernor's recommendation  and  directing  the  attention  of  the  Legislature  to 
the  propriety  of  employing  the  various  academies  of  the  State  for  the 
purpose  ;  also  appropriating  a  specific  portion  of  the  public  funds  to 
this  important  end.  The  report  also  suggested  the  expediency  of  a  plan 
of  county  supervision  of  the  common  schools  ;  resolutions  recommend- 
ing the  election  of  justices  of  the  peace  by  the  people  and  an  amendment 
of  the  State  Constitution  removing  all  restrictions  to  the  right  of  voting, 
excepting  only  citizenship  and  a  residence  of  six  months.  These  resolu- 
tions were  adopted  by  the  Legislature,  and  the  amendment  was  made 
accordingly.  So,  in  the  year  1827,  the  people  of  the  State  of  New  York 
were  forever  freed  from  the  control  over  public  opinion  by  the  central 
power,  and  universal  suffrage  has  since  prevailed. 

Earl}'  in  the  autumn  of  1826  an  event  occurred  in  Western  INew  York 
which  produced  a  great  effect  on  society  in  general,  and  upon  the  political 
parties  in  this  State  and  in  several  other  States  in  the  Union.  William 
Morgan,  a  native  of  Virginia,  a  printer  by  trade,  and  a  Royal  Arch  Free 
Mason,  living  in  Batavia,  X.  Y.,  determined,  for  some  reason,  to  publish 
a  pamphlet  in  which  the  secrets  of  Free  Masonry  were  to  be  disclosed. 
Some  of  his  fellow-members  discovered  this  intention,  and  it  was  soon 
made  known  to  Masonic  lodges  in  Western  New  York.  On  September 
11th  Morgan  was  arrested  at  his  home,  on  a  charge  of  theft,  at  the 
instance  of  the  master  of  a  lodge  of  Masons  at  Canandaigua,  and  by  him 
and  other  members  of  the  order  was  hurried  into  a  coach  and  taken  to 
that  town.     lie  was  discharged  by  a  justice  because  he  found  no  cause 

of  the  Great  Spirit.  When  the  dogs  were  partially  consumed,  one  was  taken  from  the 
sacrificial  pyre,  put  into  a  large  kettle  with  vegetables  of  various  kinds  and  boiled  over 
a  fire,  when  the  whole  company  devoured  the  contents  of  the  caldron.  After  this  they 
performed  the  dances  of  war  and  peace,  and  smoked  the  calumet.  Thus  purified  from 
sin,  they  returned  to  their  homes  and  began  the  occupations  of  the  new  year. 

*  The  year  1826  is  memorable  in  our  national  history  because  of  the  almost  simultane- 
ous deaths  of  two  of  the  leading  founders  of  our  Republic — Thomas  Jefferson  and  John 
Adams.  They  both  died  on  July  4th,  within  a  few  hours  of  the  same  time.  It  was  the 
fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  signing  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  They  were  both 
on  the  committee  which  was  appointed  to  draw  up  that  Declaration.  Jefferson  wrote  it. 
and  both  signed  it. 


472  .  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

of  action.  He  was  immediately  rearrested  on  a  civil  process  for  a  trifling 
debt  and  cast  into  jail. 

On  the  following  night  Morgan  was  taken  from  the  jail  by  a  nnmber 
of  Free  Masons,  thrust  into  a  carriage  in  waiting,  taken  by  a  relay  of 
liorses  to  Fort  Niagara,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  River,  and  confined 
in  the  powder  magazine  there.  He  was  taken  from  tliat  prison  on  the 
night  of  September  29th,  and  was  never  heard  of  afterward. 

It  was  known  that  Morgan's  brethren  had  made  violent  attempts  to 
suppress  his  book,  and  wlien  this  outrage  was  made  public  the  Free 
Masons  were  charged  witli  its  perpetration.  There  was  widespread 
excitement.  A  public  meeting  held  at  Batavia  appointed  a  committee 
to  investigate  the  affair.  They  found  evidence  of  what  they  believed  to 
be  an  extended  conspiracy  to  effect  Morgan's  death,  with  many  agents 
moved  by  powerful  motives.  Similar  meetings  were  held  elsewhere. 
Public  excitement  continually  deepened  and  widened,  and  a  strong  feel- 
ing soon  pervaded  the  public  mind  that  tlie  Masonic  institution  was 
responsible  for  tlie  crime. 

The  profound  mystery  in  which  the  affair  was  involved  gave  wings  to 
a  thousand  absurd  rumors.  Mutual  criminations  and  recriminations 
became  very  violent,  and  entered  into  all  religious,  social,  and  political 
relations.  A  very  strong  Anti-Masonic  party  was  soon  created,  at  first 
only  social  in  its  character,  but  very  soon  it  assumed  a  decided  political 
aspect.  This  feature  of  the  party  first  appeared  at  town  meetings  in  the 
spring  of  1827,  when  it  was  resolved  by  considerable  majorities  that  no 
Free  Mason  was  worthy  to  receive  the  votes  of  free  men. 

A  political  party  formed  for  the  exclusion  of  Free  Masons  from  public 
offices  was  spread  over  the  State  of  New  York  and  into  several  other 
States,  and  continued  several  years.  In  August,  1830,  an  Anti-Masonic 
Convention  at  (Jtica  nominated-  Francis  Granger  for  Governor  of  New 
York.  Enos  T.  Throop  was  the  opposing  candidate.  Throop  received 
128,842  votes  and  Granger  120,861  votes.  This  result  showed  a  power- 
ful anti-Masonic  sentiment  in  the  State.  Mr.  Granger  was  again  nominated 
for  governor  in  1832.  In  the  same  year  a  National  Anti-Masonic  Conven- 
tion was  held  in  Philadelphia,  at  which  several  States  were  represented. 
William  Wirt,  of  Virginia,  was  nominated  for  President  of  the  United 
States.  The  party  polled  a  considerable  vote,  but  soon  afterward  it  began 
to  gradually  fade,  and  speedily  became  extinct  as  a  political  organization. 

The  fate  of  Morgan  will  never  be  known.  It  is  believed  that  he  was 
taken  in  a  boat  from  Fort  Niagara,  cast  into  the  water,  and  drowned.* 

*  In  a  series  of  letters  written  by  Colonel  W.  L.  Stone  and  addressed  to  John  Quincj 
Adams,  and  published  in  a  vohime  of  over  five  hundred  pages,  a  full  and  important  his- 
tory of  the  events  I  have  alluded  to  is  given. 


NATIONAL   TARIFF  CONVENTION.  473 


CHAPTER   XXXiy. 

In  the  fall  of  1826  Governor  Clinton  was  re-elected,  with  N"athaniel 
Pitcher  as  lieutenant-governor.  The  chief  events  in  the  history  of  the 
State  during  this — the  fourth — term  of  Mr.  Clinton  as  governor  were 
the  Morgan  episode  and  a  State  Convention  held  at  Albany  on  July  27th, 
1827,  to  appoint  delegates  to  a  National  Tariff  Convention,  which  was 
lield  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  on  the  30th  of  the  same  month. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  foreign  goods,  admitted  almost  free,  prevented 
the  revival  of  American  manufactures,  especially  of  woollen  goods.  A 
moderate  tariff  law  was  passed  in  1818,  and  continued  seven  years.  It 
was  inadequate,  and  the  manufacturers  of  New  England  and  the  Middle 
States  clamored  for  protective  laws.  An  act  imposing  heavier  duties 
was  passed  in  182-1.  Still  the  northern  maimfacturers  clamored  for  more 
protection,  and  called  a  convention  at  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

The  cotton-growers  of  the  South,  meanwliile,  perceiving  that  the 
tariffs  were  injurious  to  their  interests,  opposed  them.  Only  four  of  the 
slave-labor  States  were  represented  at  Harrisburg.  Those  of  the  North 
were  numerous.  Kew  York  sent  about  ten  delegates  to  the  convention. 
That  body  adopted  a  memorial  to  Congress  on  the  subject,  and  Congress 
passed  laws  in  1827-28  which  established  a  most  stringent  tariff.  It  was 
denounced  by  the  Southern  people  as  unjust  and  unconstitutional  ;  and 
it  led  to  the  "  nullitication  movement"  in  South  Carolina  in  1832. 
These  tariff  laws,  of  which  Henry  Clay  was  the  principal  champion, 
formed  the  foundation  of  tlie  "American  System,"  so  called,  for 
protecting  home  manufactures. 

The  State  of  New  York  and,  indeed,  the  whole  country  now  experi- 
enced a  severe  loss.  Governor  Clinton  had  suffered  symptoms  of  organic 
disease  of  the  heart  for  several  months.  On  the  evening  of  February 
11th,  1828,  while  sitting  in  his  study  conversing  with  two  of  his  sons,  he 
suddenly  fell  forward  and  expired.  His  death  caused  deep  and  sincere 
sorrow  throughout  the  State  and  nation.  The  voice  of  partisanship  was 
hushed.  Mr.  Van  Buren,  long  his  most  persistent  political  antagonist, 
said  in  a  public  address  :  "  The  triumph  of  his  talents  and  patriotism 
cannot  fail  to  become  monuments  of  high  and  enduring  fame."  Allud- 
ing to  their  political  antagonism  and  mutual  personal  respect,  Mr.  Van 


474  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

Bureri  said  :  "  I,  who,  while  living,  never,  no,  never,  envied  him  any- 
thing, now  that  he  has  fallen,  I  am  greatly  tempted  to  envy  him  his 
grave  with  its  honors."  Lieutenant-Governor  Pitcher  performed  the 
duties  of  governor  during  the  remainder  of  the  term. 

An  act  was  passed  during  the  session  of  1828  for  the  organization  in 
the  city  of  New  York  of  a  Superior  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  the  trial 
of  civil  actions,  of  which  Chancellor  Samuel  Jones  *  was  appointed 
chief- justice,  and  J.  Ogden  Iloifman  and  Thomas  J.  Oakley  assistant 
justices.  In  the  same  year  a  contest  for  the  Presidency  of  the  United 
States  occurred  between  John  Quincy  Adams  and  General  Andrew 
Jackson,  which  resulted  in  the  election  of  the  latter,  with  John 
C.  Calhoun  as  Vice-President.  The  Xew  York  Legislature  chose  twenty 
electors  favorable  to  Jackson  and  sixteen  favorable  to  Adams.  In  the 
election  for  State  officers  in  the  fall,  Martin  Yan  Puren  was  chosen 
Governor  of  New  York. 

In  his  message  at  the  opening  of  the  Legislature  in  1829  Governor 
Yan  Biiren  recommended  the  appropriation  of  the  surplus  funds  of  the 
State  and  a  judicious  use  of  its  credit  to  an  extension  of  the  system  of 
internal  improvements  ;  also  the  establishment  of  a  safety  fund  for  the 
ultimate  redemption  of  the  notes  of  the  several  State  banks,  the  choice 
of  presidential  electors  by  the  people,  and  the  promotion  of  the  interests 
of  popular  education.  A  safety-fund  bill  planned  by  Joshua  Forman, 
of  Onondaga,  was  passed,  and  thirty-one  banks,  exclusive  of  three  of 
the  city  of  New  York,  were  rechartered  under  the  law.  This  excellent 
safety-fund  system  prevailed  in  New  York  until  the  establishment  of 
our  present  national  currency  during  the  late  Civil  War. 

In  March,  1829,  Governor  Yan  Buren  accepted  the  position  of  Secre- 
tary of  State  of  the  United  States  in  the  Cabinet  of  President  Jackson, 
and  forthwith  he  resigned  his  chair,  which  was  filled  by  Lieutenant- 
Governor  Throop.  The  fall  election  gave  a  very  large  majority  of  the 
political  friends  of  Jackson  (Democrats)  to  both  branches  of  the  Legisla- 
ture. The  Anti-Masons  carried  fifteen  of  the  western  counties  and 
polled  sixty-seven  thousand  votes. 


*  Samuel  Jones  was  born  in  New  York  in  1769  ;  was  educated  at  Columbia  College  ; 
studied  law  with  De  Witt  C'linton  in  his  father's  offlce,  the  Chief-Justice  of  New  York 
and  "  father  of  the  New  York  bar,"  and  became  an  eminent  jurist.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  New  York  As.sembly,  1813-14  ;  Recorder  of  New  York  City  in  1823  ;  apiwinted 
Chancellor  of  the  State  in  1826,  and  accepted  the  offlce  of  Chief -Justice  of  the  Sui>erior 
Court  in  New  York  City  in  1828.  In  1847-49  he  was  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  State  and  er-offirio  a  jtuljre  of  the  Court  of  Appeals.  Judge  Jones  died  at  Cold 
Spring,  li.  I.,  in  Augu.st,  1853. 


AN  INFLUENTIAL   ANTI-MASONIC   JOURNAL. 


475 


It  was  at  this  time  that  Silas  AVright,*  who  became  conspicnons  in  the 
State  and  nation,  appeared  very  prominent  in  public  affairs  in  New  York. 
He  had  been  State  Senator  and  mem- 
ber of  Congress  ;  he  was  now  made 
comptroller — the  manager  of  the 
complicated  financial  operations  of 
the  State.  He  proved  himself  com- 
petent and  trustworthy.  After  con- 
ducting that  office  with  signal  abil- 
ity for  some  years,  he  was  transferred 
to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States. 

Early  in  1830  the  Anti -Masons 
established  at  the  seat  of  the  State 
government  the  Albany  Evening 
Journal,  with  Thurlow  Weed  f  as 
editor.  It  took  a  conspicuous  j)lace 
in  Journalism  from  the  start,  and 
for  a  generation,  under  the  manage- 
ment of  Mr.  Weed,  it  exerted  mar- 
vellous power  over  the  jJolitics  and  politicians  of  the  State.  Mr.  Weed, 
wrote  Hammond, :j:  was  "  one  of  the  most  shrewd  and  sagacious  political 


SILAS   WRIGHT. 


*  Silas  Wright  was  born  at  Amherst,  Mass.,  in  May,  1795  ;  died  at  Canton,  N.  Y.,  in 
August,  1847.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1819,  and  began  the  practice  of  law  at 
Canton.  He  was  appointed  surrogate  of  the  county  (St.  Lawrence)  in  1820.  In  1823  he 
became  State  Senator,  and  a  member  of  Congress  1827-29.  In  1829  he  was  made 
Comptroller  of  the  State  of  New  York  ;  LTnited  States  Senator  in  1888  ;  defended  Jack- 
son's course  in  his  warfare  on  the  United  Slates  Bank  ;  voted  for  the  annexation  of 
Texas  ;  declined  to  be  made  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  in  1844  declined  the 
nomination  for  the  vice-presidency.  The  same  year  he  was  elected  Governor  of  New 
York.  The  next  year  he  was  offered  the  place  of  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  in  President 
Polk's  Cabinet.  He  retired  to  private  life  on  leaving  the  chair  of  Governor  of  New  York, 
and  died  soon  afterward. 

f  Thurlow  Weed  was  born  in  Cairo,  N.  Y.,  in  November,  1797.  He  was  a  cabin-boy 
on  a  North  River  sloop  at  ten  years  of  age  ;  learned  the  printer's  trade  at  Catskill,  and 
in  1812  was  a  volunteer  in  the  military  service  on  the  northern  frontier  of  New  York. 
He  unsuccessfully  attempted  the  establishment  of  a  newspaper  in  Central  New  York, 
and  in  1826-27  he  edited  the  Anti-Masonic  Enquirer.  He  was  twice  elected  to  the 
Assembly.  In  1830  he  became  the  editor  of  the  Albany  Evening  Journal,  and  very  soon 
became  a  prominent  leader  of  the  Whig  and  then  the  Republican  Party,  but  he  would 
never  accept  public  office  of  any  kind.  In  1861  President  Lincoln  sent  him  to  Europe  in  a 
semi-diplomatic  capacity.  He  returned  home  in  June,  1862.  Then  for  a  while  he  was 
editor  of  the  NeM  York  Commercial  Advertiser.  In  1865  he  took  up  his  permanent  abode 
in  the  city  of  New  York  with  his  family,  and  died  at  his  home  there  on  November  22d, 
1882.     He  had  visited  Europe  several  times,  the  last  in  1871. 

X  Political  Histoi'y  of  New  York,  by  Jabez  D.  Hammond,  LL.D.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  389. 


470  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

editors  and  eagle-eyed  politicians  the  State  of  New  York  ever  pro- 
duced." 

A  "  Workinginen's  Party"  was  fonned  in  the  State  of  New  York  in 
1830,  but  was  short-lived.  It  was  complained  that  workingnien  did  not 
receive  a  fair  share  of  the  public  offices  and  emoluments.  Others  besides 
workingmen  flocked  to  the  new  standard.  General  Erastus  Root  was 
nominated  by  the  party  for  governor.  It  was  professedly  opposed  to 
banks  and  pa])er  money.  It  was  soon  controlled  by  others  than  working- 
men — aspiring  ])oliticians — and,  like  all  organizations  effected  and  ruled 
by  demagogues,  it  flourished  awhile  and  then  disappeared. 

The  rapid  influx  of  population  into  the  city  and  State  of  New  York, 
especially  from  tlie  New  England  States,  after  tlie  completion  of  the 
Erie  Canal,  speedily  put  an  end  to  the  reign  of  the  Knickerbocker  ele- 
ment on  society.  Eashions,  customs,  and  the  general  aspects  of  social 
life  were  modified  by  this  immigration,  and  New  York  soon  became 
largely,  what  it  is  to-day,  a  cosmopolitan  city.* 

It  was  at  this  period  that  William  H.  Seward,  then  a  very  young  man, 
was  sent  to  the  State  Senate.  He  took  his  seat  in  January,  1831,  when 
only  thirty  years  of  age.  He  had  been  elected  by  the  Anti-Masonic 
Party,  who  at  tlie  same  time  chose  thirty  members  of  the  Assembly, 
That  party  nominated  Francis  Granger  for  governor  and  Samuel  Stevens 
for  lieutenant-governor  in  1832,  with  an  electoral  ticket  led  by  Chan- 
cellor Kent  and  John  C.  Spencer.  The  "  National  Republicans,"  as 
the  adherents  of  Henry  Clay  called  themselves,  adopted  the  Anti- 
Masonic  ticket  ;  but  the  Democratic  majority  in  the  State  at  the  election 
was  thirteen  thousand.  General  Jackson  was  re-elected  President  and 
Martin  Van  Buren  Vice-President.  With  this  contest  the  existence  of 
the  political  Anti-Masonic  Party,  State  and  National,  was  virtually 
terminated.  The  institution  of  Free  Masonry  soon  recovered  from  the 
shock  and  regained  its  good  reputation  and  influence. 

*  The  older  reader  will  remember  the  fashions  of  the  ladies  about  1832.  They  were 
generally  ralher  plain,  but  rich  in  material  and  colors.  The  walking-dress  was  lavender 
gray  in  color.  The  sleeves  were  tight  from  the  elbow  to  the  wrist,  and  very  full  above. 
They  were  called  "mutton-leg  sleeves."  A  ruche  trimmed  the  corsage  and  extended 
straight  down  the  front  of  the  dress,  which  Wius  short,  showing  the  whole  of  the  black 
prunella  gaiter-shoes.  The  bonnet  was  Leghorn  straw,  with  square  brim  lined  with 
green  satin.  The  crown  was  trimmed  with  three  bands  of  green  ribbon  and  a  full 
cockade  in  the  centre.  The  neck-knot  was  a  green  ribbon.  The  evening-dress  was  of 
Chinese  green  faced  with  dark  green  velvet  and  "  mutton-leg"  sleeves  with  velvet  cuffs. 
The  trimming  of  the  skirt  was  a  velvet  band  from  which  depended  large  leaves.  The 
hair  was  dressed  in  full  curls  on  the  forehead,  and  in  bows  of  moderate  height  on  the  top 
of  the  head.  A  wreath  of  roses  and  bluebells  surrounded  the  base  of  the  bows.  Delicate 
morocco  or  satin  slippers  covered  the  feet. 


THE   NAMING   OF  THE   WHIG   PARTY. 


477 


In  1832  tlie  Whig  Part}''  was  formed  in  this  wise  :  James  Watson 
Webb,  the  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Nev3  York  Courier  and  Enquirer, 
who  attended  as  a  spectator  the  Anti-Masonic  Convention  at  Philadelphia 


NEW   YORK   COSTUMES   ABOUT   1832. 


which  nominated  William  Wirt  for  President,  wrote  a  letter  to  his 
journal,  in  which  he  pointed  out  tlie  folly  of  the  different  parties  wasting 
tlieir  energies  in  separately  opposing  General  Jackson.     He  proposed  a 


478 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


coalition  of  the  general's  opponents  under  one  rallying  name  to  "  fight 
the  dangerous  democracy. "  He  claimed  that  these  parties  were  contend- 
ing for  the  Constitution  against  executive  usurpation,  while  their  oppo- 
nents were  battling  to  sustain  such  an  usurpation.  "  AVe,  therefore,  are 
Whiffs,^'  he  said,  "  while  they  are  Tories.  Why  not,  then,  take  to  our- 
selves  the  name  of  Whir/,  which  represents  our  principles,  and  give  to 
our  opponents  the  name  of  Tories  ?" 

This  letter  was  read  to  a  very  large  meeting  assembled  at  Masonic  Hall, 

Broadway    near    Pearl    Street, 
-r- -Z— r-  New    York,    by   Philip    Hone, 

who  presided,  and  who  suggested 
the  adoption  of  the  name  of 
"Whig."  It  was  done.  The' 
press  and  the  people  all  over  the 
country  acquiesced.  Thus  it  was 
that  the  great  historic  "Whig 
Party"  received  its  name. 

^t  this  period  the  State  of 
New  York  took  the  lead  in  a 
most  important  measure  of  re- 
form, marked  by  justice  and 
humanity.  Enos  T.  Throop  * 
took  his  seat  as  Governor  of  the 
State  early  in  1831.  In  his 
message  to  the  Legislature  he 
reconmiended  the  passage  of  a 
law  for  the  abolition  of  imprison- 
ment for  debt  ;  also  for  restrict- 
ing tlie  death  penalty  to  only  one 
specific  crime.  A.  law  for  the  abolition  of  imprisonment  for  debt  was 
passed  at  that  session,  and  so  New  York  acquired  the  honor  of  being 
the  pioneer  among  the  States  in  the  work  of  abolishing  from  its  statutes 
that  absurd  and  barbarous  law. 

The  embittered  opponents  of  Anti-Masonry  had  joined  in  the  support 
of  Mr.  Throop,  and  his  election  by  over  eight  thousand  majority  gave  to 

*  Enos  T.  Throop  wtus  born  at  Johnstown,  N.  Y.,  in  August,  1784  ;  died  at  Auburn, 
N.  Y.,  November  1st,  1875.  He  acquired  by  hard  study  a  classical  and  legal  education, 
while  ix-rforniing  the  duties  of  an  attorney's  clerk.  He  settled  in  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  rose  to 
eminence  in  his  profession  and  as  an  acute  politician,  and  was  appointed  circuit  judge  in 
1823.  He  was  a  member  of  Congress,  1815-17,  and  in  1828  was  elected  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York.  In  1830  he  was  elected  governor.  In  1838  Gov- 
ernor Throop  was  appointed  charge  d'affaires  to  the  two  Sicilies. 


ENDS  T.    THKOOP. 
(From  a  painting  by  Charles  L.  Elliott.) 


RENEWAL   OF   THE  U.    S.    BANK  CHARTER  OPPOSED. 


479 


the  Jackson  party  a  large  and  permanent  accession  of  voters  in  the  State 
of  New  York  William  L.  Marcj,*  a  distinguished  jurist,  ripe  scholar, 
and  expert  politician,  was  elected  governor  by  that  strengthened  party, 
and  took  his  seat  early  in  January,  1833.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
United  States  Senate  at  the  time  of  his  election,  and  in  that  body  he  had 
frankly  promulgated  the  maxim  that  "  to  the  victor  belong  the  spoils." 
His  seat  there  was  tilled  by  Silas 
Wright,  and  the  vacant  seat  of 
another  Xew  York  Senator  was 
given  to  Nathaniel  P.  Tallmadge, 
of  Duchess  County. 

The  State  of  New  York  became 
very  early  a  party  to  the  vehement 
discussion,  which  took  a  national 
range,  concerning  the  renewal  of 
the  charter  of  the  United  States 
Bank,  for  the  destruction  of  which 
President  Jackson  was  then  waging 
an  uncompromising  Avar.  Its  char- 
ter would  expire  in  183(5.  In  the 
winter  of  1832  the  bank  applied  to 
Congress  for  a  renewal  of  its  char- 
ter. During  the  sitting  of  the 
Legislature  of  New  York  the  same 

winter  a  joint  resolution  was  passed,  after  a  warm  debate,  instructing  the 
senators  and  requesting  the  members  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
to  resist  such  renewal.  The  resolution  received  an  overwhelming  major- 
ity of  votes. 

Mr.  Van  Buren,  then  designated  the  "  Favorite  Son  of  New  Y^ork," 
felt  the  effects  of  this  vote.     He  was  known  also  as  the  "  court  favorite" 


WIIJ.TAM   L.    MARCY. 


*  William  Learned  Marcy  was  born  in  Southbridge,  Mass.,  in  December,  1786  ;  died 
at  Balston  Spa,  N.  Y.,  July  4th,  1857.  He  was  graduated  at  Brown  University  in  1808  ; 
taught  school  in  Newport,  R.  I.,  awhile  ;  studied  law  and  began  its  practice  at  Troy, 
N.  Y.  He  joined  the  army  as  a  volunteer  in  1812,  and  assisted  in  the  capture  of  Canadian 
militia  at  St.  Regis,  the  first  prisoners  taken  on  laud.  In  1816  he  was  Recorder  of  Troy. 
He  edited  the  Troy  Budget  for  a  time  as  tlie  leading  Democratic  organ  in  Rensselaer 
County,  and  was  made  Adjutant-General  of  the  State  in  1821.  In  1823  he  was  State 
Comptroller,  and  in  1829  justice  of  the  State  Supreme  Court.  In  1831  he  was  chosen 
United  States  Senator,  and  was  elected  Governor  of  the  State  in  1833.  He  held  that 
office  by  re-election  until  1839.  He  was  Secretary  of  War  in  Polk's  Cabinet  from  1845 
to  1849,  during  the  war  with  Mexico.  He  was  United  States  Secretary  of  State,  1853-57. 
Governor  Marcy  was  the  author  of  several  important  State  papers. 


480  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

— the  pet  of  the  President,  who  desired  him  to  be  his  successor  in  tlie 
presidential  chair.  Jackson  appointed  liim  Minister  to  England  during 
the  recess  of  the  Senate.  He  sailed  to  that  country,  and  was  installed  as 
accredited  Minister  of  the  United  States.  Henry  Clay  was  a  candidate 
for  the  presidency.  By  his  tact  and  talent  he  succeeded  in  forming  a 
party  in  the  Senate  opposed  to  the  President.  It  consisted  of  a  majority 
of  the  members  of  that  body.  The  Senate  was  induced  to  refuse  to 
ratify  the  appointment  of  Van  Buren,  and  the  unconfirmed  minister  was 
compelled  to  return  home  a  private  citizen. 

The  rejection  of  Mr.  Van  Buren  produced  intense  indignation,  espe- 
cially in  the  State  of  Kew  York.  Indignation  meetings  denounced  the 
act  in  no  measured  terms.  Van  Buren  was  considered  by  a  large  propor- 
tion of  the  American  people  a  victim  of  persecution,  and  their  love  of 
fair  play  and  their  admiration  for  his  ability  caused  them  to  elect  him 
President  of  the  United  States  as  the  successor  of  General  Jackson. 

It  was  at  this  period  that  the  country  was  violently  agitated  by  a 
movement  in  South  Carolina  to  carry  into  practical  effect  the  doctrine  of 
supreme  State  sovereignty  by  an  attempt  to  nullify  or  to  defy  laws  of 
the  United  States.  President  Jackson  promptly  met  this  revolutionary 
movement  by  issuing  a  proclamation,*  in  which  he  denied  the  right  of 
any  State  to  nullify  a  law  of  the  National  Government,  and  commanded 
immediate  obedience  to  all  the  laws.  The  proclamation  was  followed  by 
prompt  action,  and  very  soon  the  country  was  relieved  from  menaces  of 
civil  war.  The  President  was  sustained  by  the  loyal  and  patriotic  men 
of  both  parties. 

The  most  effective  l)low  given  to  the  United  States  Bank  by  the  Presi- 
dent in  his  warfare  upon  that  institution  was  the  removal  from  its 
custody  of  the  deposits  of  the  national  funds,  amounting  to  about 
$10,000,000,  and  placing  the  money  on  deposit  in  the  State  banks  in  the 
fall  of  1833. 

The  Legislature  of  New  York,  then  strongly  Democratic,  passed  a 
resolution  early  in  1834,  by  a  large  majority,  approving  of  the  action  of 
the  President  in  ordering  the  removal  of  the  deposits.  It  was  believed 
that  the  deposit  of  the  funds  in  the  State  banks  would  be  of  great  benefit 
to  the  business  community  by  affording  facilities  for  acquiring  loans 
from  the  banks.  So  it  did  ;  but  the  final  result  was  anything  but 
salutary.  It  led  to  the  creation  of  a  vast  and  dangerous  credit  system 
and  wild  speculations,  which  ultimately  caused  widespread  disaster,  as 
we  shall  perceive  presently. 

*  This  proclamation  was  written  by  the  able  Secretary  of  State,  Louis  McLane. 


FIRST  POPULAR  ELECTION   OF   MAYOR  OF  NEW   YORK.         481 

The  managers  of  tlie  United  States  Bank  "  got  even''  with  the  New 
Yorkers  by  bringing  to  bear  npon  them  with  peculiar  severity,  because 
of  that  resolution,  the  system  they  had  adopted  at  the  time  of  the 
removal  of  the  deposits,  of  a  great  and  sudden  curtailment  of  discounts, 
and  making  forced  collections  from  debtors.  Their  loans  then  amounted 
to  $60,000,000.  This  severity  brought  the  banks  of  New  York  to  the 
verge  of  suspension  of  specie  payments.  To  avert  this  calamity  the 
Legislature,  on  the  recommendation  of  the  governor,  tendered  a  loan  to 
the  banks  of  the  credit  of  the  State  to  the  amount  of  $5,000,000,  should 
relief  become  necessary.  There  was  widespread  commercial  distress 
and  a  panic  for  a  while.  Yery  soon  the  great  bank  afforded  relief  by  a 
sudden  enlargement  of  discounts  and  a  great  expansion  of  its  circulation, 
allowing  the  State  deposit  banks  to  loan  freely.  This  revelation  of  the 
inherent  power  of  the  bank  for  working  mischief  attested  the  wisdom  of 
the  President  in  making  war  upon  it. 

By  an  act  of  the  Legislature  passed  in  March,  1834,  the  people  of 
New  York  City  were  empowered  for  the  first  time  to  elect  their  own 
mayor.  Hitherto  that  officer  had  been  chosen  by  the  Council  of 
Appointment  or  by  the  Governor  and  Senate  of  the  State.  The  first 
mayor  elected  by  a  popular  vote  was  Cornelius  W.  Lawrence. 

At  that  time  a  feud  in  the  ranks  of  the  Democratic  Party  in  the  city 
was  disturbing  its  harmony,  distracting  its  organization,  and  weakening 
its  power.  There  had  been  formed,  under  the  teachings  of  Fanny 
AYright  and  others  of  communistic  proclivities,  a  "  Radical"  or  "  Equal 
Rights"  faction,  which  appealed  to  the  sympathies  of  the  workingmen. 
It  occasioned  a  split  in  the  Democratic  Party  and  the  application  to  it  of 
a  nickname  that  adhered  for  several  years.  At  a  meeting  in  Tammany 
Hall  just  before  the  election  in  the  fall  of  1835,  both  sections  of  the 
party  zealously  claimed  the  right  to  the  chair  and  the  management  of  the 
proceedings.  Yiolence  ensued,  and  a  grand  row  was  the  consequence. 
In  the  midst  of  the  affray  the  gas  was  turned  off  and  the  room  was  left 
in  darkness.  One  of  the  Equal  Rights  Party  having  some  "  loco- 
foco ' '  matches  in  his  pocket,  relighted  the  lamps,  and  the  business  of  the 
meeting  proceeded.  "  I  was  one  of  the  vice-presidents,"  wrote  an  actor 
in  the  scene,  "  and  the  next  day  I  was  compelled  to  buy  a  suit  of  new 
clothes.  In  a  short  time  the  whole  Democratic  Party  were  known  as 
'  Loco-focoa.''  " 

In  January,  1836,  the  Equal  Rights  Party  organized  as  distinct  from 
the  Democratic  Party,  and  adopted  a  Declaration  of  Rights,  which 
condemned  all  monopolies  and  the  issuing  of  a  paper  currency  by  banks. 
They  declared  no  man  eligible  for  nomination  for  office  by  this  party 


482  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

unless  lie  had  signed  the  Declaration.  One  of  the  active  members — 
John  Windt,  a  printer — issued  a  journal  called  TJte  Democrat  as  the 
organ  of  the  new  party.  They  nominated  a  candidate  for  Mayor  of  New 
York  in  the  spring  ;  proposed  to  nominate  Colonel  Samuel  Young  for 
governor,  and  attempted  to  form  a  State  Equal  Rights  Party  at  a 
convention  held  at  Utica  in  September,  when  they  nominated  Isaac 
S.  Smith,  of  Buffalo,  for  governor,  Robert  Townsend,  of  New  York,  for 
lieutenant-governor,  Frederick  A.  Tallmadge  for  State  Senator,  and  a 
full  Assembly  ticket.  They  appointed  a  State  Corresponding  Com- 
mittee. At  the  municipal  election  in  the  spring  of  1837  their  candidate 
for  mayor  received  over  four  thousand  votes.  At  a  convention  held  at 
Utica  in  September  they  devised  a  State  Constitution 

The  days  of  the  Equal  Rights  Party  were  few.  In  the  fall  of 
1837,  finding  very  few  adherents  to  tlie  party  outside  of  the  city  of  New 
York,  they  effected  a  reunion  with  the  Tammany  party,  or  the  old  Demo- 
crats. Probably  no  political  party  in  the  State  ever  received  more 
severe  attacks  and  scathing  animadversions  than  this.  All  the  banks 
and  the  whole  influence  of  chartered  corporations  and  associated  wealth 
were  against  them.  Also  tlie  press  of  both  parties,  excepting  the  Even- 
ing Post,  conducted  by  William  C.  Bryant  and  William  Leggett."*  The 
Post  did  not  approve  of  a  separate  party  organization,  but  warmly  advo- 
cated its  principles. 

This  was  also  a  period  of  a  radical  revolution  in  journalism,  which  was 
inaugurated  in  the  city  of  New  York  by  James  Watson  Webb,f  Benja- 

*  William  Leggelt  was  a  powerful  writer  and  a  radical  reformer  in  liis  proclivities. 
He  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York  in  1802  ;  died  at  New  Rochelle,  N.  Y.,  in  May, 
1839.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Georgetown  (Roman  Catholic)  College,  and  was  a  midship- 
man in  the  United  States  Navy,  1822-26.  Then  he  devoted  himself  to  literary  pursuits 
chiefly.  He  was  a  constant  contributor  to  Morris's  New  York  Mirror  and  other  publica- 
tions for  years,  under  the  title  of  "  Tales  by  a  Country  Schoolmaster."  In  the  autumn 
of  1828  he  established  in  New  York  City  a  weekly  literary  periodical  called  TJie  Critic. 
It  was  soon  united  with  the  Mirror.  In  1829  he  became  associated  with  William  Cullen 
Bryant  in  the  management  of  the  New  York  Evening  Poxt,  and  was  its  chief  editor  in 
1834-35.  He  sympathized  with  the  anti-slavery  movements  of  that  day,  and  ably 
defended  the  right  of  free  speech  and  discussion.  In  1836  he  established  The  Plain 
Dealer,  (hivoted  to  politics  and  literature,  but  failing  health  soon  compelled  him  to  relin- 
quish literary  labor.  Appointed  dijilomatic  agent  to  the  republic  of  Guatemala,  he  was 
jireparing  for  a  voyage  thither  when  lie  suddenly  died  at  his  home. 

f  James  Watson  Webb,  son  of  General  Samuel  IJ.  Webb,  of  the  Revolution,  was  Iwrn 
at  Claverack,  N.  Y.,  in  February,  1802.  He  entered  the  army  Jis  second  lieutenant  in 
August,  1819  ;  was  first  lieutenant  in  1823  ;  resigned  in  1827,  and  entered  the  arena  of 
journalism  in  the  city  of  New  York,  in  which  he  wrought  with  power  for  thirty -six  years 
—1827-61.  He  formed  a  conspic\ious  part  of  the  social  and  political  history  of  the  city  of 
New  York.     He  was  the  publisher  and  chief  editor  of  the  Morning  Courier  and  Enquirer 


A  REVOLUTION   IN  JOURNALISM. 


483 


mill  H.  Day,  and  James  Gordon  Bennett.  Colonel  Webb  initiated  the 
enterprise  of  collecting  news  by  sending  a  fast-sailing  clipper-built 
schooner  many  miles  at  sea  to  meet  vessels  from  foreign  ports,  gather 
the  latest  news  from  abroad,  and  speedily  publish  it  to  the  world.  His 
contemporaries  soon  followed  his  example. 

On  September  3d,  1833,  Mr.  Day  issued  the  first  number  of  the  Sun, 
the  first  one-cent  daily  newspaper  ever  published.  Imitations  soon 
followed.  On  May  0th,  1835,  Mr. 
Bennett  issued  tlie  first  number  of 
the  permanently  established  Herald 
on  a  nominal  capital  of  $500,  and 
introduced  a  new  feature  in  jour- 
nalism—  the  "Money  Article." 
His  contemporaries  followed  his 
lead.  At  that  time  (1835),  of  the 
fifteen  daily  newspapers  published 
in  the  city  of  New  York,  then 
having  a  population  of  two  hundred 
and  seventy  thousand,  only  the  Sun 
had  a  circulation  of  over  six  thou- 
sand daily. 

This  was  also  a  period  of  riots  in 
the  city  of  New  York.  Emigration 
had    recently  given    to  the    city  a 

large  population  of  ignorant,  excitable,  and  often  vicious  foreigners,  and 
these  were  speedily  transformed,  by  unwise  naturalization  laws,  into 
citizens  and  legal  voters.  This  class  of  voters  was  out  in  full  force  at 
the  first  popular  election  of  a  mayor  of  the  city  in  the  spring  of  1834. 
They  generally  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  Party,  aiid  were  always 
the  pliant  tools  of  denuigogues. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  first  day  of  tlie  election  (the  polls  were 
then  oj)ened  three  days  in  succession)  riotous  symptoms  appeared.     The 


JAMES   WATSON    WEBB. 


from  1830.  In  1842  he  was  wounded  in  the  leg  in  a  duel  with  Thomas  F.  Marsliall,  of 
Kentucky — an  affair  which  was  the  result  of  gross  misrepresentations.  In  1846  he  was 
made  military  engineer-in-chief  of  the  State,  and  ever  after  he  bore  the  title  of  "  general." 
In  1861,  after  declining  a  mission  to  Constantinople,  he  was  appointed  by  President 
Lincoln  Minister  to  Brazil,  where  he  performed  efficient  services,  and  returned  home  in 
1861,  when  he  retired  from  public  life.  General  Webb  died  at  his  residence  in  New 
York  on  June  7th,  1884. 

The  above  portrait  represents  him  when  over  eighty  years  of  age.  General  Webb, 
through  his  personal  intimacy  with  the  Emperor  Napoleon  III.,  was  instrumental  in  pro- 
curing the  Avithdrawal  (*f  tlie  French  troops  from  Mexico  during  our  Civil  War. 


484  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Democratic  leaders  were  exasperated  by  the  opprobrious  name  of  Tories 
applied  to  their  party  by  their  opponents,  and  seemed  determined  to  win 
the  victory  at  all  liazards.  The  AVhigs  were  numerous  and  strong  ;  the 
Democrats  had  been  weakened  by  discord. 

In  the  Sixth  Ward,  where  there  was  a  large  foreign  population,  a  mob 
was  soon  gathered,  and,  led  by  an  ex-alderman,  rushed  into  the  Whig 
committee-room,  tore  down  the  political  banners,  destroyed  the  ballots, 
and  jnade  a  wreck  of  everything.  They  had  felled  to  the  floor,  bruised 
and  bleeding,  about  twenty  of  tlie  inmates.  The  remainder  escaped 
with  bruises  and  torn  garments.  Clubs  and  even  knives  had  been  used, 
and  one  man  was  carried  out  in  a  dying  condition.  This  occurrence 
gave  tlie  ward  the  title  of  the  "  Bloody  Sixth." 

This  outrage  aroused  the  opposite  party  to  vigorous  action,  and  under 
the  lead  of  Colonel  Webb  an  organized  force  of  Whigs  preserved  com- 
parative order,  especially  at  the  polls,  the  next  day  ;  but  at  night  an 
enormous  mob  assembled  in  the  City  Hall  Park.  A  cross  had  been  set 
up  near  by  bearing  the  words,  "  Down  wrrn  the  Courier  and  Enquirer 
Building,"  a  live-story  structure  in  Wall  Street.  Colonel  Webb,  the 
editor  and  proprietor  of  that  journal,  was  the  chief  object  of  the  wrath 
of  the  assembled  multitude,  who  were  required  to  march  by  and  touch 
the  cross.  Then  speakers  in  the  park  urged  the  excited  populace  to  pro- 
ceed to  Wall  Street.  They  did  so  with  shouts  and  yells,  M'hlch  sent  a 
thrill  of  alarm  throughout  the  city.  They  found  Colonel  Webb's  castle 
so  strongly  fortified,  with  him  at  the  head  of  a  well-armed  and  deter- 
mined garrison,  that  they  not  only  refrained  from  attack,  but,  cowards 
as  they  were,  scampered  away  as  fast  as  their  legs  could  carry  them. 

On  the  following  day  there  was  a  fierce  collision  in  Broadway  in  front 
of  Masonic  Hall,  where  Mayor  Gideon  Lee,  who  attempted  to  quell  the 
disturbance,  was  severely  beaten.  The  rioters  prepared  to  seize  the 
Arsenal,  when  the  mayor  called  out  the  (now)  Seventh  Regiment, 
i^ational  Guards,  when  order  was  soon  restored  by  them  ;  but  the  city 
was  kept  in  a  state  of  excitement  for  nearly  two  days  longer.  The 
Democrats  had  elected  their  candidate  for  mayor,  Mr.  Lawrence. 

The  election  riots  of  1834  and  the  increasing  numbers  and  influence  of 
foreign-born  citizens  Anally  alarmed  thoughtful  men.  It  was  found  that 
these  adopted  citizens  held  the  balance  of  power  between  the  Whig  and 
Democratic  parties,  and  that  whichever  party  gained  a  victory  they 
claimed  an  unreasonable  share  of  the  "spoils."  The  best  citizens  of 
New  York,  believing  it  to  be  their  duty  to  check, this  influence,  so 
menacing  to  our  free  institutions  through  the  instrumentality  of  the  ballot- 
box,   combined,   in  the  winter  of  1842-43,  in  forming  a  new  political 


ABOLITION  RIOTS   IN   NEW   YORK   CITY.  485 

organization  for  the  purpose,  wliicli  was  called  the  Native  American 
Party.  They  elected  James  Harper,*  of  the  publishing  house  of 
Harper  &  Brothers,  Mayor  of  New  York  in  the  spring  of  1844:,  by  a 
majority  of  over  four  thousand.  From  this  auspicious  beginning  the 
party  spread  over  the  State  and  the  republic,  but  its  policy  became  so 
narrow  and  so  really  anti-American  in  character  that  after  the  presi- 
dential election  in  1856,  when  its  candidate  for  President  of  the  United 
States  was  Millard  Fillmore,  it  v/as  dissolved. 

The  passions  of  the  lower  orders  in  New  York  City  were  so  excited  to 
do  mischief  by  the  election  riots,  that  immediately  afterward  they  were 
incited  by  the  demagogues  wlio  had  led  them  before  to  engage  in  a  fearful 
public  disturbance  known  as  "  The  Abolition  Riots."  New  York  City 
was  the  headcpiarters  of  the  American  Anti-Slavery  Society.  Their 
meetings  were  frequently  disturbed  by  their  ignorant  or  unreasoning 
opponents.  In  July,  ISB-l,  these  disturl)ances  blossomed  out  into  a  wild 
Tiot,  which  spread  terror  over  the  entire  city.  Houses  of  humane 
citizens  were  sacked,  the  property  of  others  was  destroj^ed,  and  no  less 
than  five  churches  in  the  city  were  attacked  and  partially  demolished. 
Again  the  (now)  Seventh  Regiment,  National  Guards,  was  called  out 
to  suppress  the  dangerous  tumult  and  to  restore  order.  In  this  effort  it 
succeeded  admirably. 

In  the  years  1834  and  1835  a  spirit  of  wild  speculation  scourged  the 
land.  Trade  was  brisk  ;  the  shipping  interest  was  prosperous  ;  prices 
ruled  high  ;  luxury  abounded,  and  nobody  seemed  to  perceive  the  under- 
current of  disaster  that  was  surely  wasting  the  foundations  of  the  absurd 
credit  system  and  the  real  prosperity  of  the  people.  The  credit  system 
collaj^sed  at  the  touch  of  the  Ithuriel  spear  of  Necessity.  The  Bank  of 
England,  seeing  exchanges  running  higher  and  higher  against  that 
country,  contracted  its  loans  and  admonished  houses  giving  long  credits 
to  Americans  by  the  use  of  money  borrowed  from  the  bank  to  curtail  that 
hazardous  business.  At  about  the  same  time  the  famous  "  Specie 
Circular"  went  out  from  our  Treasury  Department  (July,  1836)  directing 

*  James  Harper,  the  senior  member  of  the  original  firm  of  Harper  &  Brothers,  was  the 
son  of  Joseph  Harper,  of  Newtown,  L.  I.,  where  he  was  born  in  April,  1795.  At  sixteen 
years  of  age  he  went  to  New  York  to  learn  the  art  of  printing.  Industrious  and  thrifty, 
he  was  able,  soon  after  his  majority,  to  begin  business  on  his  own  account.  In  the  course 
of  time  his  three  brotliers,  John,  Joseph  Wesley,  and  Fletcher,  became  associated  with 
him  in  the  printing  and  publishing  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Harper  &  Brothers. 
This  brotherhood  remained  unbroken  forty-three  j-^ears,  when,  in  March,  1839,  James 
died  at  St.  Luke's  Hospital,  New  York,  whither  he  had  been  taken,  mortally  hurt  by 
being  thrown  from  his  carriage  while  his  horses  were  running  away.  Mr.  Harper  was 
ever  prominent  in  good  works. 


48C  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

the  collectors  of  the  public  money  to  receive  nothing  but  coin.  From 
the  parlor  of  the  Bank  of  England  and  from  the  Treasury  of  the  United 
iStates  went  forth  the  unwelcome  fiat,  ''  Pay  up  !"  American  houses  in 
London  failed  for  many  millions,  and  every  bank  in  the  United  States 
«u8pended  specie  payments  in  1837.  In  1839  the  Bank  of  the  United 
States,  which  had  been  rechartered  by  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  fell 
into  hopeless  ruin,  and  with  it  went  down  a  large  number  of  the  State 
banks  of  the  country.  A  general  Bankrupt  Act,  passed  in  1841, 
relieved  of  debt  about  forty  thousand  j)er8ons,  whose  aggregate  liabilities 
amounted  to  about  $441,000,000. 

Tiie  business  men  of  the  city  and  State  of  New  York  suffered  intensely 
from  these  financial  troubles.  Already  tlie  merchants  of  the  city  had 
been  severely  smitten  by  a  fearful  conflagration  on  a  bitterly  cold  night — 
December  16th,  1835 — which  reduced  to  ashes  and  cinders  in  the  space 
of  a  few  hours  property  valued  at  almost  $20,000,000.  But  from  this 
■calamity  and  the  financial  troubles  of  1837  the  merchants  of  J!sew  York, 
by  their  energy  and  pluck,  presented  the  spectacle  of  a  speedy  and 
marvellous  rebound. 

The  construction  of  the  Croton  Aqueduct  for  the  sanitary  and  other 
uses  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  of  New  York  had  been  began  a  few 
■weeks  before  the  great  fire.  It  was  completed  in  1842  at  a  cost  of 
$10,375,000,  including  $1,800,000  for  distributing  pipes  and  amounts 
paid  for  the  right  of  way.  It  extends  from  the  Croton  River,  in  West- 
chester County,  where  the  waters  of  that  stream  are  collected  in  a  large 
reservoir,  to  the  distributing  reservoir  at  Forty-second  Street  and  Fifth 
Avenue,  in  New  York  City,  a  distance  of  about  forty  miles.  The 
aqueduct  is  tubular  in  form,  and  crosses  the  Harlem  River  over  the 
magnificent  High  Bridge.  The  receiving  reservoir  within  the  Central 
Park  covers  an  area  of  thirty-five  acres. 


FREE  SCHOOL  LIBRARIES  ESTABLISHED.  487 


CHAPTER   XXXV. 

Governor  Marcy's  administration  extended  from  1833  to  1839, 
during  which  time  wise  and  important  measures  were  adopted  by  the 
Legislature  on  his  recommendation.  The  most  conspicuous  of  these 
measures  was  a  provision,  at  the  session  of  1835,  for  the  enlargement  of 
the  Erie  Canal  and  for  the  promotion  of  popular  education  and  enlighten- 
ment. The  Legislature  responded  generously.  It  instructed  the  canal 
commissioners  to  "  enlarge  and  improve  the  Erie  Canal,  and  construct  a 
double  set  of  lift-locks  therein."  These  iuiprovements  were  finally 
made,  at  an  expense  far  greater  than  the  cost  of  its  original  construction. 
This  enlargement  had  become  necessary  because  of  the  increasing  busi- 
ness of  the  canal  within  ten  years  after  it  was  completed. 

This  provision  for  the  material  prosperity  of  the  State  was  supple- 
mented in  April,  1835,  by  a  provision  for  the  intellectual  advancement 
of  the  i^eople  of  the  commonwealth.  A  law  was  passed  for  the  establish- 
ment of  a  free  library  in  every  school  district  in  the  State,  then  number- 
ing over  nine  thousand  six  liundred.  Governor  Marcy  took  special 
interest  in  the  matter,  and  made  untiring  efforts  to  accomplish  this 
important  object — this  grand  feature  of  our  common-school  system.  He 
desired  to  afford  an  opportunity  to  every  child  within  the  border  of  the 
commonwealth,  of  whatever  color,  race,  creed,  or  condition,  to  acquire 
intellectual  and  moral  cultivation  and  enlightenment.  The  late  General 
John  A.  Dix  was  the  Secretary  of  State  and  Superintendent  of  Common 
Schools  when  these  libraries  were  established.  To  his  WMsdom  and  sound 
judgment,  aided  by  his  deputy,  S.  S,  Randall,  the  people  of  the  State 
were  indebted  for  the  excellence  of  the  selection  of  the  books  for  the 
libraries.*     These  were  pretty  generally  established  in  1838,  when  the 

*  In  the  selection  of  books  the  following  directions  were  adhered  to  : 

"  1.  No  works  written  professedly  to  uphold  or  attack  any  sect  or  creed  in  our  country 
claiming  to  be  a  religious  one  shall  be  tolerated  in  the  school  libraries. 

"  2.  Standard  works  on  other  topics  sluiU  not  be  excluded  because  they  incidentally 
and  indirectly  betray  the  religious  opinions  of  their  authors. 

"  3.  Works  avowedly  on  other  subjects  which  abound  in  direct  and  unreserved  attacks 
on  or  defence  of  the  character  of  any  religious  .sect,  or  those  which  hold  up  any  religious 
body  to  contempt  or  execration  by  singling  out  or  bringing  together  only  the  darker  part 
of  its  history  or  character,  shall  be  excluded  from  the  school  libraries.  In  the  selection 
of  books  for  a  district  library,  information  and  not  mere  amusement  is  to  be  regarded  as 


488 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


pupils  attending  the  district  schools  of  the  State  numbered  about  five 
hundred  thousand  five  Jiundred.  An  annual  appropriation  of  $55,000 
was  made  for  the  purchase  of  books  for  the  libraries.  In  1844  a  State 
Normal  School  (the  first  in  the  commonwealth)  was  established  at 
Albany,  of  whicli  David  P.  Page  was  the  first  principal.     It  occupied  a 


STATE  NORMAL   SCHOOL  BUILDING  AT  ALBANY. 

building  on  State  Street  (117)  originally  erected  by  the  Mohawk  and 
Hudson  Railroad  Company  for  a  passenger  depot. ^ 

It  was  at  this  period  that  great  improvements  were  made  in  the  system 
of  popular  education  in  the  city  of  New  York,  The  Lancastrian  or 
monitorial  form  of  government  and  instruction  had  long  prevailed  there 


the  primary  object.  Suitable  provision  should,  however,  be  made  for  the  intellectual 
wants  of  the  young  by  furnishing  them  with  books  which,  without  being  merely  juvenile 
in  character,  may  be  level  to  tlieir  comprehension  and  sufficiently  entertaining  to  excite 
and  gratify  a  taste  for  reading.     It  is  useless  to  buy  books  that  are  not  read." 

*  A  si)acious  building  for  the  use  of  the  State  Normal  School  wa.s  completed  late  in 
1885,  and  the  school  was  opened  therein  on  Septenilx'r  9th,  with  representatives  from 
forty-three  of  the  si.xty  counties  of  the  State.  During  the  first  term  in  the  new  structure 
the  attendance  in  the  Normal  Department  was  three  hundred  and  .si.xty. 


REVOLUTIONARY  MOVEMENTS   IN  CANADA.  489 

and  in  otlier  parts  of  the  State.*  The  Pestalozzian  f  system  had  also 
been  pretty  extensively  adopted.  In  1832  a  new  organization  of  the 
public  schools  was  effected,  and  these  two  grafts  from  foreign  systems 
were  pruned  away.  The  schools  in  the  city  were  placed  upon  a  per- 
fectly free  basis,  and  were  graded  in  1834.  The  six  schools  for  colored 
children  were  transferred  to  the  Public  School  Society  (the  formation  of 
which  has  already  been  noticed),  and  placed  on  an  equality  M'ith  the 
other  schools. 

Toward  the  close  of  1837  a  popular  outbreak  occurred  in  the  neighbor- 
ing British  provinces  of  Upper  and  Lower  Canada,  which  caused  intense 
excitement  among  the  people  of  the  northern  portions  of  New  York. 
Their  sympathies  with  the  insurgents  were  aroused,  and  citizens  of  the 
State  engaged  in  an  unlawful  invasion  of  the  territory  of  a  friendly 
neighbor. 

There  had  been  popular  discontent  in  these  provinces  for  some  time. 
It  finally  assumed  the  aggressive  form  of  a  concerted  attempt  in  both 
territories  to  cast  off  dependence  upon  Great  Britain.  The  chief  leaders 
in  this  movement  were  William  Lyon  McKenzie,  in  Upper  Canada,  and 
Joseph  Papineau,  in  Lower  Canada.  McKenzie  was  a  Scotchman,  a 
journalist  of  rare,  ability,  and  a  restless  political  agitator.  Papineau,  of 
French  descent,  was  an  extensive  land-owner  in  the  Lower  Province,  of 
cool  judgment,  and  very  inlluential  among  the  French  inhabitants  in 
that  region.     Both  leaders  were  repul)licans  in  sentiment. 

This  movement  was  regarded  as  patriotic  by  the  Americans,  and  the 
active  sympathy  of  the  New  Yorkers  along  tlie  frontier  was  evoked. 
At  the  middle  of  December  (1837)  nearly  a  thousand  New  York  volun- 
teers, with  provisions  and  twenty  pieces  of  artillery,  seized  Navy  Island, 
in  the  Niagara  River,  two  miles  above  the  falls.  Tliere  they  were  joined 
by  McKenzie,   who  was  already  a  fugitive.     They  employed  a  small 

*  It  was  so  called  after  Joseph  Lancaster,  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  or 
Quakers,  who  at  the  beginning  of  the  century  introduced  into  tlie  schools  in  England  the 
monitorial  system,  which  consisted  of  the  employment  of  monitors,  so  called,  composed 
of  some  of  the  brightest  boys  and  girls  in  school,  who  each  had  charge  of  the  discipline  and 
tuition  of  a  section  of  the  school.  They  enforced  discipline  by  watchfulness  and  prompt 
reporting  to  the  teacher.  The  system  was  designed  to  carry  on  the  public  teaching  of 
children  in  the  most  economical  way.  By  this  means  a  teacher  could  manage  a  school 
of  three  or  four  hundred  children.     But  this  system  of  espionage  was  mischievous. 

f  The  Pestalozzian  system  originated  with  John  Pestalozzi,  a  Swiss  teacher  and 
reformer,  and  was  designed  to  educate  infant  pupils  by  a  combination  of  industrial, 
entertaining,  intellectual,  and  moral  instruction,  without  the  use  of  books  and  by  oral 
and  object  teaching  entirely — the  fundamental  basis  of  the  kindergarten  system  of 
Froebel.  It  was  put  in  practice  first  in  New  York  by  the  Infant  School  Society,  founded 
by  Mrs.  Divie  Bethune  and  others,  in  1828. 


490  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

steamboat  named  tlie  Caroline  as  a  ferry- vessel  between  the  New  York 
shore  and  the  island.  On  a  dark  night  at  the  close  of  December,  while 
persons  on  board  of  her  were  asleep,  a  party  of  armed  Canadian  loyalists 
from  Chippewa  seized  her,  killed  some  of  her  people,  cut  her  loose  from 
her  moorings,  set  her  on  fire,  and  allowed  her  to  go  blazing  down  the 
fearful  rapids  and  over  the  crown  of  the  mighty  cataract  into  the  seething 
gulf  below.  It  is  believed  that  some  persons  were  alive  on  board  and 
perished  with  the  vessel. 

McKenzie,  whose  rashness  imperilled  the  cause  at  the  outset,  fled  to 
New  York.  The  Governor  of  Canada  made  requisition  upon  Governor 
Marcy  for  the  surrender  of  the  arch-agitator.  Marcy  declined  to  do  so, 
for  McKenzie's  offence  ^-as,  jpolitical^  not  criminal,  and  he  was  seeking 
an  asylum  on  neutral  territory. 

Meanwhile  all  along  the  New  York  frontier,  from  Cape  Vincent  to 
Rouse's  Point  at  the  foot  of  Lake  Champlain,  American  sympathizers 
continued  to  cross  into  Canada  and  join  the  insurgents.  At  Clayton,  on 
the  New  York  shore  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  lived  William  Johnston,  a 
bold  British  subject,  who  was  appointed  commodore  of  the  naval  force 
of  the  insurgents  by  their  authority.*  He  kept  up  an  amphibious  war- 
fare among  the  Thousand  Islands,  and  others  on  the  Canada  sliore  kept 
the  frontier  in  continual  excitement  for  months.  At  length  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  (Yan  Buren)  issued  a  proclamation  forbidding 
American  citizens  engaging  in  the  insurrectionary  movement.  General 
Scott  was  sent  to  Northern  New  York  to  preserve  order.     Governor 

*  William  Johnston  was  born  at  Three  Rivers,  Canada,  in  February,  1782.  Ilis  fatlier 
was  an  Irislunan,  and  a  Dutch  girl  from  New  Jersey  was  liis  mother.  He  wa.s  living  at 
Clayton  (French  Creek),  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  when  the  insurrection  broke  out.  Cor- 
dially hating  the  British  Government  and  its  employes,  and  fond  of  adventure,  he  was 
easily  persuaded  to  join  in  the  strife.  He  was  bold  and  courageous.  The  "  Patriots" 
commissioned  him  "commodore"  and  commander-in-chief  of  the  navy  on  the  lake, 
among  the  Thousand  Islands,  and  on  the  St.  Lawrence  River.  After  he  had  burned  a 
British  steamboat  and  committed  other  excesses,  a  rewai'd  for  his  apprehension  wiis  offeretl 
by  both  governments,  and  for  a  long  time  he  was  a  fugitive,  hiding  among  the  islands 
and  supplied  with  food  by  his  charming  daughter,  a  girl  of  eighteen  years,  who  was 
expert  in  the  management  of  a  boat.  He  finally  gave  himself  up  to  the  American  author- 
ities. He  was  sentenced  to  one  year's  imprisonment  and  a  fine,  and  was  confined  in  jail 
at  Albany,  where  his  daughter  joined  him  to  .solace  him  in  his  solitude.  They  managed 
to  escape,  and  Johnston  was  luimolested.  When  I  visited  him  in  1860.  at  Clayton,  he 
was  the  keeper  of  a  light-hoasc  a  few  miles  below.  His  daughter,  the  "  Heroine  of  the 
Thousand  Islands,"  was  then  a  matron  with  .several  chijdren,  but  retaining  many  traces 
of  her  former  beauty.  Johnston  gave  me  liis  photograph  ;  also  his  commission  from  the 
Grand  Council,  the  Western  Canadian  Association,  the  Grand  Eagle  Chapter,  and  the 
Grand  Eagle  Chapter  of  Upper  Canada,  creating  him  "  Commodore  of  the  Navy,  Com- 
mander-in-Chief of  all  the  Naval  Forces  of  the  Canadian  Provinces  on  Patriot  service." 


DISTURBANCE  OF  INTERNATIONAL  AMITY  THREATENED.       491 

Marcj  also  issued  a  proclamation  of  the  tenor  of  that  of  the  President. 
The  open  contest  soon  ceased,  but  for  some  time  secret  associations  called 
"  Hunters'  Lodges"  on  New  York  soil  kept  up  the  excitement.  These 
lodges  numbered  about  twelve  hundred.  They  were  suppressed  by 
President  Tyler  in  1842. 

Early  in  January,  1841,  an  incident  occurred  on  the  Niagara  frontier 
which  for  a  moment  threatened  to  disturb  the  existing  amity  between 
the  governments  of  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain.  Alexander 
McLeod,  a  resident  of  Chippewa,  being  at  Lewiston,  on  the  New  York 
shore  of  the  river,  boasted  that  he  was  a  participant  in  the  destruction  of 
the  steamer  Caroline  and  in  the  murder  of  one  of  her  men.  He  was 
arrested  and  sent  to  the  Lockport  jail.  He  was  indicted  for  murder,  and 
the  owner  of  the  vessel  instituted  a  civil  suit  against  him.  Mr.  Fox,  the 
British  Minister  at  Washington,  demanded  of  our  Government  the 
release  of  McLeod,  and  avowed  and  justified  the  destruction  of  the 
Caroline  as  an  act  of  his  Government.  The  Secretary  of  State  (Mr. 
Webster)  informed  Mr.  Fox  tiiat  it  was  a  State  affair,  and  the  National 
Government  had  no  right  to  interfere  with  the  judicial  proceedings  of  a 
State  ;  that  the  matter  was  before  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  York,  and 
that  he  believed  that  tribunal  would  agree  with  him  that  the  prisoner 
ought  to  be  given  up,  for  he  was  acting  in  obedience  to  orders  from  a 
superior.  That  court  remanded  McLeod  for  trial  before  a  special  circuit 
court  sitting  at  Utica.  After  an  excitino:  trial  the  innocence  of  the 
prisoner  was  proven,  he  having  made  the  boast  in  a  spirit  of  bravado 
while  intoxicated.      He  was  acquitted. 

Martin  Van  Buren  was  nominated  for  the  Presidency  of  the  United 
States  in  1836.  Perceiving  the  necessity  of  taking  ground  against  the 
Abolitionists,  now  organized  and  aggressive,  in  order  to  secure  the  votes 
of  the  Southern  States,  he  did  so,  and  was  elected,  taking  his  seat  as 
Chief  Magistrate  in  the  spring  of  1837.  Governor  Marcy  also  took  a 
position  antagonistic  to  the  Abolitionists  ;  and  so  the  Democratic  Party 
of  the  State  and  nation  became  wedded  to  the  upholders  of  the  system 
of  slavery.     Tlie  nuptials  proved  disastrous  to  the  party. 

Never  did  any  political  party  seem  to  stand  on  a  jnore  secure  founda- 
tion than  did  the  Democratic  Party  in  New  York  in  the  winter  of 
183(5-37.  Alas  !  before  the  lapse  of  a  year  it  was  utterly  overtlirown. 
In  the  fall  the  Whigs  elected  one  hundred  and  one  of  the  one  hundred 
and  twenty-eight  members  of  the  State  Assembly,  and  carried  six  of  the 
eight  senatorial  districts.  The  country  had  been  swept  by  a  fearful 
tornado  of  financial  disaster.  The  banks  of  New  York  were  compelled 
to  suspend  specie  payments  ;  commercial  distress  was  the  rule,  and  the 


492 


THE   EMPIRE   STATE. 


liuge,  hollow  credit  system  fell  into  niins.     All  this  had  followed  the 

terrible  tint  of  the   "  Specie  Circular"   and  cognate  instrumentalities. 

The  Whig  leaders  adroitly  charged  the  public  calamities  to  the  misrule 

of   the  Democratic   Party.      The  rank  and   tile  accepted  the  solution, 

and  the  overthrow  of  Democratic 
domination  in  New  York  was  the 
logical  consequence.  William  11. 
Seward  was  elected  Governor  of 
the  State  in  the  fall  of  1838,  over 
Governor  Marcy,  by  a  majority  of 
about  ten  thousand.* 

The  finances  of  the  State  at  this 
juncture  were  admirably  managed. 
The  banks  conducted  their  business 
with  so  much  prudence  that  they 
were  able  to  resume  specie  pay- 
ments in  1830.  A  Free  Banking 
Law  had  been  enacted  in  1838  on 
the  recommendation  of  Governor 
Marcy.     Governor   Seward  in  his 

message  in  1830  spoke  highly  of   the  measure,  and  he  eulogized  the 

tinaneial  position  of  the  State  of  New  York,  saying  : 

"  History  furnishes  no  parallel  to  the  financial  achievements  of  this 

State.     It  surrendered  its  share  in  the  national  domain,  and  relinquished 


WILLIAM  11.    SEWARD. 


*  William  llcnry  Sowanl  Wiis  Inirn  at  Florida,  Omngo  County,  X.  Y.,  in  May.  1801  ; 
(liwl  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  in  October,  1S72.  lie  was  a  gnuluate  of  Union  College,  and 
iH^gan  the  pnictice  of  law  at  Auburn  in  1823.  He  soon  acquired  a  high  reputation  in  his 
profession.  He  rtrst  appoaivtl  conspicuous  in  jwlitics  as  president  of  a  8late  convention 
of  young  men  who  favored  the  election  of  John  Quincy  Adams  to  llie  Presidency  of  the 
Unitwl  States.  He  was  a  memlKT  of  the  Slate  Senate,  1830-34,  and  liecame  a  leader  of 
the  newly-formed  Whig  Party.  He  was  elecKHi  Governor  of  New  York  in  1838,  and 
agjiin  in  1840.  For  several  years  he  quietly  pursutnl  his  lucrative  profession.  In  1841) 
he  was  chosen  Unitetl  States  Senator,  which  ix)sition  he  held  imtil  ciUled  to  the  seat  of 
Prime  Minister  (Secn'tary  of  State)  in  the  Cabinet  of  President  Lincoln  in  the  spring  of 
1801.  He  tilled  the  office  with  great  honor  to  himself  and  the  nation  during  the  trying 
jxritMl  of  the  Civil  War.  He  continuetl  in  the  sjime  office  in  the  Cabinet  of  President 
Johnson.  Mr.  Sewanl  was  reganled  for  many  years  as  one  of  the  leading  and  most 
efficient  opposers  of  the  system  of  slavery.  Early  in  1865  he  was  confined  to  his  beti  by 
an  accident,  and  on  the  night  of  the  munlor  of  President  Lincoln  an  assjvssin  found  his 
way  into  Mr.  Sewanl's  home  and  attempt^l  to  .slay  him.  He  never  uncovered  fr«)m  the 
shock.  In  the  spring  of  1860  he  nninxl  from  public  life.  In  August.  18T1.  he  .>ilarteil 
with  some  friends  on  u  tour  around  the  world.  He  was  everywhere  rtxx'iveil  with  marks  of 
great  respect.  Mr.  Sewanl  died  at  Auburn.  Octolx^r  10.  187*2.  One  of  the  most  notable 
of  his  public  act*  was  tlie  purchasi'  of  Alaska  from  Russia  for  |iT.2iX),000  in  gold,  in  1867. 


A  FUGITIVE-SLAVE   CASE.  493 

for  the  general  welfare  all  tlio  revenues  of  its  foreign  commerce,  equal 
generally  to  two  thirds  of  the  entire  expenditure  of  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment. It  has,  nevertheless,  sustained  the  expenses  of  its  own  adminis- 
tration, founded  and  endowed  a  broad  system  of  education,  charitable 
institutions  for  every  class  of  the  unfortunate,  and  a  penitentiary  estab- 
lishment wliich  h  adopted  as  a  model  by  civilized  nations.  It  has 
increased  fourfold  the  wealth  of  its  citizens,  and  relieved  them  from 
direct  taxation  ;  and  in  addition  to  all  this  has  carried  forward  a  stupen- 
dous enterprise  of  improvement,  all  the  while  diminishing  its  debts, 
magnifying  its  credit,  and  augmenting  its  resources."  * 

Governor  Seward  recommended  the  Legislature  (1840)  to  provide  for 
the  speedy  completion  of  the  enlargement  of  the  Erie  Canal,  but  told 
them  franlvly  that  the  cost,  wliich  the  State  officers  had  estimated  at 
$12,000,000,  would  be  at  least  !?2;3,000, 000— possibly  $25,00(>,000.  He 
also  urged  the  construction  of  the  Genesee  Valley  and  Black  River 
canals,  whicli  would  require  an  expenditure  of  $6,000,000.  In  the  same 
message  he  invited  the  attention  of  the  Legislature  to  tlie  fact  that  he 
liad  received  from  the  Governor  of  Virginia  a  demand  for  the  return  of 
three  colored  "fugitives  from  justice,"  charged  witli  stealing  a  negro- 
slave.  Governor  Seward  refused  compliance  on  tlie  ground  that  such 
alleged  felony  was  not  recognized  as  such  by  the  laws  of  civilized  nations 
or  those  of  the  State  of  Xew  York.f  This  was  Mr.  Seward's  first  official 
encounter  wnth  ti»e  slave  power. 

*  Tho  State  of  New  York  has  the  honor  of  having  within  its  borders  the  first  passenger 
railway  built  in  the  United  States.  The  tirst  railway  charter  granted  in  America  was 
given  by  the  Legislature  of  New  York,  in  1825,  to  the  Mohawk  and  Hudson  Railway 
Companj'.  Their  road  extended  from  Albany  to  Schenectady,  a  distance  of  about  fifteen 
miles,  and  was  completed  in  the  fall  of  1831. 

f  The  Governor  of  Virginia  in  his  ne.xt  annual  message  referred  the  matter  to  the 
Legi^^lature  of  his  State,  and  haughtily  declared  that  if  the  construction  of  the  Constitution 
of  the  United  States  by  the  Governor  of  New  York  should  be  allowed  to  prevail,  and  no 
relief  coidd  be  obtained  against  a  "  flagrant  violation  of  the  rights  of  Virginia"  to  reclaim 
her  fugitive  slave,  it  would  be  proper  for  her  "  to  appeal  from  the  cancelled  obligations 
of  the  national  compact  to  original  rights  ;"  in  other  words,  to  secede  from  the  Union. 

The  matter  did  not  end  here.  The  Virginia  governor  entered  upon  the  work  of  retalia- 
tion. A  citizen  of  New  York  charged  with  the  crime  of  forgery  fled  to  Virginia.  Gov- 
ernor Seward  forwarded  a  requisition  for  him  to  be  surrendered  as  a  fugitive  from  justice. 
The  Governor  of  Virginia  refused  compliance,  and  kept  the  prisoner  in  jail  a  long  time 
waiting  for  the  Governor  of  New  York  to  give  up  the  three  colored  Virginia  fugitives. 
This  unjustifiable  conduct  on  the  part  of  the  governor  was  disclaimed  by  the  Virginia 
Legislature.  The  Legislature  of  New  York  adopted  a  joint  resolution  stistaining  the 
claim  of  the  Governor  of  Virginia  for  the  three  fugitives,  and  directed  Governor  Seward 
to  transmit  the  resolution  to  the  executive  of  Virginia.  He  declined  to  do  so,  and  sug- 
gested the  employment  of  some  other  agent  than  himself  to  perform  that  task.  Here  the 
matter  was  dropped. 


494  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

The  Wliig  Party  had  now  the  entire  political  control  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  the  result  of  the  presidential  election  that  year  (1840) 
gave  them  the  political  control  of  the  nation  for  a  while.  In  Xew  York 
Governor  Seward  was  re-elected,  and  the  Whig  candidate  for  the  presi- 
dency, General  William  Henry  Harrison,  of  Ohio,  was  chosen  by  a  very 
large  majority,  after  an  exciting  and  demoralizing  canvass,  known  in 
political  history  as  "  The  Hard-Cider  Campaign."  * 

President  Van  Bnren  had  made  himself  very  unpopular  with  the 
banking  and  commercial  interests  of  the  country  because  of  his  successful 
exertions  in  the  establishment  of  the  independent  treasury  ;  also  with  a 
large  portion  of  the  people  of  the  non-slaveholding  States  because  of  his 
alleged  subserviency  to  the  Southern  slave  oligarchy.  Harrison  took  his 
seat  on  March  4th,  1841,  and  died  just  one  month  afterward.  Then 
Vice-President  John  Tyler,  of  Virginia,  assumed,  by  constitutional  pro- 
vision, the  exalted  position  of  President  of  the  United  States. 

At  this  time  the  population  of  New  York  ^A'as  about  two  million  five 
hundred  thousand.  Of  this  number,  it  was  estimated  that  about  thirty 
thousand  children  were  uneducated,  of  whom  fully  one  third  were  of 
foreign  parentage.  These  were  destined  to  become  future  citizens.  In 
view  of  these  facts  thoughtful  men  pondered  the  matter  with  anxiety. 
Governor  Seward  was  keenly  alive  to  the  foreshadowed  danger,  and  in 
his  message  to  the  Legislature  in  1841  he  strongly  urged  that  body  to 
provide  by  law  for  the  elementary  education  of  the  children  of  foreigners, 
of  whatever  nationality  or  religious  belief.     He  said  : 

"  I  could  not  enjoy  the  consciousness  of  having  discharged  my  duty 
if  any  effort  had  been  omitted  which  was  calculated  to  bring  within  the 
schools  all  who  are  destined  to  exercise  the  rights  of  citizenship  ;  nor 
shall  I  feel  that  the  system  is  perfect  or  liberty  safe  until  that  object  be 
accomplished." 

The  wise  and  cultivated  citizen,   John  C.   Spencer,t  was  then  the 


*  General  Harrison  lived  in  the  growing  West,  and  his  dwelling  had  once  been  a  log- 
cabin,  at  North  Bend,  Ohio,  where  he  exercised  great  hospitality.  In  the  campaign 
referred  to  his  partisans  made  a  log-cabin  a  symbol  of  his  democracy — a  man  of  the 
people — and  a  barrel  of  cider  symbolized  his  hospitality.  In  hamlets,  villages,  and  cities 
log-cabins  were  built  as  rallying-places  for  the  members  of  tlie  party,  and  there  cider  was 
freely  given  to  all.  Drinking  carousals  were  the  results,  and  tlie  demoralization  of  young 
men  was  fearful.  Horace  Greeley  edited  a  campaign  paper  (billed  The  Ijog-Cabin,  which 
became  the  predecessor  of  the  New  York.  Tribune. 

f  John  Canfleld  Spencer,  son  of  Judge  Ambrose  Spencer,  was  born  at  Hud.son,  N.  Y., 
in  January,  1788  ;  died  in  Albany  in  May,  1855.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Union  College  ; 
studied  law  and  began  its  practice  at  Canandaigua,  N.  Y.,  in  1809.  At  the  age  of  nine- 
teen he  had  been  private  secretary  of  Governor  Tompkins,  and  was  ever  afterward  prom- 


INTERESTS   OF  POPULAR  EDUCATION  PROMOTED.  495 

Secretary  of  State  and  State  Superintendent  of  Common  Schools.  He 
was  in  full  accord  with  the  views  of  Governor  Seward.  In  response  to 
petitions  from  the  city  of  New  York  upon  this  subject,  which  were 
referred  to  him,  he  made  an  able  report,  in  which  he  recommended  the 
election  of  a  Board  of  Commissioners  of  Common  Schools  in  that  city, 
authorized  to  establish  and  organize  a  system  of  ward  schools,  which 
should  co-operate  with  those  of  the  Public  School  Society  in  furnishing 
the  requisite  facilities  for  the  education  of  all  classes  of  children.  On 
Mr.  Spencer's  recommendation  provision  was  made  for  a  State  Deputy 
Superintendent  of  Common  Schools,  to  which  important  office  S.  S. 
Randall,  who  had  been  Secretary  Dix's  deputy,  was  appointed.  Pro- 
vision was  also  made  for  the  election  of  county  superintendents  through- 
out the  State.  A  liberal  appropriation  was  made  for  the  support  of  the 
Cotnmon  School  Journal,  which  was  devoted  to  the  interests  of  popular 
education.* 

Out  of  these  and  cognate  proceedings  grew  a  violent  controversy 
which  had  been  begun  mildly  many  years  before.     Its  essence  was  the 

inent  in  the  public  affairs  of  the  State.  In  1811  he  was  appointed  master  in  chancery, 
and  in  1813  judge-advocate  in  active  military  service  on  the  frontier.  In  1814  he  was 
postmaster  at  Canandaigua,  and  was  assistant  attorney -general  in  1815.  He  was  a 
member  of  Congress,  1817-19,  and  a  member  of  the  Assembly  and  its  Speaker  in  1820. 
He  was  State  Senator,  1824-28,  and  in  1827  was  one  of  the  commissioners  to  revise  the 
statutes  of  New  York.  He  became  an  anti-Mason,  and  was  a  special  officer  appointed  to 
prosecute  the  persons  connected  with  the  alleged  abduction  of  Morgan.  Judge  Spencer 
was  Secretary  of  State,  1839-41.  He  was  lirst  made  Secretary  of  War  and  then  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury  in  Tyler's  Cabinet.  Opposed  to  the  annexation  of  Texas,  he  resigned  in 
1844  and  resumed  the  practice  of  law.  To  Judge  Spencer  is  due,  to  a  great  extent,  the 
greater  improvements  in  the  common -.school  system  of  the  State.  He  edited  the  lirst 
edition  of  De  Tocqueville's  Democracy  in  America. 

*  The  apathy  of  the  people  concerning  popular  education  in  the  State  of  New  York  at 
that  time  was  most  remarkable.  It  was  stipulated  that  one  copy  of  the  Common  Sclwol 
Journal  should  be  sent  regularly  to  the  clerk  of  ever}'  school  district  in  the  State  free  of 
charge.  "  It  is  mortifying  and  painful  to  state,"  says  Hammond,  in  his  Political  Histm'y 
of  Nett)  York,  vol.  iii.,  p.  225,  "  what  the  truth  of  history  requires  us  to  record,  that  it  is 
within  our  personal  knowledge  that  the  trustees  of  many  school  districts  refused  to  take 
from  the  post-office  this  excellent  journal,  every  number  of  which  contained  much 
important  and  u.seful  information,  the  cost  of  which  is  paid  from  the  State  Treasury, 
because  they  were  unwilling  to  pay  from  the  common  funds  of  their  respective  districts 
the  sum  of  one  sldlling  a  year  for  pontage  .'" — one  cent  a  month. 

The  author  of  this  volume  was  one  of  a  few  citizens  of  Duchess  County  who,  at  the 
beginning  of  1837,  formed  a  society  for  "  The  Improvement  of  Common  Schools  and  the 
General  Diffusion  of  Knowledge."  Many  of  the  best  citizens  of  the  county  became 
members  of  the  association,  and  meetings  were  held  by  the  society  at  various  places  in 
the  county  with  a  hope  of  exciting  public  interest  in  the  important  subject.  Yet  such 
was  the  marvellous  apathy  of  the  trustees  of  the  common  schools  and  of  parents  in  gen- 
eral, that  after  a  trial  of  about  fifteen  months  the  effort  was  abandoned  as  useless. 


496 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


antagonism  of  religious  denominations,  some  of  which  had  participated 
in  the  benefits  of  the  public  money  placed  under  the  control  of  the 
Public  School  Society  (whicli  was  a  close  corporation  and  had  supreme 
power  in  the  distribution  of  the  funds  intrusted  to  it  by  the  State),  and 
others  had  been  denied  such  participation.  The  subject  was  brought 
before  the  Legislature.     That  body  by  act  transferred  the  wliole  matter 

of  the  distribution  of  the  school 
fund  in  the  city  of  New  York  to 
the  Common  Council,  with  full 
powers. 

The  trustees  of  the  Roman  Cath- 
olic   Free   Schools  applied   to   the 
Common    Council   for    a   separate 
proportionate  share  in  the  distribu- 
tion  of   the   school  fund.       Their 
schools  were  numerous   and  were 
rapidly    increasing.       The    Public 
School  Society   remonstrated,   and 
the  chamber  of  the  Common  Coun- 
cil became  a  notable  arena  for  the 
display  of   argumentative  oratory. 
The    Public   School    Society   em- 
ployed some  of  the  best  legal  talent  in  the  city  to  champion  their  cause. 
They  were  confronted  by  the  astute  Archbishop  Hughes,*  who  appeared 
in  behalf  of  the  Roman  Catholics. 

The  controversy  became  exceedingly  hot,  and  great  public  excitement 
prevailed.  The  Common  Council  sustained  the  Public  School  Society. 
The  Roman  Catholics  appealed  to  the  Legislature.  On  the  recommen- 
dation of  Governor  Seward  that  body  extended  to  the  wards  of  the  city 

*  Archbishop  John  Hughes,  an  eminent  Roman  Catholic  prelate,  was  born  in  county 
Tyrone,  Ireland,  in  1797  ;  died  in  New  York  City  in  January,  1864.  He  emigrated  to 
America  with  his  father  in  1817  ;  received  a  good  education  at  a  Roman  Catholic  sem- 
inary in  Maryland,  and  remained  there  as  a  teacher  several  years.  In  1825  he  was 
ordained  a  priest,  and  was  settled  in  Philadelphia.  In  1838  he  became  coadjutor  to 
Bishop  Dubois  in  New  York,  and  on  the  death  of  the  latter  in  1843  he  became  bishop. 
He  visited  Europe  in  1889,  and  in  1841  opened  St.  John's  College  at  Fordham,  which  he 
had  organized.  He  held  the  first  diocesan  .synod  in  New  York  in  1842,  where  alterations 
were  nuide  in  the  methods  of  the  administration  of  churches  without  trustees.  In  1850 
lie  was  created  archbishop.  He  held  the  first  provincial  council  of  his  Church  in  New 
York  in  1854.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  Civil  War  Archbishop  Hughes  was  sent 
to  Europe  with  the  late  Thurlow  Weed  on  an  informal  diplomatic  mi.ssion  in  behalf  of 
the  United  States  Government.  His  health  failed  .soon  after  his  return.  He  was  a 
powerful  controversialist,  and  did  much  to  advance  the  prosperity  of  his  Church. 


ARCHBISHOP  HUGHES. 


THE  PUBLIC   SCHOOL   SOCIETY   AND   THE   CATHOLICS.  497 

of  New  York  the  common-school  system  which  liad  prevailed  for  many 
years  throughout  tlie  State,  The  management  of  the  schools  (indepen- 
dent of  those  under  the  control  of  the  Public  School  Society)  was  placed 
in  the  hands  of  inspectors,  trustees,  and  commissioners  elected  by  the 
people  ;  and  so  all  schools  were  allowed  to  participate  in  the  benefits  of 
the  public  funds  according  to  the  number  of  their  scholars  ;  but  such 
l^articipation  was  prohibited  to  any  school  in  which  any  religious  sectarian 
doctrine  or  tenet  should  be  taught,  inculcated,  or  practised. 

Both  contestants  were  dissatisfied.  The  friends  of  the  Public  School 
Society  regarded  the  measure  as  a  serious  blow  to  popular  education. 
The  Poman  Catholics  considered  the  exclusion  of  all  religious  instruction 
from  the  schools  as  most  fatal  to  the  moral  and  religious  principles  of 
their  children,  and  said  :  "  Our  only  resource  is  to  establish  schools  of 
our  own."  The  Public  School  Society  kept  up  its  organization  several 
years  longer,  but,  convinced  of  the  superiority  of  the  State  system,  it 
was  dissolved  in  1853,  and  some  of  its  members  took  seats  in  the  Board 
of  Education,  which  was  organized  in  1842.  That  board  has  ever  since 
had  the  supreme  control  of  public  instruction  in  the  city  of  New  York. 

Under  the  auspices  of  the  Board  of  Education  a  normal  school  was 
established  in  the  city  of  New  York  in  1869.  An  elegant,  spacious,  and 
well-equipped  edifice  for  its  use  M'as  completed  in  1873,  and  the  school 
was  opened  in  September,  that  year,  under  the  title  of  "  The  New  York 
Normal  College."  *  Already  a  State  Normal  School  had  been  esta.b- 
lished  at  Albany  (1844),  as  we  have  observed,  under  the  control  of  an 
Executive  Committee  composed  of  the  Superintendent  of  Common 
Schools  and  four  other  gentlemen. 

In  the  fall  of  1842  another  political  revolution  in  the  State  of  New 
York  occurred.  The  Whig  Party  was  overthrown,  and  William 
C.  Bouck,  the  Democratic  candidate  for  governor,  was  elected  by  about 
twenty-two  thousand  majority. f  The  Democrats  also  elected  a  large 
majority  of  the  members  of  both  branches  of  the  Legislature.  The 
Abolitionists,  who  were  chiefly  Whigs,  gave  to  their  candidate  for  gov- 
ernor-— Alvpn  Stuart — about  seven  thousand  votes. 

*  The  Normal  College  in  New  York  is  devoted  to  the  training  of  female  teachers. 
All  its  teachers,  outside  the  faculty,  are  women.  The  building,  fronting  on  Sixty-eighth 
Street,  is  an  elegant  one,  four  stories  in  height. 

f  William  C.  Bouck  was  born  in  Schoharie,  N.  Y.,  in  1786  ;  died  there  in  April,  1859. 
In  1812  he  was  appointed  sheriff  of  Schoharie  County.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Assembly,  1813-15  ;  State  Senator  in  1820,  and  canal  commissioner,  1821-40.  From  1843 
to  1845  he  was  Governor  of  the  State,  and  in  1846  was  a  member  of  the  State  Constitu- 
tional Convention.  From  1846  to  1849  he  was  assistant  treasurer  in  New  York  City, 
after  which  he  devoted  himself  to  agriculture. 


498 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


Governor  Boiick  took  his  seat  at  the  beginning  of  1843.  In  February 
Silas  Wright,  who  now  ranked  among  the  ablest  members  of  the  Senate 
of  the  United  States,  was  re-elected  to  a  seat  in  that  body  for  six  years. 
The  new  State  administration  was  moving  on  quietly  and  harmoniously, 
when  Colonel  Samuel  Young,  the  Secretary  of  State,  created  much 
excitement  in  and  out  of  the  Legislature  by  declining  to  carry  out  one 
of  its  important  orders. 

Several  years  before,  the  Legislature  authorized  a  geological  survey  of 
the  State  under  the  supervision  of  competent  scientists.  It  was  now 
completed,  and  their  elaborate  report,  in  ten  volumes,  accompanied  by 
numerous  illustrations,  was  submitted  to  the  Legislature.  That  body 
ordered  three  thousand  copies  to  be  printed  and  deposited  with  the 

Secretary  of  State  for  distribution 
among  the  State  officers  and  mem- 
bers of  the  Legislature. 

In  a  communication  to  the  Leg- 
islature, in  March,  the  Secretary  of 
State  declined  to  carry  out  the  pro- 
visions of  the  act.  He  declared  it 
to  be  unconstitutional,  because  it 
had  failed  to  receive  the  assent  of 
two  thirds  of  all  the  members  elect- 
ed to  each  House,  as  directed  by 
the  Constitution.  He  pointed  out, 
with  stinging  words  of  censure, 
other  violations  of  the  Constitution 
by  the  Legislature  in  the  creation 
of  stocks  and  the  grants  of  public  • 
money.  He  said  : 
"  Millions  of  outstanding  stocks  are  now  impending  over  the  State 
which  were  created  by  laws  in  clear  and  direct  hostility  with  the  plain 
provisions  of  the  Constitution  ;  null  and  void  in  their  inception,  and 
imposing  not  even  the  shadow  of  a  moral  obligation  for  the  fulfilment  of 
their  ostensible  demands." 

These  assertions  created  instant  and  warm  debates  in  the  Legislature 
and  alarm  among  the  holders  of  these  securities.  That  alarm  was  soon 
quieted  by  resolutions  adopted  by  the  Legislature,  declaring  that  the 
State  would  sacredly  fulfil  all  its  obligations  without  regard  to  technical 
informalities.  The  secretary,  however,  persisted  in  refusing  to  comply 
with  the  law  during  his  whole  official  term. 

At  this  time  the  State  was  much  agitated  by  the  presentation  of  a 


WILLIAM  C.    BOUCK. 


ANTI-RENTISM.  499 

social  problem  which  had  been  pressing  for  a  solution  for  some  time.  It 
was  a  question  of  land  tenure. 

We  have  noticed  the  acquirement  of  vast  tracts  of  land  in  New 
Netherland,  under  tlie  Dutch  rule,  bj  privileged  persons  called  pair oons. 
After  the  old  war  for  independence,  when  the  laws  of  primogeniture 
were  abolished,  a  large  proportion  of  the  land  of  the  settled  part  of  the 
State  of  New  York  was  held  by  these  patroons,  and  the  cultivators  of 
the  estates  occupied  farms  on  leases  for  one  or  more  lives,  or  from  year 
to  year,  stipulating  for  the  payment  of  rents,  dues,  and  services,  some- 
what after  the  manner  of  the  old  feudal  tenures  in  Holland  and  England. 
These  feudal  tenures  having  also  been  abolished,  the  proprietors  of 
manor  grants  contrived  a  form  of  deed  by  whieli  the  grantees  agreed  to 
pay  rents  and  dues  almost  precisely  as  before.  These  tenures  became 
burdensome  and  odious  to  the  tillers  ;  and  in  1S39  associations  of  farmers 
were  formed  for  the  purpose  of  devising  a  scheme  of  relief  from  the 
burdens.  They  were  the  tenants  of  Patroon  Van  Rensselaer,  who  had 
just  died. 

This  movement  soon  became  known  as  "  anti-rentism."  It  speedily 
manifested  itself  in  open  resistance  to  the  service  of  legal  processes  for  the 
collecting  of  manorial  rents.  The  iirst  overt  act  of  lawlessness  that 
attracted  public  attention  was  in  the  town  of  Grafton,  in  Rensselaer 
County,  where  a  band  of  anti-renters  killed  a  man.  Yet  the  criminal 
was  never  discovered. 

In  1841  and  1842  Governor  Seward  in  his  messages  recommended  the 
reference  of  the  alleged  grievance  and  matters  in  dispute  on  both  sides 
to  arbitrators,  and  appointed  three  men  to  investigate  and  report  to  the 
Legislature.  Nothing  was  accomplished,  and  the  disaffection  spread 
and  was  intensified.  So  rampant  was  the  insubordination  to  law  in 
Delaware  County  that  the  governor  (Silas  "Wright)  in  1845  recommended 
legislation  for  its  suppression,*  and  declared  the  county  in  a  state  of  insur- 
rection.    Finally  the  trial  and  conviction  of  a  few  persons  for  conspiracy 

*  The  Legislature  passed  an  "  act  to  prevent  persons  appearing  disguised  and  armed." 
It  authorized  the  arrest  of  all  persons  who  appeared  having  their  faces  concealed  or  dis- 
colored, who  might  be  punished  as  vagrants.  It  authorized  sheriffs  to  call  a  posse  to  his 
aid  in  making  arrests. 

At  about  the  same  time  an  Anti-Rent  State  Convention  was  held  at  Berne,  in  Albany 
County,  at  which  great  moderation  was  displayed  by  the  chief  actors  in  it.  Eleven 
counties  and  a  greater  number  of  associations  were  represented.  They  disapproved  the 
outrages  that  had  been  committed  ;  appointed  a  State  Central  Committee  and  a  committee 
to  present  petitions  to  the  Legislature.  A  newspaper  called  The  Ouardian  of  the  Soil, 
devoted  to  the  anti-rent  cause,  was  published  at  Albany,  and  was  conducted  with  much 
ability  and  prudence. 


500  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

and  resistance  to  the  laws,  and  their  confinement  in  the  State  prison, 
caused  a  cessation  of  all  operations  by  the  masked  bands. 

There  was  so  much  popular  sympathy  manifested  in  behalf  of  the 
anti-renters  that  the  association  in  1839  organized  a  political  party  favor- 
able to  their  cause.  It  succeeded  in  1842,  and  for  several  years  after- 
ward, in  electing  one  eighth  of  the  Legislature,  who  favored  anti-rentism  ; 
and  in  the  revised  Constitntion  of  1846  a  clause  was  inserted  abolishing 
all  feudal  tenures  and  incidents,  and  forbidding  the  leasing  of  agricul- 
tural lands  for  a  longer  term  than  twelve  years. 

The  Democratic  Party  triumphed  in  the  State  and  nation  in  1844. 
James  K.  Polk  was  elected  President  of  the  United  States,  and  Silas 
Wright  was  chosen  Governor  of  New  York  by  a  majority  of  more  than 
ten  thousand  votes  over  Millard  Fillmore.  His  majority  in  New  York 
city  alone  was  three  thousand  three  hundred  and  eighty-six. 

The  same  year  was  made  memorable  by  the  successful  establishment 
of  instantaneous  communication  between  distant  places  by  means  of  the 
electro-magnetic  telegraph,  to  which  intelligence  and  a  language  had 
recently  been  given  by  a  citizen  of  New  York — Professor  S.  F.  B. 
Morse.  A  line  of  telegraphic  comnmnication  between  Baltimore  and 
Washington  had  just  been  completed,  and  the  first  public  message  sent 
over  it  was  an  announcement  from  Baltimore  of  the  nomination  of  Mr. 
Polk  for  the  presidency  by  the  Democratic  Convention  then  in  session  in 
that  city.  Other  lines  were  speedily  set  up,  largely  through  the  wonder- 
ful executive  ability  of  Henry  O'Reilly,  of  New  York,  who  was  the 
editor  of  the  first  daily  newspaper  (at  Rochester,  N.  Y.)  established 
between  the  Hudson  River  and  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

Governor  Wright's  administration  was  a  quiet  one,  disturbed  only  by 
the  anti-rent  excitements,  which  he  did  much  to  suppress.  These  excite- 
ments gradually  subsided,  and  only  in  courts  of  law  were  the  associations 
seen.* 

Governor  Wright,  like  Governors  Marcy,  Seward,  and  Bouck,  made 
special  efforts  to  increase  the  efficiency  of  the  common-school  system  of 
the  State.     In  Iiis  first  message  to  the  Legislature  he  said  : 

"  Oar  school  fund  is  not  instituted  to  make  our  children  and  youth 
either  partisans  in  polities  or  sectarians  in  religion,  but  to  give  them 
education,  intelligence,  sound  principles,  good  moral  habits,  and  a  free 
and  independent  spirit ;  in  short,  to  make  them  American  freemen  and 

*  Stephen  van  Rensselaer,  the  eldest  son  of  the  last  patroon,  and  who  inherited  the 
estate,  sold  liis  interest  in  the  lands  of  the  great  manor  to  a  judicious  kinsman  by  mar- 
riage, who  made  amicable  arrangements  with  all  the  tenants  for  the  rent,  sjvle,  and  pur- 
chase of  the  farms. 


TEXAS,   AND  WAR  WITH  MEXICO.  501 

Araerican  citizens,  and  to  qualify  them  to  judge  and  choose  for  them- 
selves in  matters  of  politics,  religion,  and  government.  .  .  .  No  public 
fund  of  the  State  is  so  unpretending,  yet  so  all-pervading  ;  so  little  seen, 
yet  so  universally  felt  ;  so  mild  in  its  exactions,  yet  so  bountiful  in  its 
benefits  ;  so  little  feared  or  courted,  and  yet  so  powerful  as  this  fund  for 
the  support  of  common  schools.  The  other  funds  act  upon  the  secular 
interests  of  society  ;  its  business,  its  pleasures,  its  pride,  its  passions,  its 
vices,  its  misfortunes.     This  acts  upon  its  mind  and  its  morals." 

The  common-school  system  of  the  State  of  New  York  is  its  chief 
glory.  The  annals  of  that  system  form  the  brightest  and  most  important 
page  in  the  history  of  the  commonwealth.  Whoever  shall  directly  or 
indirectly  conspire  to  use  it  for  any  other  than  its  high  and  holy  mission, 
to  entangle  it  in  the  miserable  meshes  of  political  strife  or  the  more 
unholy  warfare  of  religious  denominationalism,  should  be  regarded  by 
every  true  American  citizen  as  a  public  enemy,  and  treated  as  such. 

It  was  at  about  this  time  that  the  Democratic  Party  in  the  State  pre- 
sented two  opposing  factions,  called  respectively  "  Barn- burners"  and 
"Hunkers."  The  former  were  progressive.  They  were  for  reform — 
radicals,  anti-slavery  men,  and  sympathizers  with  the  anti-renters  who 
had  burned  barns  ;  hence  the  name  given  this  faction  in  derision.  The 
"Hunkers"  were  conservatives;  non-progressive,  "old  fogies."  The 
Native  American  Party,  recently  organized,  was  a  disturbing  element  in 
both  parties,  and  being  largely  composed  of  former  members  of  the 
"Whig  Party,  it  somewhat  diminished  the  political  strength  of  that 
party. 

The  Democratic  national  administration  took  a  bold  step  in  1845  in 
the  interest  of  the  slaveholders,  who  desired  an  expansion  of  the  territory 
of  the  United  States  on  its  south-western  borders  in  order  to  provide 
more  ample  breathing  space  for  their  peculiar  institution,  then  threatened 
with  suffocation  by  overcrowding.  On  that  border  lay  the  independent 
State  of  Texas,  which  had  been  wrested  from  Mexico  by  filibusters  from 
the  United  States.  Its  annexation  to  our  republic  was  determined  upon. 
The  South,  as  a  unit,  favored  the  measure  ;  the  North  generally  opposed 
it.  President  Tyler,  who  had  deserted  the  party  (the  Whigs)  which  had 
elected  him,  favored  the  annexation.  Texas  consented.  James  K. 
Polk,  of  Tennessee,  Tyler's  successor  in  office,  urged  it  ;  and  on  July 
4th,  1845,  the  annexation  of  Texas  was  effected. 

Mexico  had  never  acknowledged  the  independence  of  Texas.  It 
remonstrated  in  vain  against  the  annexation.  The  United  States  sent  an 
"  Army  of  Observation"  into  Texas,  on  the  border  of  Mexico  ;  and  in 
1846  war  between  the  two  countries  began.     It  ensued  in  the  conquest 


502  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

bj  the  United  States  troops  of  the  Mexican  territories  of  California  and 
New  Mexico. 

Texas  was  so  large  that  it  was  designed  to  divide  it  into  five  slave- 
labor  States,  and  so  increase  the  political  power  of  the  Southern  oh'garchy. 
Happily  this  scheme  was  never  accomplished.  In  the  whole  iniquitous 
plan  of  annexation,  and  the  more  iniquitous  war  that  ensued,  citizens 
of  New  York — politicians  and  volunteer  soldiers — bore  a  conspicuous 
part. 


THIRD  REVISION  OF  THE  STATE  CONSTITUTION.  503 


CHAPTER  XXXYI. 

The  prescribed  time  for  the  consideration  of  amendments  to  the  State 
Constitution  was  now  at  hand.  There  was  a  difference  of  opinion  as 
to  methods  for  the  accomplishment  of  this  object.  Many  preferred 
having  amendments  adopted  by  the  Legislature  and  afterward  sub- 
mitted to  the  people  for  their  ratification  or  rejection.  Others  preferred 
a  convention  of  delegates  chosen  by  the  popular  voice  to  discuss,  form, 
and  propose  amendments  to  be  submitted  to  the  people. 

Governor  Wright,  who  was  opposed  to  a  convention,  suggested  to  the 
Legislature  of  1845  several  amendments,  which  were  submitted  to  the 
people  and  approved  by  them  at  the  general  election  in  the  fall.  To 
make  them  a  part  of  the  Constitution  a  vote  of  two  thirds  of  the 
members  of  both  houses  of  the  Legislature  was  required.  They  failed 
to  receive  the  requisite  number  of  votes.  Then  a  convention  was 
authorized. 

An  election  of  delegates  was  held  in  April,  1846.  In  nearly  all  the 
counties  it  was  made  a  partisan  question,  and  a  majority  of  the  delegates 
chosen  were  Democrats.  They  assembled  at  Albany  on  June  1st,  one 
hundred  and  twenty-eight  in  number.  Only  one  of  them — General 
James  Tallmadge,  of  Duchess — was  in  the  convention  of  1821. 

The  convention  was  organized  by  the  choice  of  ex-Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor John  Tracy  for  president.  Thomas  Stanbuck  and  Henry 
W.  Strong  were  appointed  secretaries.  A  committee  of  seventeen  was 
appointed  to  formulate  topics  to  be  considered  in  the  revision.  They 
reported  eighteen,  and  these  were  referred  to  as  many  standing  com- 
mittees.    They  embraced  different  and  important  subjects  to  be  discussed. 

The  Executive,  Legislative,  and  Judicial  departments  were  first  con- 
sidered. No  material  alterations  were  made  in  the  organization  of  the 
existing  Executive  Department.  In  the  Legislative  Department  the 
only  essential  change  was  for  the  election  of  senators  and  assemblymen 
by  single  districts.  The  power  of  impeachment  of  public  officers  was 
vested  in  the  Assembly.  The  Senate  and  the  judges  of  the  Court  of 
Appeals,  presided  over  by  the  lieutenant-governor,  constituted  the 
tribunal  for  the  trial  of  such  impeacliments. 

The  Judiciary  Department  was  reorganized.  Its  power  was  greatly 
increased,  while  the  number  of  judicial  officers  was  diminished.     Cen- 


504 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


tralization  of  judicial  power  was  abolished,  and  the  judges  were  made 
dependent  upon  the  people  directly  by  being  chosen  by  the  voters  at 
general  elections.  A  Court  of  Appeals  was  organized,  to  consist  of 
eight  judges,  four  to  be  elected  by  the  people,  the  remainder  to  be 
selected  from  the  class  of  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  liaving  the 
shortest  time  to  serve.  The  judges  were  made  removable  by  a  concur- 
rent resolution  of  both  houses  of  the  Legislature.  Tribunals  of  Concili- 
ation were  authorized  for  the  voluntary  settlements  of  litigated  cases. 

The  prerogative  of  appointment  to  office  was  taken  from  the  governor 
and  Senate  and  given  to  the  people.  This  change  gave  to  the  latter, 
acting  in  their  sovereign  capacity,  the  vast  patronage  which  had  been 
wielded  by  a  central  power.  Some  of  the  State  officers  composed  the 
commissioners  of  the  Land  Office  and  of  the  Canal  Fund,  and,  with  the 
canal  commissioners,  constituted  the  Canal  Board. 

Provision  was  made  for  the  certain  payment  and  total  extinction  of 

the  public  debt  (then  about  $17,000,000) 
wnthin  a  comparatively  short  and  defined 
period.  The  power  of  the  Legislature  in 
creating  State  indebtedness  without  the  sanc- 
tion of  a  majority  of  the  people,  declared  at 
the  polls  at  elections,  was  restricted,  and  cer- 
tain means  were  provided  for  enlarging  the 
grand  canal  and  for  the  completion  of  canals 
already  begun. 

The  banking  monopoly  was  abolished  by 
taking  from  the  Legislature  the  power  of 
granting  special  charters  for  banking  purposes. 
Authority  was  given  for  the  formation  of  banking  and  other  corpora- 
tions under  general  laws,  but  the  Legislature  was  prohibited  from 
sanctioning  the  suspension  of  specie  payments.  Bills  or  notes  put  into 
circulation  by  such  corporations  as  money  were  required  to  be  regis- 
tered, and  ample  security  given  for  their  redemption  in  specie. 

Provision  was  made  for  the  preservation  of  the  School,  Literature, 
and  State  Deposit  funds,  and  the  legitimate  expenditure  of  the  revenues 
arising  from  them.  The  Legislature  was  also  directed  to  provide  for  the 
organization  of  cities  and  villages,  with  authority  to  restrict  their  powers 
of  taxation,  assessment,  borrowing  money,  contracting  debts,  and  loaning 
their  credit. 

The  tenure  of  all  lands  was  declared  to  be  allodial.  All  restrictions 
upon  alienation  were  abolished,  and  the  leasing  of  agricultural  lands  for 
a  longer  term  than  twelve  years  was  prohibited. 


EXECUTIVE   PKIVY   SEAL 


AN   OLIGARCHY  DISAPPEARS.  505 

It  was  during  the  sessions  of  this  convention  that  the  first  movement 
was  made  for  the  establishment  of  absohitely  free  schools  throughout  the 
State.  The  subject  was  introduced  by  Robert  Campbell,  of  Otsego,  on 
June  loth,  in  the  form  of  a  resolution.  With  a  memorial  on  the  same 
subject  from  the  State  Convention  of  County  Superintendents,  it  was 
referred  to  the  Committee  on  Education.  On  July  22d  that  committee 
reported  to  the  convention  a  series  of  resolutions,  one  of  them  providing 
for  the  establishment  by  the  Legislature  of  a  system  of  free  schools,  for 
the  education  of  every  child  in  the  State  between  the  ages  of  four  and 
sixteen  years,  whose  parents  were  residents  of  the  State.  This  resolution 
was  adopted  on  the  day  before  the  final  adjournment  of  the  convention, 
but,  on  being  reconsidered,  was  rejected.  This  desirable  measure  was 
only  postponed  for  a  season. 

The  convention  adjourned  on  October  9tli,  after  a  session  of  about 
four  months.  xVlthough  it  was  composed  of  warm  partisans,  there  did 
not  appear  the  shadow  of  partisanship  in  the  debates.  It  exhibited  to 
the  world  a  spectacle  never  before  seen. 

The  instrument  then  adopted  became  a  mighty  emancipator  of  the 
people — a  marvellous  and  puissant  supporter  of  popular  liberty  and  the 
popular  will.  Before  the  convention  of  1821  every  officer,  civil  and 
military,  with  a  few  exceptions,  was  appointed  by  a  board — the  Council 
of  Appointment — possessed  of  absolute  power  within  its  legitimate 
domain.  It  was  composed  of  only  five  membei*s,  sitting  at  the  State 
capital.  At  its  own  sovereign  will  it  played  at  football  with  the  offices 
of  trust  and  emolument  in  the  State,  appointing  and  dismissing  incum- 
bents in  obedience  to  the  behests  of  partisan  or  personal  favor  oi*  dislike, 
or  the  dictates  of  self-interest  or  mere  caprice. 

The  convention  of  1821  wrested  some  strength  from  this  tyrannical 
oligarchy.  The  convention  of  1846  wholly  annihilated  this  terrible 
power,  and  placed  the  public  interests  under  the  direct  control  of  the 
people,  the  true  source  of  all  political  sovereignty. 

In  less  than  a  month  after  the  adjournment  of  the  convention  the 
peojile  of  the  State,  at  a  general  election,  adopted  the  revised  Constitu- 
tion by  a  majority  of  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  thousand.  At  the 
same  election  John  Young,*  the  Whig  and  anti-rent  candidate  for  gov- 

*  John  Young  was  born  at  Chelsea,  Vt.,  in  1803  ;  died  in  New  York  City  in  April, 
1853.  In  his  young  childhood  his  father  removed  to  Livingston  County,  N.  Y. ,  where 
John  received  a  common-school  education,  and  studied  and  practised  law.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  State  Legislature  in  1831  and  subsequently,  and  in  1841-43  he  was  a 
member  of  Congress.  His  political  affinity  was  with  the  Democratic  Party  until  he 
became  an  Anti-Mason  in  1839,  and  was  elected  to  Congress  by  the  Whigs.     He  was 


506 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


ernor,  was  elected  over  Governor  Wright  by  eleven  thousand  majority, 
while  Addison  Gardiner,  the  Democratic  candidate  for  lieutenant-gov- 
ernor, was  elected  over  Hamilton  Fish  by  about  thirteen  thousand 
majority.  On  the  elevation  of  Gardiner  to  the  bench  of  the  Court  of 
Appeals  Mr.  Fish  was  appointed  to  fill  the  chair  of  lieutenant-governor. 
Governor  Young  gave  special  attention  to  the  subject  of  common 
schools.  The  system  of  county  superintendents  had  worked  admirably, 
but  a  growing  tendency  of  supervisors  to  make  the  appointments  to  that 
office  on  political  grounds  merely,  caused  widespread  dissatisfaction.    At 

the  special  session  of  the  Legisla- 
ture in  the  fall  of  1847  the  office 
was  abolished  and  that  of  town 
superintendent  was  created.  The 
best  friends  of  popular  education 
lamented  the  change.  The  schools 
steadily  retrograded  in  efficiency. 
Finally,  in  1856,  the  office  of 
school  commissioner  was  created, 
that  of  town  superintendent  was 
abolished,  and  that  of  county 
superintendent  was  practically  re- 
instated. 

The  free  -  school  system  was 
thoroughly  discussed  after  the 
adjournment  of  the  convention  of 
1846,  and  in  the  spring  of  1849 
an  act  was  passed  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  free  schools  throughout  the  State,  and  the  abolition  of  the 
rate-bill  system.  The  law  was  ratified  by  a  majority  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty-eight  thousand  votes  of  the  people,  every  county  in  the  State  but 
four  giving  majorities  for  it.  The  whole  of  the  expense  of  the  schools 
beyond  the  State  appropriation  was  made  a  tax  upon  the  property  of 
each  district.  This  act  was  sustained  by  a  majority  of  three  to  one  of  the 
people.  At  the  same  session  teachers'  institutes,  which  had  existed  for 
some  years  as  voluntary  associations,  were  legally  established. 

The  free-school  system  did  not  work  satisfactorily,  owing  to  inequality 
in  the  taxation- imposed.  The  people  murmured.  They  remonstrated, 
and  clamored  for  a  repeal  of  the  law.     The  question  was  submitted  to 


JOHN    YOUNG. 


elected  Governor  of  the  State  by  the  Whigs  and  Anti-Renters  in  1847,  and  in  184ft-52  he 
was  Assistant  United  States  Treasurer  in  New  Yorli  City. 


THE  WHIG  PARTY  IN  POWER. 


507 


HAMILTON    FISH. 


ithem  in  1 850,  and  the  law  was  sustained  by  a  diminished  majority.*  It  was 
repealed  in  the  spring  of  1851,  and  the  rate-bill  system  was  reinstated. 

At  the  election  in  the  fall  of  18i8  the  Whigs  were  triumphant  in  the 
State  and  in  the  choice  of  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor Fish  t  was  elect- 
ed Governor,  of  New  York,  and 
General  Zachary  Taylor,  a  brave, 
skilful,  successful,  and  honest 
military  leader  in  the  war  with 
Mexico,  was  chosen  Chief  Magis- 
trate of  the  republic,  with  Millard 
Fillmore,  of  T^ew  York,  as  Yice- 
President.  Mr.  Yan  Biiren  ac- 
cepted the  nomination  for  Presi- 
dent- from  the  Free-Soil  or  anti- 
slavery  Democrats,  and  thus 
diminished  the  strength  of  the 
regularly  nominated  candidate. 
General   Lewis  Cass.      President 

Taylor  died  in  the  summer  of  1850,  and  Yice-President  Filhnore  became 
his  official  successor. 

The  administration  of  Governor  Fish  (1849-51)  was  a  very  quiet  one, 
nothing  of  special  importance  in  the  history  of  the  State  occurring  except- 
ing the  excitement  concerning  the  repeal  of  the  free-school  law.     There 

*  The  vote  in  favor  of  the  free-school  law  in  1849  was  249,872  against  91,951.  In  1850 
it  was  209,347  against  184,208. 

f  Hamilton  Fish,  son  of  Colonel  Nicholas  Fish,  a  distinguished  officer  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, was  born  in  New  York  City  in  August,  1808.  He  was  graduated  at  Columbia 
College  in  1827,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1830.  He  took  an  active  part  in  ixjlitics 
in  early  life  as  a  member  of  the  Whig  Party,  and  in  1842  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  Con- 
gi'ess.  He  denounced  the  principles  of  the  Anti-Renters,  and  in  1846  he  was  defeated  by 
them  as  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  lieutenant-governor  of  the  State.  He  was  after- 
ward chosen  to  fill  that  office,  and  in  1848  was  elected  Governor  of  the  State  by  a  large 
majority.  In  1851  he  was  chosen  United  States  Senator,  and  in  1854  he  strenuously 
opposed  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise.  He  was  a  most  earnest  supporter  of  the 
Government  during  the  late  Civil  War.  President  Grant  called  him  to  his  Cabinet  as 
Secretary  of  State  in  1869,  and  in  that  capacity  he  served  eight  years,  retiring  to  private 
life  on  the  accession  of  President  Hayes.  In  1854  he  was  chosen  President -General  of  the 
Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  which  office  he  yet  (1887)  holds.  The  next  year  he  was  chosen 
President  of  the  New  York  State  Society  of  the  Cincinnati.  He  has  been  an  active  and 
influential  member  of  the  Union  League  Club  from  its  organization,  and  has  long  been 
an  efficient  officer  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society,  His  hand  and  bounty  are  felt  in 
many  benevolent  works. 


508 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


was  a  very  heated  canvass  of  the  matter,  and  at  the  fall  election  in  1 850, 
as  we  have  seen,  there  was  a  diminished  majority  against  repeal.  The 
rural  counties  were  generally  for  repeal.  Forty-two  of  the  tifty-nine 
counties  of  the  State  gave  an  aggregate  of  forty-nine  thousand  votes  for 
repeal,  while  the  seventeen  remaining  counties,  including  the  city  of 
New  York,  gave  an  aggregate  majority  of  seventy-two  thousand  against 
repeal.     New  York  City  and  County  alone  gave  thirty-seven  thousand 

eiglit  liundred  and  twenty-seven 
votes  of  tliat  majority. 

At  the  fall  election  of  1.850 
Washington  Hunt,^  Comptrol- 
ler of  the  State,  and  a  Whig, 
was  elected  Governor  of  New 
York  by  a  small  majority  over 
Horatio  Seymour.  The  Demo- 
cratic candidate  for  lieutenant- 
governor,  Sandford  E.  Churcli, 
was  elected. 

The  administration  of  Gov- 
ernor Hunt  was  also  a  quiet 
one.  The  most  exciting  question 
was  that  of  the  repeal  of  the 
free-sch()ol  law,  in  the  winter 
and  spring  of  1851.  The  gov- 
ernor urged  upon  the  Legis- 
lature tlie  importance  of  making  satisfactory  amendments  to  the  law,  so 
as  to  secure  its  sustentation.  The  Legislature  was  beset  with  petitions 
for  its  repeal,  from  taxpayers  of  the  rural  districts  especially.  The 
pressure  was  so  great  that  the  law-makers  yielded,  and  repealed  the  law 
in  April.  The  governor,  in  a  subsequent  message,  characterized  the 
actions  of  the  people  of  the  State  and  of  the  Legislature  as  a  "  temporary 
compromise"  between  the  advanced  views  of  the  advocates  of  free 
schools  and  the  fears  and  prejudices  of  a  majority  of  the  taxpayers  and 

*  Washington  Hunt  was  born  in  Windham,  N.  Y.,  in  August,  1811  ;  died  in  New 
York  City  in  February,  1867.  He  was  admitted  to  tlie  bar  at  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  in  1834  ; 
was  appointed  first  .judge  of  Niagara  County  in  1836,  and  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  Con- 
gress in  1843,  where  lie  served  until  1849  as  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Commerce. 
In  1851  he  was  Governor  of  New  York.  He  wa.s  a  Whig,  and  in  1854  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Republican  Party.  He  became  a  leader  of  the  con.servative  wing.  He 
presided  over  the  convention  tliat  nominated  Mr.  Lincoln  for  the  pre.sidency,  but  soon 
afterward  joined  the  Democratic  Party.  In  1864  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  convention 
that  nominated  McClellan  for  President  of  the  United  States. 


WASHINGTON  HUNT. 


THE  COMMON-SCHOOL  FUND  AND  LAWS. 


509 


inhabitants  of  the  rural  districts  long  accustomed  to  the  existing  system. 
He  said  that  the  progress  of  public  opinion  might  be  relied  upon  to 
diffuse  a  more  liberal  view  of  the  relations  of  the  State  to  its  future 
citizens.  At  that  time  the  capital  of  the  common-school  fund  was 
$6,500,000,  of  the  revenue  of 
which  nearly  $1,500,000  had  been 
expended  during  the  current  year 
(1851-52)  in  the  payment  of 
teachers'  wages  and  the  purchase 
of  school  libraries.  The  number 
of  pupils  in  attendance  upon  the 
several  public  schools  Avas  726,000. 
The  Legislature  in  1852  authorized 
the  governor  to  appoint  a  special 
commission  for  the  revision  and 
codification  of  the  school  laws  of 
the  State.  For  this  task  S.  S. 
Kandall,  Deputy  Superintendent 
of  Common  Schools,  was  appoint- 
ed. 

Again  the  Democratic  Party  in 
the  State  and  nation  acquired 
political  ascendancy.     In  the  fall 

of  1852  Horatio  Seymour*  was  elected  Governor  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  General  Franklin  Pierce,  of  New  Hampshire,  was  chosen 
President  of  tlie  United  States  by  a  large  majority  over  General  Winfield 
Scott,  the  Whig  candidate. 


HORATIO   SEYMOUR. 


*  Horatio  Seymour  was  one  of  the  most  notable  of  the  later  governors  of  New  York. 
He  was  born  in  Onondaga  County,  N.  Y.,  in  May,  1816,  and  went  to  Utica  with  his 
parents  in  early  childhood.  He  was  educated  for  a  lawyer,  but,  inheriting  a  large  estate 
from  his  father,  he  devoted  his  time  to  the  care  of  it.  Very  studious,  he  acquired  much 
and  varied  knowledge,  which  he  used  with  skill.  Becoming  attached  to  the  staff  of 
Governor  Marcy  in  young  manhood,  on  which  he  served  six  years,  he  became  enamored 
with  public  life.  In  1841  he  was  elected  a  member  of  Assembly  by  the  Democratic  Party, 
and  held  the  position  four  years.  He  was  chosen  Speaker  in  1843.  He  had  been  elected 
Mayor  of  Utica  in  1843.  In  1852  he  was  elected  Governor  of  the  State.  By  vetoing  a 
prohibitory  liquor  bill  in  1854  he  incurred  the  displeasure  of  the  advocates  of  temperance, 
and  he  was  defeated  as  a  candidate  for  re-election.  Mr.  Seymour  was  again  elected 
governor  in  1863,  in  the  midst  of  the  Civil  War,  and  he  gave  his  support  to  the  Govern- 
ment, though  not  very  cordially.  He  was  defeated  in  the  fall  of  1864.  In  1868  he  was 
nominated  for  the  presidency,  but  failed  to  be  elected.  He  then  retired  to  private  life, 
but  keeping  a  lively  interest  in  all  passing  events  luitil  his  death  at  Utica  in  February, 
1886. 


610 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


The  administration  of  Governor  Seymour  was  also  a  quiet  one,  yet 
important  measures  were  adopted.  In  his  first  message  (1853)  lie 
urgently  recommended  provision  to  be  made  for  the  speedy  completion 
of  the  canals,  and  the  establishment  of  a  State  agricultural  college  and 
experimental  farm.  A  charter  for  such  an  institution  was  granted  that 
spring. 

At  a  special  session  convened  immediately  after  the  adjournment  of 
the  regular  session  in  1853,  an  act  was  passed  for  the  consolidation  of 
the  ward  and  Public  School  Society's  schools  in  the  city  of  Xew  York, 
and  placing  them  under  the  supreme  control  of  a  Board  of  Education,  as 
we  have  already  observed.     At  that  time  there  were  two  hundred  and 

twenty-four  of  these  schools  in  the 
city,  with  about  1000  teachers  and 
123,530  pupils  on  register  ;  also  25 
evening  schools,  with  4000  pupils. 

In  the  spring  of  1854  the  Legislature 
created  the  office  of  State  superintend- 
ent of  public  instruction.  The  first 
incumbent  of  this  office  was  Victor  M. 
Rice.  The  superintendent  is  made,  ex- 
ojflcio,  a  regent  of  the  University.  At 
that  session  an  amendment  to  the  Con- 
stitution proposed  the  preceding  yeai* 
was  ratified,  requiring  an  annual  ap- 
propriation of  a  sum  not  exceeding 
$2,250,000  for  the  completion  of  the 
canals.  An  act  for  that  purpose  was 
passed.  The  Whigs  gained  ascendancy  in  the  State  in  the  fall  of  1854. 
Governor  Seymour  had  lost  the  favor  of  the  friends  of  temperance  by 
vetoing  an  act  passed  by  a  large  majority  of  the  Legislature  which 
aimed  to  prohibit  the  sale  of  intoxicating  drinks.  lie  pronounced  it 
"  unconstitutional,  unjust,  and  oppressive,"  and  declared  his  belief 
that  intemperance  could  not  be  extirpated  by  prohibitory  laws.  The 
press  and  the  pulpit  denounced  his  action.  lie  was  a  candidate  for 
re-election  in  the  fall.  The  Whigs  were  not  represented  in  the  canvass. 
A  fusion  convention,  which  met  at  Syracuse,  nominated  for  governor 
Myron  II.  Clark,*  of  Ontario,  a  stanch  advocate  of  prohibitory  liquor 


SEAIi   OP   THE    DEPARTMENT 
Lie   INSTRUCTION. 


*  Myron  Ilallcy  Clark  was  born  in  Naples,  Ontario  County,  N.  Y.,  October  23d, 
1806,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  that  county  ever  since.  His  father,  Joseph  Clark,  was  a 
native  of  Cunington,  Berkshire  County,  Mass.  ;  his  grandfathers  were  natives  of  Con- 
necticut.    He  attended  the  common  schools  of  his  native  town  tliree  winter  months  each 


FORMATION  OF  THE   REPUBLICAN  PARTY. 


511 


laws,  and  he  was  elected  over  both  Seymour  and  Daniel  Ullman,  the 
candidate  of  the  Native  American  Party.  There  was  a  Whig  majority 
in  both  brandies  of  the  Legislature. 

During  that  year  a  new  national  party  was  formed,  and  grew  vigor- 
ously.    It  was  composed  largely  of  progressive  and  independent  Whigs 
and  many  Democrats.    It  is  claimed  that  Jackson,  Mich.,  was  the  place  of 
its  nativity,  and  July  6th,  1854,  the 
time  of  its  birth,  when  a  political 
convention  was  held  at  that  place 
pursuant  to  a  call  signed  by  more 
than    ten   thousand   names.     The 
chief  planks  in  the  platform  con- 
structed by  the  convention  were 
opposition   to    the    extension    of 
slavery   aiid   its  abolition   in   the 
District  of  Columbia.     The  name 
of  "  Republican  "  was  given  to 
the  new  party. 

Two  years  later  tlie  Republican 
Party  was  thoroughly  organized 
and  strong  in  numbers.  They 
nominated  Colonel  J.  C.  Fremont 
for  President  of  the  United  States 
in    1856.      He   was    defeated    by 

his  Democratic  competitor,  James  Buchanan.  Fremont  received  one 
hundred  and  fourteen  of  the  two  hundred  and  eighty-eight  electoral 
votes  cast.  At  the  next  presidential  election  (18G0)  the  Republican 
candidate,  Abraham  Lincoln,  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  fifty-seven  of 
the  electoral  votes  over  three  other  candidates — Breckinridge,  Douglas, 
and  Bell.      It  was  the  final  political  triumph  of   the  anti-slavery  men 


MYRON   H.    CLARK. 


year,  and  woi'ked  on  liis  fatlier's  farm  the  remainder  of  the  year  until  lie  was  eighteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  became  a  merchant's  clerk  in  his  town.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one 
he  became  a  clerk  in  Canandaigua.  Two  years  later  he  returned  to  Naples  and  engaged 
in  mercantile  business  on  his  own  account  with  partners,  and  married  in  1830.  In  1837 
he  was  elected  sheriff  of  the  county,  and  made  Canandaigua  his  residence,  where  he  still 
resides.  At  the  close  of  his  term  of  office  he  again  engaged  in  trade.  In  1851  Mr.  Clark 
wpa  elected  State  Senator,  where  he  was  distinguished  for  his  advocacy  of  legislative 
enactments  in  lavur  of  temperance.  He  was  chairman  of  the  committee  that  reported  the 
"Bill  for  the  Suppression  of  Intemperance,"  which,  as  we  have  observed.  Governor 
Seymour  vetoed.  Senator  Clark  was  the  leader  of  the  debates  on  the  subject.  He  had 
served  only  one  half  of  a  second  term  in  the  Senate  when  he  was  elected  Governor  of  the 
State,  in  1854.     He  was  appointed  United  States  Collector  of  Internal  Revenue  in  1862. 


512  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

and  women  of  the  Union,  and  led  to  the  speedy  emancipation  of  the 
slaves  in  every  part  of  the  Republic. 

After  Mr.  Lincoln's  iuanguration,  in  the  spring  of  1801,  the  Repub- 
lican Party  retained  its  domination  of  the  National  Government  for 
about  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  became  a  great  historic  party.  Mean- 
while, as  usual,  New  York  was  an  "  uncertain"  State  in  political  calcu- 
lations, for  its  political  aspect  frequently  changed,  the  Republican  and 
Democratic  parties  alternately  holding  the  reins  of  power. 

Governor  Clark,  in  his  first  message  to  the  Legislature  (1855),  called 
their  attention  to  a  pending  controversy  with  the  State  authorities  of 
Virginia  concerning  the  force  and  operations  of  the  infamous  Fugitive 
Slave  Law  passed  by  Congress  in  1850,  which  made  every  citizen  a  slave- 
catcher.*  Its  practical  operations  aroused  the  slumbering  conscience  of 
the  people  of  the  free-labor  States  and  their  intelligence  to  the  danger 
foreshadowed  by  the  increasing  aggressiveness  of  the  upholders  of  the 
slave  system;  and  several  of  these  States  passed  "Personal  Liberty" 
bills  in  opposition  to  the  obnoxious  law. 

The  State  of  New  York  had  statutory  laws  already  which  met  the  case, 
and  when,  late  in  1852,  Jonathan  Lemon,  of  Norfolk,  Va.,  brought 
eight  slaves  to  New  York  City  for  reshipment  to  Texas,  they  were  taken 
before  Judge  Paine,  of  the  Superior  Court,  on  a  writ  of  haheas  corpus 
to  claim  their  right  to  freedom  under  the  provisions  of  a  law  of  the  State 
which  declared  that  every  slave  should  be  free  on  touching  its  soil  when 
brought  thither  by  his  or  her  alleged  owner.  The  judge  set  them  free, 
and  they  fled  to  Canada.  The  case  was  brought  before  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States,  which  sustained  Judge  Paine's  decision. 

This  case  produced  very  great  excitement  in  the  slave-labor  States, 
and  was  the  beginning  of  the  preliminary  skirmishes  between  the  friends 
of  freedom  and  of  slavery  which  immediately  preceded  the  civil  war 
kindled  in  1861  by  the  slaveocracy  for  the  perpetuation  and  nationalizing 
of  the  system  of  hopeless  bondage  for  the  African  race  in  the  United 
States. f     Some  of  the  most  violent  of  these  skirmishes,  resulting  some- 

*  Tli(!  law  provided  that  the  master  of  a  fugitive  slave  or  his  agent  might  go  into  any 
State  or  Territory,  and  witli  or  without  legal  warrant  there  obtained  seize  such  fugitive 
and  take  him  before  any  judge  or  commissioner,  declare  tliat  the  fugitive  "  owed  labor" 
to  the  party  who  arrested  him,  when  it  was  the  duty  of  the  judge  to  use  the  power  of  his 
office  to  take  the  alleged  fugitive  back  to  bondage.  In  no  case-  should  the  textimony  of 
such  alleged  fugitive  be  admitted  in  evidence.  It  further  provided  that  no  impediment 
should  be  put  in  the  way  of  the  slave-catcher  by  any  process  of  law  or  otherwise,  and  any 
citizen  might  be  compelled  to  assist  in  the  capture  and  rendition  of  the  slare. 

f  Threats  of  disunion  freely  uttered  in  1850  to  accelerate  the  passage  of  the  Fugitive 
Slave  Law  were  now  heard  echoing  from  State  to  State  in  the  South.     The  Glovernor  of 


CONSCIENCE  AND  MAMMON. 


513 


times  in  bloodshed,  occurred  in  the  then  recently  organized  Territory  of 
Kansas. 

The  decision  of  Judge  Paine  was  followed  by  the  flight  of  slaves  from 
bondage,  through  New  York  and  Ohio,  to  Canada.  They  were  secretly 
aided  in  their  exodus  by  the  friends  of  freedom  in  New  York  City. 
The  process  was  known  as  the  "  Underground  Railroad,"  of  which  New 
York  was  the  principal  station.  The  consequence  was  Southern  dealers 
became  suspicious  of  New  York 
merchants,  and  began  to  withdraw 
their  trade.  The  eifect  was  very 
demoralizing.  Many  merchants 
engaged  in  the  Southern  trade  be- 
came  obedient  slaves  of  Mammon 
and  the  Southern  oligarchy  at  the 
sacrifice  of  self-respect.  "  I  am 
ashamed  to  own,"  said  one  of  these 
merchants  to  me,  "  that  when  our 
Southern  customers  were  in  town, 
I  felt  compelled  to  order  my  clerks 
not  to  let  the  Triljune  be  seen  in 
the  store,  for  it  would  not  do  to 
let  such  customers  know  that  I  gave 
any  countenance  to  that  abolition 
sheet.  From  the  bottom  of  my 
heart  I  despised  myself.'' 

Little  of  special  importance  in  the  history  of  New  York  occurred 
l)etween  the  administration  of  Governor  Clark  and  the  kindling  of  the 
Civil  War  in  1861,  when  the  State  put  forth  its  giant  strength  in  defence 
of  the  life  of  the  imperilled  nation.  Then  the  city  of  New  York,  so 
conservative  before  that  crisis,  became  the  foremost  city  in  the  republic 
in  support  of  the  National  Government. 

John  A.    King  *  succeeded  Mr.    Clark   as   governor   in    1857.     His 


JOHN   A.    KING. 


Virginia  declared  that  if  the  decision  of  Judge  Paine  should  be  sustained  all  comity 
l)etween  the  States  would  be  destroyed,  and  the  value  of  "slave  property"  be  greatly 
diminished.  Governor  Howell  Cobb,  of  Georgia,  who,  as  Secretary  of  the  United  States 
Treasury  in  the  Cabinet  of  President  Buchanan,  conspired  to  destroy  the  republic, 
declared  that  it  was  a  sufficient  cause  for  making  war  on  the  Union. 

*  John  Alsop  King,  son  of  Hon.  Rufus  King,  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York 
.Tanuarj^  3d,  1788.  He  accompanied  his  father — who  was  Minister  at  the  court  of  St. 
James — to  England,  and  while  there  attended  the  famous  school  at  Harrow.  Among  his 
fellow-pupils  were  his  In-other  Charles,  late  President  of  Columbia  College,  Lord  Byron, 
and  Robert  Peel.     On  his  return  home  he  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.     In 


514 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


EDWIN   D.    MORGAN. 


administration  was  quiet  and  uneventful.  He  recommended  a  judicious 
revision  of  the  excise  laws,  and  submitted  to  the  Legislature  a  proposed 

constitutional  amendment  extend- 
ing the  right  of  suflErage  to  col- 
ored voters  without  a  property 
qualification  ;  also  a  strenuous 
resistance  on  the  part  of  the 
Legislature  to  the  further  exten- 
sion of  slavery  in  the  Territories. 
In  the  autumn  of  1858  Ed- 
win D.  Morgan,*  a  distinguished 
merchant  of  New  York  City, 
was  elected  by  the  Republicans 
Governor  of  the  State  by  a  ma- 
jority of  about  seventeen  thou- 
sand. It  was  during  his  adminis- 
tration that  the  fierce  Civil  War 
in  the  nation  was  begun. 

National  affairs  had  now  begun 
to  attract  unusual  attention,  and  there  was  widespread  uneasiness  in  the 
public  mind.  The  slavery  question  had  been  brought  conspicuously  to 
the  front  in  the  arena  of  public  discussion  by  the  virtual  repeal  of  the 

the  War  of  1812-15  he  served  as  lieutenant  of  a  troop  of  horse,  and  continued  in  the 
service  until  the  close  of  the  contest,  after  which  he  took  up  his  residence  at  Jamaica, 
Long  Island,  and  there  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  the  business  of  agriculture. 
Six  times  Mr.  King  represented  Queens  County  in  the  Assembly,  and  once  in  the  Senate 
of  his  native  State.  In  1825  he  was  Secretary  of  Legation  to  Great  Britain  under  his 
fjither.  He  represented  his  district  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  in  1849-51,  and 
was  very  active  in  opposition  to  the  compromise  measures^  of  the  so-called  "  Omnibus 
Bill  "  of  1850,  especially  that  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  Bill.  He  warmly  advocated  the 
admission  of  California  as  a  free-laboi  State.  Mr.  King  was  an  active  member  of  the 
Whig  Party,  and  in  the  organization  of  the  Republican  Party  in  1854.  In  1856  he  was 
elected  the  first  Republican  Governor  of  New  York,  and  was  an  earnest  promoter  of  the 
canal  system  of  the  State.  Governor  Morgan  appointed  him  a  delegate  to  the  notable 
Peace  Congress  at  Washington  early  in  1861.  He  took  his  seat  therein,  and  this  was  his 
last  public  act.  On  Jidy  4th,  1867,  he  was  addressing  the  young  men  of  Jamaica,  who 
had  just  raised  a  new  flag,  and  as  he  uttered  the  words,  "  Life  is  all  before  you,  but  men 
like  me  are  passing  away,"  he  was  suddenly  smitten  with  paralysis,  and  died  three  days 
afterward,  in  the  eightieth  year  of  his  age. 

*  Edwin  Dennison  Morgan  was  born  in  Wa.shington,  Mass.,  in  February,  1811.  With 
a  grocer  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  he  was  finst  a  clerk  (1828),  and  in  1831  a  partner  in  business. 
He  removed  to  New  York  in  1836,  where  he  pursued  the  same  business  sticcessfidly,  and 
accumulated  a  large  fortune.  From  1849  to  1853  he  was  State  Senator,  and  was  made 
chairman  of  the  State  Republican  Committee.  In  1859  he  took  his  seat  as  Governor  of 
New  York,  and  retained  it  until  1863,  being  one  of  the  most  active  of  the  famous  "  war 


THE  JOHN  BROWN  RAID.  515 

Missouri  Compromise,  in  1854,  and  the  violent  struggle  for  the  mastery 
in  Kansas  between  the  defenders  and  opposers  of  the  slave  system. 
Threats  of  disunion  flew  thick  and  fast  from  the  lips  of  Southern 
political  leaders,  and  the  ominous  mutteringsof  a  gathering  tempest  were 
heard. 

During  the  summer  and  early  autunm  of  1859  an  unusual  quiet  seemed 
to  pervade  the  political  atmospliere.  The  violent  agitation  of  the  slavery 
question  had  almost  ceased,  and  it  was  hoped  by  many  that  permanent 
public  repose  was  nigh,  when  suddenly,  in  October,  news  flashed  over 
the  land  that  "  an  insurrection  has  broken  out  at  Harper's  Ferry,  where 
an  armed  band  of  Abolitionists  hav^e  full  possession  of  the  Government 
Arsenal."  This  was  the  famous  "  Jolin  Brown  raid,"  which  kindled  a 
blaze  of  intense  excitement  in  the  slave-labor  States,  and  which  was 
fanned  into  the  fearful  conflagration  of  a  four-years'  civil  war  of  unpar- 
alleled extent  and  destructiveness. 

The  events  of  the  year  1860  rank  among  the  most  momentous  in  the 
history  of  our  republic.  In  these  events  every  State  in  the  Union  was  a 
participant  in  feeling  and  interest.  John  Brown  had  been  hanged  for 
In's  foolish  but  philantliropic  attempt  to  inaugurate  a  servile  insurrection 
in  favor  of  liberty  in  Virginia.  The  bitterness  it  engendered  was  nursed 
into  the  most  intense  implacability.  The  Republican  Party  was  wrong- 
fully charged  with  having  originated  and  promoted  Joiin  Brown's 
attempt  to  liberate  the  slaves  ;  and  in  the  canvass  for  the  Presidency  of 
tlie  republic  in  1800  tlie  zeal  displayed  by  the  opposing  parties  was  unex- 
ampled in  warmth  and  persistence. 

For  many  years  a  conspiracy  for  destroying  the  Union  and  establishing 
an  empire,  the  corner-stone  of  which  should  be  the  s^'stem  of  human 
slavery,  had  been  ripening  in  secret  among  leading  politicians  of  the 
slave-labor  States.  They  had  clearly  perceived  that  the  "  peculiar 
institution"  and  the  domination  of  the  National  Government  by  the 
Southern  oligarchy  was  foredoomed,  by  the  power  of  public  opinion,  to  a 
speedy  close.  They  madly  believed  that  in  the  crisis  at  hand  was  their 
golden  opportunity  to  carry  out  their  designs.  Tliey  proceeded  to  "  fire 
the  Southern  heart"  by  declaring  tliat  the  success  of  the  Republican 
Party  in  the  pending  presidential  election  would  result  in  the  ruin  of  the 

governors"  of  that  period.  Stimulated  by  his  zeal,  his  State  Legislature  voted  men  and 
money  lavishly  in  support  of  the  imperilled  Nationaf  Government.  In  1861  he  was  created 
major-general  of  volunteers,  but  resigned  in  1863.  At  about  that  time  he  was  chosen  to 
represent  New  York  in  the  United  States  Senate.  Governor  Morgan  was  distinguished 
for  his  untiring  zeal  in  philanthropic  work  and  the  promotion  of  Christian  institutions. 
For  these  objects  his  gifts  were  munificent.     He  died  on  February  14th,  1883. 


516  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Southern  States  if  acquiesced  in,  and  that  it  would  afford  ample  warrant 
for  the  secession  of  the  slave-labor  States  from  the  Union,  and  the  forma- 
tion of  an  independent  government. 

To  this  end  the  few  conspirators  worked.  They  cast  into  the  Demo- 
cratic national  nominating  convention  at  Charleston  in  1860  an  apple  of 
discord  which  caused  a  disruption  of  the  party  and  gave  strength  to  the 
Republicans,  who  nominated  Abraham  Lincoln,  an  avowed  anti-slavery 
man,  for  the  presidency  of  the  republic.  This  the  unwise  conspirators, 
"  deprived  of  reason,"  believed  to  be  a  sure  prophecy  of  their  triumph 
and  a  golden  opportunity.  They  sent  out  their  emissaries  to  "  fire  the 
Southern  heart"  by  inflammatory  harangues  ;  and  so  well  did  they  suc- 
ceed that  when  it  was  known  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was  elected,  a  larger  pro- 
portion of  the  people  in  the  slave-labor  States,  deceived  by  sophistry, 
misled  by  false  statements,  and  benumbed  by  undefinable  dread,  were 
ready  to  submit  passively  to  the  will  of  these  fiery  politicians,  who  got 
up  congenial  conventions  that  passed  ordinances  of  secession,  which  they 
never  did  (for  they  never  dared),  to  ask  the  people  to  consider  and  act 
upon. 

South  Carolina,  in  wliieh  the  serpent  of  secession  was  hatched  from 
the  eg^  of  Nullification,  was  the  first  to  "  secede" — on  paper — on 
December  20th,  1860,  and  having  announced  its  "sovereignty,"  pro- 
ceeded to  make  war  upon  the  "foreign"  Government  of  the  United 
States.  That  Government,  paralyzed  by  fear  or  something  more  serious, 
acted  so  feebly  at  first  against  rampant  disloyalty  in  its  very  presence, 
and  widespread  treason,  that  conventions  in  State  after  State  passed 
ordinances  of  secession,  and  made  war  upon  the  National  Government  in 
various  forms,  witli  impunity.  The  representatives  of  European  mon- 
archies at  Washington  sent  home  the  tidings  pleasing  to  the  ears  of  the 
enemies  of  self-government,  that  the  days  of  the  great  republic  of  the 
West  were  numbered.     "  The  wish  was  father  to  the  thought." 

It  is  not  the  province  of  this  work  to  give  more  than  passing  allusions 
to  the  history  of  the  Civil  War.  Its  chief  task  is  to  give  a  compendious 
narrative  of  the  most  important  actions  of  the  State  of  New  York  during 
that  fearful  struggle. 


TOKENS   OF  AN  APPROACHING  TEMPEST.  517 


CHAPTER   XXXYII. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  War  in  1861 — the  great  crisis  in  onr 
national  history— the  commonwealth  of  New  York  was,  indeed,  the 
"  Empire  State"  of  the  republic.  Its  population  then  was  3,882,000. 
Its  taxable  property  was  assessed  at  $1,426,000,000.  Its  chief  city,  by 
the  sea,  contained  a  cosmopolitan  population  of  more  than  800,000. 
The  foreign  commerce  within  its  revenue  district,  exports  and  imports, 
amounted  in  value  to  $375,000,000  in  1860.  This  population,  wealth, 
and  commerce  fairly  entitled  New  York  to  the  honor  of  being  the 
national  metropolis. 

New  York  City  then  (as  now)  was  an  eminently  commercial  mart. 
The  influence  of  trade  fashioned  its  general  policy  in  a  remarkable 
degree. 

The  best  condition  for  commerce  is  peace.  "When  tlie  storm-clouds  of 
civil  war,  though  no  "bigger  than  a  man's  hand,"  began  to  appear  at 
the  close  of  1860,  the  business  men  of  the  city  were  ready  to  make  enor- 
mous sacrifices  of  sentiment  and  pride  for  tlie  preservation  of  peace. 
Hence,  as  we  have  observed,  the  citizens  of  New  York  were  very  con- 
servative at  the  beginning  of  the  trouble.  They  watched  the  approach- 
ing tempest  as  it  gathered  energy  with  mingled  incredulity  and  uneasi- 
ness ;  and  tliey  anxiously  observed  the  faint-heartedness  or  indifference 
of  the  National  Government  at  that  time  of  peril,  with  gloomy  fore- 
bodings. Treason  was  then  rampant  and  defiant  at  the  national  capital, 
and  sappers  and  miners  were  working  secretly  and  openly  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  great  temple  of  lil)erty  in  the  West.  At  that  hour  of  greatest 
despondency,  the  trumpet  voice  of  the  newly-appointed  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury  (John  A.  Dix,  of  New  York)  rang  throughout  the  nation,  say- 
ing to  an  officer  of  the  revenue  service  at  New  Orleans,  ^^ If  any  one 
atte?nj)ts  to  haul  down  the  American  Jlag,  shoot  him  on  the  spot  .^"  That 
utterance  was  hailed  by  the  loyal  people  of  the  land  with  hope  and  joy 
as  a  sure  prophecy  of  salvation  for  the  republic. 

The  Legislature  of  New  York  was  then  eminently  loyal.  There  were 
thirty-eight  Republicans  and  nine  Democrats  in  the  Senate,  and  ninety- 
eight  Republicans  and  thirty-five  Democrats  in  the  Assembly.  When 
that  body  assembled  on  January  2d,  1861,  the  whole  country  was  in  a 
.fever  of  intense  excitement.     The  message  of  Governor  Morgan  to  the 


518  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Legislature  was  calm,  dignified,  conservative,  and  even  cold  in  compari- 
son with  the  fervor  of  tiie  public  mind.     In  conciliatory  tones  he  urged 


oJ^Oi^rtM/i^ti^Ti^^ 


-"/ 


./r\ 


S^^t;^^/&jA^4yr 


FAC-SIMIIiE  OF  DIX'S  ORDER. 


the  duty  of  all  legislators  to  act  with  moderation.     Reflecting  the  senti- 
ments of  capitalists  and  business  men  specially,  he  said  : 

"  Let  New  York  set  an  example  in  tliis  respect  ;  let  her  oppose  no 


PATRIOTISM  OF  THE  NEW  YORK  LEGISLATURE.  519 

barrier  [to  conciliation],  but  let  her  representatives  in  Congress  give 
ready  support  to  any  just  and  honorable  settlement  ;  let  her  stand  in 
hostility  to  none,  but  extend  the  hand  of  friendship  to  all.  Live  up  to 
the  strict  letter  of  the  Constitution,  and  cordially  unite  with  other 
nienjbers  of  the  Confederacy  in  proclaiming  and  enforcing  a  determina- 
tion that  the  Constitution  shall  be  honored  and  the  Union  of  the  States 
be  preserved." 

The  governor  even  recommended  the  repeal  of  the  statute  which  gave 
liberty  to  every  slave  whose  feet  should  tread  the  soil  of  New  York,  and 
recommended  other  States  to  repeal  their  "  Personal  Liberty  acts." 
There  was  naturally  an  earnest  desire  for  peace,  for  war  implied  the 
cancelment  of  miliions  of  dollars  of  debt  due  New  York  merchants  by 
Southern  customers. 

The  views  of  the  Legislature  were  not  in  consonance  with  those  of  the 
governor.  That  body  was  more  disposed  to  be  defiant  and  uncompro- 
mising, especially  when  news  arrived  of  the  overt  act  of  armed  rebellion 
by  South  Carolinians  in  Charleston  Harbor  in  firing  upon  the  Star  of 
the  West  when  she  entered  those  waters  laden  with  supplies  for  the 
imperilled  garrison  in  Fort  Sumter.  That  act  called  out  a  patriotic 
message  from  President  Buchanan,  and  the  Legislature  of  New  York 
spoke  out  in  tones  not  to  be  misunderstood  (January  11th,  1861),  saying  : 

^^Hesolved,  That  the  Legislature  of  New  York  is  profoundly  impressed 
with  the  value  of  the  Union,  and  determined  to  preserve  it  unimpaired  ; 
that  it  greets  with  joy  the  recent  firm,  dignified,  and  patriotic  special 
message  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  ;  and  we  tender  him, 
thi'ough  the  chief  magistrate  of  our  State,  whatever  aid  in  men  and 
money  may  be  required  to  enable  him  to  enforce  the  laws  and  uphold 
the  authority  of  the  Federal  Government  ;  and  that,  in  defence  of  the 
Union,  which  has  conferred  prosperity  and  happiness  upon  the  American 
people,  renewing  the  pledge  given  and  redeemed  by  our  fathers,  we  are 
ready  to  devote  our  fortunes,  our  lives,  and  our  sacred  honor." 

This  patriotic  proclamation  by  the  representatives  of  the  people  of 
New  York  was  in  vivid  contrast  with  the  utterances  of  the  disloyal 
Mayor  of  New  York  City  (Fernando  Wood)  a  few  days  before.  He  was 
in  sympathy  with  the  movements  of  the  secessionists  ;  and  in  a  message 
to  the  Common  Council  (January  7th,  1861)  he  advocated  the  secession 
of  the  city  from  the  State. 

"Why  should  not  New  York  City,"  he  said,  "  instead  of  supporting 
by  her  contributions  in  revenue  two  thirds  of  the  expenses  of  the  United 
States,  become,  also,  equally  independent  ?  As  a  free  city,  with  a 
nominal  duty  on  imports,  her  local  government  could  be  supported  with- 


520  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

out  taxation  upon  her  people.  Thus  we  could  live  free  from  taxes,  and 
have  cheap  goods  nearly  duty  free.  .  .  .  When  disunion  has  become  a 
fixed  and  certain  fact,  why  may  not  New  York  disrupt  the  bands  which 
bind  her  to  a  venal  and  corrupt  master— to  a  people  and  a  party  that 
have  plundered  her  revenues,  attempted  to  ruin  her  commerce,  taken 
away  the  power  of  self-government,  and  destroyed  the  confederacy  of 
which  she  was  the  proud  empire  city. " 

The  Common  Council,  in  political  accord  with  the  mayor,  ordered 
three  thousand  copies  of  this  message  to  be  printed  in  pamplilet  form 
for  free  distribution  among  the  people.  The  loyal  citizens  of  JS'ew  York 
condemned  this  revolutionary  movement  witli  great  severity  of  utterance 
and  patriotic  deeds. 

The  message  of  Mayor  Wood  and  the  bold  resolution  of  the  Legisla- 
ture alarmed  a  certain  class  of  people,  who  were  ready  to  make  every 
concession  to  the  insurgents  consistent  with  honor  and  patriotism.  A 
memorial  in  favor  of  compromise  measures,  largely  signed  by  merchants, 
manufacturers,  and  capitalists,  was  sent  to  Congress  on  January  12th, 
1861.  It  suggested  the  famous  "Crittenden  Compromise."*  On  the 
18th  a  large  meeting  of  merchants  was  held  in  the  rooms  of  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  when  a  memorial  of  similar  import  was  adopted,  and  was 
taken  to  Washington  early  in  February,  with  forty  thousand  names 
attaclied.  On  the  2Sth  an  immense  gathering  of  citizens  at  the  Cooper 
Union  appointed  three  commissioners— James  T.  Brady,  C.  K.  Garrison, 
and  Appleton  Oakes  Smith — to  confer  witli  the  "  delegates"  of  six 
"seceded"  States  in  conventions  assembled,  in  regard  to  "the  best 
measures  calculated  to  restore  the  peace  and  integrity  of  the  Union." 
At  about  the  same  time  the  Legislature,  on  the  invitation  of  Virginia, 
appointed  five  representatives  to  a  peace  conference,  to  be  held  at  Wash- 
ington City,  but  with  instructions  not  to  take  part  in  the  proceedings 
unless  a  majority  of  the  free-labor  States  were  there  represented. 

Meanwhile  the  pro-slavery  element  in  New  York  liad  been  aroused  to 
active  sympathy  with  the  insurgent  slaveholders.  An  association  was 
speedily  formed  vvliich  was  styled  "  The  American  Society  for  the  Pro- 
motion of  National  Union."  They  denounced  the  seminal  doctrine  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  that  "  all  men  are  created  equal," 

*  John  J.  Crittenden,  of  Kentucky,  offered  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  in 
December,  a  series  of  resohitions  whicli  was  called  a  compromise  Ix'tween  the  people  of 
the  two  sections  of  the  country,  but  wliich  virtually  conceded  to  the  slaveholders  and 
their  friends  nearly  everything  for  which  they  professed  to  ho  contending;.  It  was  before 
Congress  during  the  whole  session,  and  was  finally  rejected  on  the  last  day  (March  3d, 
1861)  by  a  vote  of  twenty  against  nineteen. 


A  LEAGUE   TO   DESTROY   THE   REPUBLIC.  521 

and  said  :  "  Four  millions  of  immortal  beings,  incapable  of  self -care, 
and  indisposed  to  indnstry  and  foresight,  are  providentially  committed 
to  the  hands  of  our  Southern  friends.  This  stupendous  trust  thev  cannot 
put  from  them  if  they  would.  Emancipation,  were  it  possible,  would 
be  rebellion  against  Providence,  and  destruction  of  the  colored  race  in 
our  land." 

How  strangely  mediaeval  appears  such  a  sentence  (written  by  one  of 
the  most  distinguished  scientists  of  the  world)  in  the  light  of  history 
to-day  !  This  society,  which  sent  its  disloyal  publications  broadcast  over 
the  land,  was  the  mother  of  the  mischievous  Peace  Faction,  which  pro- 
longed and  increased  the  miseries  of  the  Civil  War,  It  was  the  parent 
of  the  brood  of  misguided  men  called  "  Coj^perheads"  during  that  fear- 
ful struggle. 

The  exportation  of  fire-arms  from  the  port  of  New  York  to  the 
Southern  insurgents  was  begun  with  the  year  1861.  Late  in  January 
the  efficient  chief  of  police  (John  A.  Kennedy)  caused  to  be  seized  a 
large  quantity  of  arras  consigned  by  an  agent  of  the  Governor  of  Georgia 
to  insurgents  in  that  State  and  in  Alabama,  which  had  been  placed  on  a 
vessel  bound  for  Savannah.  This  fact  was  telegraphed  to  the  Georgia 
capital.  Robert  Toombs,  a  private  citizen,  took  the  matter  in  hand  and 
peremptorily  demanded  of  Mayor  Wood  whether  or  not  the  report  was 
true.  The  mayor  answered  "  Yes,"  and  said  he  had  no  power  over 
the  police,  or  he  would  punish  them  for  the  act.  The  Governor  of 
Georgia  retaliated  by  ordering  the  seizure  of  some  New  York  merchant 
vessels  in  the  port  of  Savannah.  The  affair  created  intense  excitement 
all  over  the  Union.     It  was  soon  amicably  adjusted. 

Delegates  appointed  by  secession  conventions  (not  of  the  people)  of 
six  States  assembled  at  Montgomery,  Ala.,  on  February  4tli,  1861,  and 
formed  a  league  with  the  title,  "  Confederate  States  of  America" — a 
misnomer,  for  no  States,  as  States,  were  there  represented.  A  Provisional 
Constitution  was  adopted.  Jefferson  Davis,  of  Mississippi,  was  chosen 
"  Provisional  President,"  and  Alexander  II.  Stephens,  of  Georgia,  was 
made  Vice-President. 

Meanwhile  the  conspirators  in  Congress  had  been  withdrawing  from 
that  body  and  organizing  rebellion  at  home.  President  Buchanan 
remained  a  passive  spectator  of  the  rising  rebellion.  The  general- in- 
chief  of  the  national  army  (Scott)  was  feeble  in  mind  and  body  ;  and 
when  Mr.  Lincoln  was  inaugurated  (March  4th,  1861)  the  insurgents 
were  organized  and  prepared  for  war.  They  had  been  materially  assisted 
by  treacherous  members  of  the  Cabinet  of  the  retiring  President,  who 
became  leaders  of  the  insurgents. 


522  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Sontli  Carolinians  liad  flocked  to  Cliarleston  and  piled  fortifications 
around  tiie  harbor.  On  April  12th,  1861,  the  two  hundred  great  guns 
of  these  forts  opened  fire  upon  Fort  Sumter,  which  was  occupied  by  a 
national  garrison  under  the  command  of  Major  Anderson,  a  lojal  Ken- 
tuckian.  ITis  provisions  exhausted,  he  was  compelled  to  evacuate  (not 
surrender)  the  fort,  carrying  away  with  him  the  garrison  flag.  This 
event  occurred  on  Sunday,  the  lith.  Just  four  years  afterward  Major 
Anderson  again  unfurled  that  flag  over  the  ruins  of  the  repossessed 
fort. 

Twenty-four  hours  after  the  evacuation  of  Fort  Sumter  President 
Lincoln  issued  a  call  for  seventy-five  thousand  militia  from  the  several 
States,  to  serve  for  tbree  months  in  suppressing  this  armed  rebellion. 
The  quota  of  New  York  was  seventeen  regiments,  or  thirteen  thousand 
men.  There  was  no  longer  hesitation  in  the  Empire  State.  The  gov- 
ernor sent  the  proclamation  to  the  Legislature,  then  in  session.  In  a 
few  hours  an  act  was  passed  conferring  large  powers  on  the  chief  magis- 
trate, and  authorizing  the  enrolment  of  thirty  thousand  men  for  two 
years,  and  an  appropriation  of  $3,000,000. 

The  governor  issued  a  proclamation  ordering  the  troops  to  rendezvous 
at  Elmira  and  New  York  City.  An  officer  sent  to  Washington  obtained 
the  acceptance  of  the  surplus  regiments.  The  Secretary  of  War  sent 
marching  orders.  Contracts  for  a  large  amount  of  supplies  were  imme- 
diately made.  On  April  24th  an  agent  of  the  State  sailed  for  Europe 
with  a  bill  of  credit  for  $500,000,  with  which  to  purchase  arms  ;  and 
very  speedily  nineteen  thousand  Enfield  rifles,  which  cost  $375,000, 
were  landed  at  New  York  City. 

The  authorized  thirty  thousand  men  had  been  raised  within  thirty-six 
days  after  the  President's  call  for  troops  ;  and  early  in  July  they  were 
organized  into  thirty-eight  regiments.  An  active  committee  in  New 
York  City  added  ten  regiments  ;  and  on  July  1st — seventy-seven  days 
after  the  date  of  the  President's  proclamation — New.  York  troops  in 
the  field  numbered  forty-six  thousand  seven  hundred. 

On  April  20th  an  immense  war  meeting  was  held  in  Union  Square, 
in  the  city  of  New  York.  So  great  was  the  multitude  that  it  was 
divided  into  four  sections,  presided  over  respectively  by  John  A.  Dix, 
Hamilton     Fish,    ex-Mayor    Ilavemeyer,    and    Moses     H.    Grinnell.* 

*  Moses  H.  Grinnell,  an  eminent  merchant  of  New  York  City,  was  born  at  New  Bed- 
ford, Mass.,  in  March,  1808,  and  died  in  New  York  in  November,  1877.  He  was 
educated  at  private;  schools  and  at  an  academy  belonging  to  the  Society  of  Friends,  or 
Quakers.  Bred  a  merchant,  he  frequently  went  abroad  as  supercargo.  lie  removed  to 
New  York,  and  in  1839  he  became  one  of  the  firm  of  Grinnell,  Minturn  &  Company,  a 


UNION  DEFENCE  COMMITTEE  IN  NEW  YORK. 


523 


Speeches  frauglit  with  intense  fervor  were  made,  and  patriotic  resohi- 
tions  were  adopted.  That  meeting  effectually  removed  the  false  im- 
pression that  the  greed  of  commerce  was  stronger  than  patriotism  in 
New  York  City.  The  insurgents,  who  evidently  thought  so,  were  dis- 
appointed. One  of  their  organs,  the  Richmond  Despatch,  said  :  "  New 
York  will  be  remembered  with  special  hatred  by  the  South  for  all  time." 
At  that  meetins:  a  Commit- 


-■-^"^^^fe^^- 


MOSES   H.    GRINNELL. 


tee  of  Safety  was  appointed, 
composed  of  the  most  distin- 
guished citizens  of  New  York. 
They  met  on  the  same  evening, 
and  organized  the  famous  Union 
Defence  Committee.  ^  Its  room 
(30  Pine  Street)  was  open  every 
day,  and  at  the  Fifth  Avenue 
Hotel  every  evening.  The 
committee  was  charged  with  the 
duty  of  representing  "  the  citi- 
zens in  the  collection  of  funds 
and  the  transaction  of  such  other 
business,  in  aid  of  the  move- 
ments of  the  Government,  as 
the  public  interests  may  re- 
quire." Its  existence  continued 
about  a  year,  during  which  time 

it  disbursed  about  $1,000,000,  which  the  corporation  of  New  York  ap- 
propriated for  war  purposes  and  placed  at  its  disposal.  It  assisted  in  the 
equipment,  etc.,  of  forty-nine  regiments,  or  about  forty  thousand  men. 
It  spent  of  the  city  funds  for  military  purposes  nearly  $759,000,  and  for 
the  relief  of  soldiers'  families,  $230,000.     Within  ten  days  after  the 

house  founded  many  years  before  by  Josepli  Grinnell  and  Preserved  Fisli.  Mr.  Grinnell 
was  one  of  the  chief  promoters  of  the  expedition  to  the  Arctic  seas  in  search  of  Sir  John 
Franklin,  which  was  led  by  Dr.  E.  K.  Kane,  1853-55.  He  was  a  member  of  Congress, 
1839-41,  and  in  1869-71  he  was  Collector  of  the  Port  of  New  York, 

*  The  members  of  the  Union  Defence  Committee  were  :  John  A.  Dix,  Chairman  ; 
Simeon  Draper,  Viee-Gliairman ;  William  M.  Evarts,  Secretary ;  Theodore  Dehon, 
Treasurer ;  Moses  Taylor,  Richard  M.  Blatchford,  Edwards  Pierrepont,  Alexander  T. 
Stewart,  Samuel  Sloan,  John  Jacob  Astor,  Jr.,  John  J.  Cisco,  James  S.  Wadsworth, 
Isaac  Bell,  James  Boorman,  Charles  H.  Marshall,  Robert  H.  McCurdy,  Moses  H.  Grinnell, 
Royal  Phelps,  William  E.  Dodge,  Green  C.  Bronson,  Hamilton  Fish,  William  F.  Have- 
meyer,  Charles  H.  Ru.ssel],  James  T.  Brady,  Rudolph  A.  Whitthaus,  Abiel  A.  Low, 
Prosper  M.  Wetmore,  A.  C.  Richards,  and  the  mayor,  comptroller,  and  the  presidents  of 
the  two  boards  of  the  Common  Council  of  the  City  of  New  York. 


524  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

President's  call  for  troops,  that  committee  liad  sent  to  the  field  from  the 
city  of  New  York  fully  ten  thousand  men,  well  armed  and  equipped. 

Among  the  regiments  that  went  from  the  city  of  New  York  was  the 
famous  Seventh,  National  Guard,  commanded  by  Colonel  Marshall 
Lefferts.  It  was  composed  chiefly  of  young  men  of  the  best  families 
in  the  city.  Just  as  it  was  about  to  march  news  came  of  an  attack  upon 
Massachusetts  troops  in  Baltimore  by  a  mob.  The  regiment  was  fur- 
nished with  ball  cartridges.  As  it  marched  down  Broadway  it  was 
greeted  at  every  steji  by  multitudes  of  the  citizens  on  sidewalks  and 
balconies,  and  from  windows.  At  the  ferry  it  was  joined  by  a  Massa- 
chusetts regiment  accompanied  by  General  B.  F.  Butler.  Both  regi- 
ments were  speeding  across  New  Jersey  by  railway  at  evening  twilight. 

Hundreds  of  families  wooed  sleep  in  vain  that  night.  They  knew 
that  blood  had  been  shed  in  Baltimore,  and  that  their  loved  ones  were 
in  imminent  peril.  But  patriotism  triumphed  over  personal  considera- 
tions. The  enthusiasm  of  the  people  was  marvellous.  The  women  were 
as  patriotic  as  the  men.  Five  brothers  of  a  New  York  family  enlisted 
and  marched  away.  Their  mother  was  absent  at  the  time.  She  wrote 
to  her  husband  : 

"  Though  1  have  loved  my  children  with  a  love  that  only  a  mother 
knows,  yet  when  I  look  upon  the  state  of  my  country,  I  cannot  withhold 
them.  In  the  name  of  their  God,  and  their  mother's  God,  and  their 
country's  God,  I  bid  them  go.  If  I  had  ten  sons  instead  of  five  I  should 
give  them  all  sooner  than  have  our  country  rent  in  fragments." 

This  was  the  spirit  of  the  loyal  women  all  over  the  land  during  the 
fierce  struggle  that  ensued.* 

*  The  Society  of  Friends,  or  Quakers,  were  generally  loyal.  Their  principles  forbade 
them  to  bear  arms,  but  they  gave  generous  aid  to  the  good  cause  by  assiduous  services  in 
hospitals,  etc.  The  society  felt  it  a  duty  to  publish  a  "Testimony"  exhorting  their 
brethren  to  resist  "  the  temptations  of  the  hour,"  and  while  anxious  to  uphold  the  Gov- 
ernment, not  to."  transgress  the  principles  and  injunctions  of  the  gospel."  But  many  of 
the  younger  Friends  especially  gave  little  heed  to  the  "  Testimony,"  but  bore  arms  and 
obeyed  the  injunctions  of  a  patriotic  Quaker  mother  in  Philadelphia,  who  wrote  to  her 
son  in  camp  :  "  Let  not  thy  musket  hold  a  silent  meeting  before  the  enemy." 

In  strong  contrast  with  this  Wiis  the  letter  of  a  Baltimore  mother  to  her  loyal  son,  a 
clergyman  in  Boston,  who,  on  the  Sunday  after  the  attack  on  Fort  Sumter,  preachetl  a 
patriotic  sermon  to  his  flock.     She  Avrote  : 

"Baltimore,  April  17,  1801. 
"  My  Dear  Son  :    Your  remarks   last  Sabbath  were  telegraphed  to  Baltimore  and  published  in  an 
extra.    Uaa  God  sent  yon  to  preach  the  sword  or  to  preach  Christ  ? 

^,  ..    ,  "  YocR  Mother."    . 

The  son  replied  : 

"Boston,  April  22, 1861. 
"  Dear  Mother  :  '  Ood  has  sent '  me  not  only  to  'preach '  the  sword,  but  to  we  it.    When  this  Gov- 
ernment tumbles,  look  among  the  ruins  for 

"  Your  Star-Spanoled  Banner  Son." 


ACTION  OF  CIVIL  AND  MILITARY  AUTHORITIES. 


635 


After  tlie  President's  proclamation,  troops  from  the  slave-labor  States 
pressed  eagerly  toward  tlie  national  capital,  obedient  to  the  shout  of 
Alexander  H.  Stephens,  as  he  moved  northward  from  Montgomery  to 
Richmond — "  On  to  Washington  f^"*  Their  object  was  the  seizure  of 
the  Government,  its  archives  and  its  treasury.  At  the  same  time  thou- 
sands of  men  from  the  free-labor  States  were  pressing  as  eagerly  for 
the  same  goal,  to  save  those 
precious  possessions.  News  of  a 
murderous  attack  upon  a  Massa- 
chusetts regiment  in  Baltimore 
by  a  mob  flashed  over  the  country 
accelerated  the  speed  of  prepara- 
tion and  march  for  the  salvation 
of  the  Republic. 

Major-General  John  E.  Wool,* 
the  second  in  command  to  the 
general  -  in  -  chief  of  the  army 
(Scott),  was  at  his  home  in  Troy, 
N.  Y.  Though  seventy-six  years 
of  age,  he  was  then  an  active  and 
vigorous  soldier.  lie  hastened 
to  confer  with  Governor  Morgan, 
at  Albany.  While  they  were  in 
consultation  the  governor  re- 
ceived a  despatch  from  Washington  urging  him  to  send  troops  thither 
as  quickly  as  possible.  The  general  immediately  issued  orders  to  the 
quartermaster  at  New  York  to  furnish  transportation  to  Washington  for 
all  troops  that  might  be  sent  ;  also  to  the  commissary  to  furnish  sub- 
sistence for  them  for  thirty  days. 


JOHN   ELLIS   WOOL. 


*  Jolin  Ellis  Wool  was  born  in  New  burgh,  N.  Y.,  in  1788,  and  died  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  in 
November,  1869.  He  became  in  liis  youth  a  bookseller  in  Troy,  studied  law,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1812  entered  the  army  as  captain  of  a  company  raised  in  Troy.  He  served 
gallantly  in  the  War  of  1812-15.  At  the  peace  he  was  retained  in  the  army.  In  1832  he 
was  sent  to  Europe  to  examine  some  of  the  military  systems  on  the  Continent.  He 
became  a  brigadier-general  in  1841,  and  performed  excellent  service  in  Mexico  in  1846-48, 
especially  in  organizing  and  disciplining  volunteers.  For  his  bravery  in  the  battle  of 
Buena  Vista,  which  he  planned,  he  was  brevetted  major-general,  and  received  the  thanks 
of  Congress  and  a  sword.  In  1856  he  quelled  Indian  disturbances  in  Oregon.  At  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War  General  Wool,  in  command  of  the  Eastern  Department, 
took  measures  which  saved  Washington  City  from  capture  by  the  Confederates.  He  was 
commissioned  major-general  in  May,  1863,  and  he  commanded  the  expedition  that  took 
possession  of  Norfolk  that  month. 


52G  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

The  governor  went  to  Kew  York  that  night ;  the  general  followed  two 
days  afterward,  and  made  his  headquarters  at  the  St.  Nicholas  Hotel. 
There  he  conferred  with  the  Union  Defence  Committee  and  arranged 
jjlans  for  the  salvation  of  the  capital,  which  was  then  so  isolated  by  a 
cordon  of  enemies  that  Scott  could  not  communicate  by  telegraph  to  a 
regiment  outside  the  District  of  Columbia  ;  neither  could  any  communi- 
cation reach  the  President  from  beyond  those  limits.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances General  Wool  assumed  the  gravest  responsibilities,  and  with 
the  assistance  of  the  Union  Defence  Committee  and  the  co-operation  of 
Commodores  JBreeze  and  Stringham,  succeeded  in  saving  the  capital. 

The  battle  of  Bull's  Run,  in  July,  gave  a  new  impetus  to  the  demand 
for  troop?,  and  Governor  Morgan  issued  a  proclamation  for  twenty-five 
thousand  three  years'  men,  the  money  to  raise  and  equip  them  to  be  paid 
by  the  National  Government.  The  quota  of  New  York  was  increased 
from  .time  to  time,  and  on  January  1st,  1862,  it  was  one  hundred  and 
twenty  thousand.  Its  troops  had  taken  part  in  every  engagement  east  of 
the  Alleghany  Mountains  and  south  of  Washington. 

A  called  session  of  Congress  opened  on  July  4th,  for  the  purpose  of 
providing  means  for  carrying  on  the  war  then  just  begun.  Authority 
was  given  for  raising  five  hundred  thousand  soldiers,  and  appropriating 
$500,000,000  to  pay  the  exj^enses.  These  acts  imj)lied  a  heavy  loan  from 
tlie  people.  Could  it  be  obtained  ?  The  question  was  soon  answered.  At 
the  close  of  the  year  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  had  borrowed  $-1:70,000,- 
000  of  the  loyal  people,  of  which  sum  New  York  alone  had  advanced 
$210,000,000.  It  was  a  wonderful  exhibition  of  patriotism  and  of  gen- 
erous faith  in  the  people.  The  risk  was  tremendous,  but  the  jewel  to  be 
secured  was  beyond  price.  Without  this  advance  arms  could  not  have 
been  bought,  nor  ships  built,  nor  armies  moved,  and  the  Republic  must 
have  perished.  Again  New  York  saved  it.  Her  sons  appreciated  the 
peril  and  the  value  of  the  endangered  treasure,  and  flew  to  the  rescue. 

While  thousands  of  loyal  men  were  hastening  to  the  field,  loyal  women 
were  devising  plans  and  taking  measures  for  their  aid  and  comfort.  On 
the  day  when  the  President's  call  for  troops  appeared  (April  IStli),  Miss 
Ahnena  Bates,  in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  took  steps  to  found  an  associ- 
ation for  the  purpose.  On  the  same  day  women  of  Bridgeport,  Conn., 
organized  a  society  to  furnish  nurses  for  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers, 
and  provisions  and  clothing  for  them.  A  few  days  later  women  of 
Lowell,  Miiss.,  did  the  same  thing,  and  on  the  19th  women  of  Cleve- 
land, O.,  formed  an  association  for  the  more  immediately  practical  pur- 
pose of  giving  assistance  to  the  families  of  volunteers. 

This  spontaneous  outcropping  of  the  tenderest  feelings   of  women 


RELIEF  FOR  SOLDIERS   IN  THE  FIELD. 


527 


suggested  tlie  formation,  in  the  city  of  Xew  York,  of  the  powerful 
society  known  as  the  United  States  Sanitary  Commission.  Fifty  or 
sixty  benevolent  women  of  New  York  met  by  appointment  on  April 
26th,  1861,  when  a  Central  Relief  Association  was  suggested.  They 
formed  a  plan,  and  the  women  of  the  city  were  invited  to  assemble  at  the 
Cooper  Union  to  consider  it  on  the  29tli.  Many  leading  gentlemen  of 
the  city  were  invited  to  be  pres- 
ent. The  response  to  the  call 
was  ample  in  number,  charac- 
ter, and  financial  resources. 
David  Dudley  Field  presided. 
The  Vice-President  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  (Hannibal  Hamhn) 
addressed  the  meeting.  A  be- 
nevolent organization  known 
as  the  AYomen's  Central  Relief 
Association  was  effected,  and 
tlie  venerable  Dr.  Valentine 
Mott  was  chosen  its  president. 
The  chief  actor  in  this  move- 
ment was  the  Rev.  H.  W. 
Bellows,  D.D.,  pastor  of  All 
Souls  (Unitarian)  Church.* 

The    necessity    for    a   much 
broader  field  of  action  was  soon 

perceived,  and  early  in  June  the  Secretary  of  War  authorized  the  forma- 
tion of  a  "  Commission  of  inquiry  and  advice  in  respect  of  the  sanitary 
interests  of  tlie  United  States."  Eminent  civilians  and  soldiers  formed 
the  commission.  Dr.  Bellows,  its  real  author,  was  chosen  its  president, 
lie  submitted  a  plan  of  operations  which  was  adopted,  and  the  associa- 
tion assumed  the  name  of  the  Uxited  States  Sanitary  Commission,  f 


HENRY   W.    BELLOWS. 


*  Henry  Whitney  Bellows,  D.D.,  an  eloquent  clergyman  of  the  Unitai'ian  Church,  was 
born  in  Boston  in  June,  1814.  He  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College  and  at  Hai-vard 
Divinity  School  at  Cambridge,  Mass.  He  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  First  Unitarian 
Church  (All  Souls)  in  New  York  in  1838,  where  he  labored  .successfully  forty-four  years. 
He  was  the  principal  projector  of  the  Christian  Inquirer,  a  Unitarian  newspaper,  and  its 
chief  contributor.  He  was  the  real  originator  of  the  United  States  Sanitary  Commission. 
Dr.  Bellows  died  in  January,  1882. 

f  The  seal  of  the  Sanitary  Commission  bore  the  device  of  an  angel  of  mercy  descending 
from  the  clouds  upon  a  deserted  battle-field,  where  a  soldier  is  seen  administering  aid  to 
a  wounded  comrade.  The  first  officers  of  the  commission  were  :  Henry  W.  Bellows, 
D.D.,  President;  Professor  A.  D.  Bache,  LL.D.,  Vice-President ;  Elisha  Harris,  M.D., 


528 


THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 


Frederick  Law  Olinstod  was  apj)oiMte(]  its  resident  secretary,  and  became 
its  real  manager. 

The  object  of  the  commission  was  to  supplement  Government  defi- 
ciencies. An  appeal  was  made  to  the  people  for  contributions.  The 
response  was  most  generous.  Supplies  and  money  flowed  in  from  all 
quarters  sufficient  to  meet  every  demand.  All  over  the  country  men, 
women,  and  children  were  seen  working  singly  or  collectively  for  it. 
Fairs  were  held  in  cities  and  large  towns  which  raised  immense  sums  of 
money  for  the  treasury  of  the  connriission.  The  city  of  Poughkeepsie, 
with  sixteen  thousand  inhabitants,  held  a  fair  and  contributed  to  the 
treasury  of  the  commission  one  dollar  for  each  man,  woman,  and  child 

of  its  population— $16,000.  The  treas- 
urer of  the  Soldiers'  Sanitary  Fair  in 
the  city  of  New  York  (John  II.  (rourlie) 
received  from  the  treasurer  of  the  com- 
mission a  receipt  for  $1,000,000,  the 
net  proceeds  of  the  fair.  The  com- 
mission established  branches.  Ambu- 
lances, army  wagons,  and  steamboats 
were  employed  in  transporting  the  sick 
and  wounded  soldiers  under  its  charge. 
It  followed  the  army  closely  in  all 
campaigns.  Before  the  smoke  of  con- 
flict had  been  fairly  lifted  there  was 
seen  the  commission  with  its  tents,  its 
vehicles,  and  its  supplies. 
The  grand  work  of  the  United  States  Sanitary  Connnission  was  con- 
tinually made  plain  during  the  war,  and  especially  at  its  close,  %vhen  the 
success  of  its  labors  was  considered.  The  loyal  people  of  the  land,  justly 
confiding  in  its  wisdom,  energy,  and  integrity,  had  given  to  it  supplies 
valued  at  $15,000,000,  and  money  to  the  amount  of  $5,000,000. 

Later  in  the  same  year  (1801)  another  and  most  efficient  and  important 
association  was  formed  in  the  city  of  New  York,  the  chief  object  of 
which  was  to  promote  the  moral  and  spiritual  welfare  of  the  soldiei's.  It 
was  suggested  by  Vincent  Collyer,  an  artist,  and  a  most  earnest  worker  in 
the  cause  of  Christian  effort  of  every  kind.  It  had  its  origin  in  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  in  New  York.  At  a  national  con- 
vention of  such  associations  held  in  their  hall  in  November  to  consult 


SEAL    OF    THE    UNITED    STATES    SANI 
TAIIY   COMMISSION. 


CorreMptnulinff  Secretary ;  General  George  W.  Cullum,  Alexander  E.  Shiras,  Robert  C. 
Wood,  M.D.,  Wolcott  Glbbs,  Cornelius  R.  Agnew,  M.D.,  George  T.  Strong,  Frederick 
Law  Olmsted,  Samuel  Q.  Howe,  M.I).,  and  ,T.  S.  Newberry,  M.D.,  Cammissioners. 


UNITED   STATES  CHRISTIAN   COMMISSION. 


520 


upon  tlie  oest  efforts  to  be  made  for  the  spiritual  good  of  the  soldiers, 
the  United  States  Chkistian  Commission  was  organized,  and  George 
H.  Stuart,  of  Philadelphia,  was  chosen  its  presiding  officer.* 

This  commission  worked  upon  the  same  general  plan  adopted  by  the 
Sanitary  Commission.  Its  labors  were  by  no  means  confined  to  spiritual 
and  intellectual  ministrations,  but  were  extended  to  the  distribution  of  a 
vast  amount  of  food,  hospital  stores,  delicacies,  and  clothing.  It,  too, 
followed  the  great  national  armies,  and  was  like  a  twin  angel  of  mercy 
with  the  Sanitary  Commission.  It  co-operated  efficiently  with  the 
chaplains  of  the  army  and  navy, 
and  cast  about  the  soldiers  and 
seamen  a  salutary  hedge  of  Cliris- 
tian  influence.  The  money  col- 
lected for  the  use  of  the  commis- 
sion was  mostly  gathered  by  the 
women  of  various  Christian  de- 
nominations. It  was  a  free-will 
offering,  and  amounted,  in  the 
aggregate,  to  about  $1,000,000. 
The  entire  receipts  of  the  com- 
mission in  money  and  supplies  were 
fully  $6,000,000. 

In  this  chapter  we  have  an  out- 
line picture  of  the  attitude  of  the 
people   of   the    Commonwealth  of 

New  York  during  that  crucial  period  of  its  history — namely,  the  first 
few  months  of  the.  kindling  and  progress  of  the  great  Civil  War.  We 
have  seen  how  firmly  they  received  the  cruel  and  sudden  shock  ;  how 
willingly  they  sacrificed  their  personal  interests  for  the  general  good  ; 
how  generously  they  gave  men  and  money  for  the  salvation  of  the  life  of 
the  Republic  ;  and  what  a  wonderful  system  of  philanthropic  and  patri- 
otic effort  they  inaugurated  and  sustained  in  causing  the  loyal  people  of 
the  land  to  lay  at  the  feet  of  the  defenders  of  our  common  country  a 
free-will  offering  of  $26,000,000  ! 


VINCENT   C'OI.LYKU. 


*  The  officers  of  the  Christian  Commission  were  :  George  H.  Stuart,  Cluiirman  ;  Rev. 
W.  E.  Boardman,  Secretary ;  Joseph  Patterson,  Treasurer,  and  George  II.  Stuart, 
Bi.shop  E.  S.  Janes,  D.D.,  Charles  Demonds,  Jolui  P.  Croser,  and  Jay  Cooke,  Executive 
Committee. 


530  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

There  was  a  remarkable  change  in  the  political  aspect  of  New  York 
late  in  1862.  The  Opposition  charged  the  national  administration  with 
a  design  to  destroy  the  institution  of  slavery.  Countenance  was  given 
to  this  opinion  because  many  of  the  Hepublican  nominees  for  office  at 
the  fall  election  were  known  to  be  advocates  of  the  anti-slavery  cause. 
The  Republican  nominee  for  governor,  James  S.  Wadsworth,  held  the 
n)08t  extreme  radical  views  of  his  party  on  this  subject. 

The  Democrats  nominated  Horatio  Seymour  for  Governor.  Both 
parties  expressed,  in  the  resolutions  of  their  respective  conventions,  their 
firm  determination  to  uphold  the  IS^ational  Government  in  its  struggle 
with  its  foes.  The  citizens  of  the  State  were  then  divided  into  two  great 
parties,  Republican  and  Democratic.  There  was  a  small  party  of  adhe- 
rents of  the  Bell  organization  of  1860,  whose  views  were  expressed  in 
the  phrase,  *'  The  Constitution,  the  Union,  and  the  Enforcement  of  the 
Laws." 

At  the  fall  election  ex-Governor  Seymour  and  the  Democratic  candi- 
dates for  State  offices  were  elected  by  a  majority  of  nearly  eleven  thou- 
sand votes.  The  Senate  remained  overwhelmingly  Republican,  while 
there  was  a  tie  in  the  Assembly  at  the  beginning  of  1863. 

While  the  extraordinary  expenses  of  the  State  on  account  of  the  war 
were  increasing,  and  the  commonwealth  was  pledged  to  pay  its  debts  in 
coin,  its  revenues  were  diminished  over  $600,000  by  the  financial  policy 
of  the  National  Government  at  that  time,  in  exempting  its  bonds  from 
State  taxation,  etc.  The  banks  of  the  State  held  $125,000,000  of  these 
various  untaxed  bonds.  The  State  debt  (canal  and  funded)  in  the  fall 
of  1862  was  nearly  $31,000,000. 

Notwithstanding  this  diminution  of  its  revenue,  the  State  of  New 
York  continued  its  gigantic  exertions  in  support  of  the  National  Govern- 
ment. It  appropriated  men  and  money  with  a  lavish  hand.  During 
1862  it  sent  one  hundred  and  twenty  regiments  to  the  field  in  response 
to  two  calls  of  the  President  for  troops  for  nine  months  and  for  the  war 
— six  hundred  thousand  in  number.  New  York  paid  a  bounty  of  fifty 
dollars  each  for  volunteers,  for  which  purpose  $3,650,000  were  required, 
making  the  war  expenditure  of  the  State  $10,000,000.     The  subscrip- 


BEGINNING   OF   A  NEW  ERA.  531 

tions  of  towns  and  counties  for  the  same  purpose  were  equal  in  amount, 
making  the  contributions  of  tlie  people  of  the  State  $20,000,000. 

At  the  close  of  1862  the  number  of  soldiers  furnished  by  the  State  of 
New  York,  including  recruits  for  the  regular  army  and  for  regiments  in 
other  States,  was  two  hundred  and  nineteen  thousand.  Of  the  regiments 
raised  seventy-one  had  their  headquarters  in  New  York  City.  At  the 
close  of  the  year  the  citizens  of  the  State  had  contributed  to  the  support 
of  tlie  Government  in  taxes,  gifts,  and  loans  to  the  nation  $300,000,000 
and  eighty  tliousand  volunteers. 

The  beginning  of  1863  was  the  opening  of  a  new  era  in  tlie  life  of  our 
Republic.  On  that  day,  by  a  proclamation  of  emancipation  by  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  human  slavery  was  abolished  from  every  part 
of  the  Union,  and  our  country  became,  for  the  first  time,  really 

"  The  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave. " 

Up  to  that  period  the  fortunes  of  war  had  generally  favored  the  ene- 
mies of  the  Republic.  From  that  time  until  peace  was  secured  by  the 
wisdom,  patience,  and  valor  of  the  loyal  people,  almost  continual 
triumphs  rewarded  the  exertions  of  the  national  troops. 

Horatio  Seymour  was  again  inaugurated  Governor  of  New  York 
on  January  1st,  1863.  His  first  message  to  the  Legislature  was  a 
vigorous  dissent  from  the  entire  policy  of  the  national  administration. 
He  declared  that  Congress  and  the  Government  had  violated  the  rights 
of  the  States.  He  traced  the  origin  of  the  war  to  a  disregard  of  the 
obligations  of  the  Constitution,  disrespect  for  constituted  anthority,  and 
local  and  sectional  prejtidices.  He  believed  the  war  might  have  been 
averted,  but  when  its  floodgates  were  opened  the  administration  was  in- 
adequate to  comprehend  its  dimensions  or  to  control  its  sweep.  He 
charged  the  Government  with  extravagance  and  corruption  in  every 
department,  and  violations  of  the  Constitution  and  laws  in  making 
arbitrary  arrests  in  disregard  of  the  rights  and  authority  of  the  States, 
suppressing  journals,  proclaiming  martial  laM^,  and  "  attempting  to 
emancipate  the  slaves."  He  declared  that  the  administration  had 
effected  a  complete  revolution  in  the  Government  ;  that  national  bank- 
ruptcy and  ruin  were  imminent  ;  and  that  the  Government,  in  its  per- 
sistent attempts  to  subjugate  the  South,  in  violation  of  its  solemn  pledges 
at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  had  failed  in  the  attainment  of  its  ends.  At 
the  same  time  he  declared  that  tlu  Union  nmst  be  restored  to  its  integ- 
rity as  it  existed  before  the  war  ;  that  the  situation  as  it  stood  must  be 
accepted  ;  that  the  annies  in  the  field  must  be  supported  ;  that  all 
the  requirements  of  the  Constitution  must  promptly  be  responded  to, 


533  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

and  that  under  no  circumstances  could  a  division  of  the  Union  be 
conceded. 

This  arraignment  of  the  National  Government  at  the  bar  of  public 
opinion  by  the  distinguished  Governor  of  the  great  commonwealth  of 
New  York  had  a  powerful  influence  in  cooling  the  ardor  of  the  lojal 
people,  particularly  in  his  own  State.  The  patriotic  tone  of  the  message 
gave  it  greater  puissance.  The  line  of  partisan  demarcation  between  the 
two  great  political  parties,  which  had  been  almost  obliterated  by  the  com- 
mon effort  to  oppose  tiie  .revolutionary  movements  of  the  secessionists, 
■was  now  conspicuously  restored.  The  Peace  Faction  made  the  message 
an  instrument  for  the  discouragement  of  volunteering,  and  demagogues 
at  the  Nortli  who  sympathized  with  the  insurgents  made  it  a  basis  for 
inflammatory  harangues  intended  to  divide  and  distract  the  loyal  people, 
and  to  excite  a  counter-demonstration  in  favor  of  the  schemes  of  the 
conspirators. 

Early  in  June  a  mass- meeting  of  members  of  the  Peace  Faction  as- 
sembled in  New  York  City  and  adopted  a  series  of  characteristic  resolu- 
tions. They  declared  their  fealty  to  the  Constitution  and  to  the  "  sov- 
ereignty of  the  States  ;"  denied  that  the  National  Government  had  rightful 
power  to  "  coerce  a  State  ;"  asserted  that  the  war  was  unconstitutional 
and  ought  to  "be  put  an  end  to,"  and  protested  against  the  "  cowardly, 
despotic,  and  inhuman  act  of  banishing  C.  L.  Yallandigham.'"  *  Ad- 
ministration and  Democratic  conventions  were  held  in  September,  the 
former  recommending  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war,  the  latter 
pledging  their  support  to  the  Government  in  subduing  the  rebellion  and 
restoring  the  Union. 

The  obstructions  which  the  Peace  Faction  continually  cast  in  the  way 
of  enlistments  compelled  the  President,  under  the  authority  of  Congress, 
to  order  a  general  conscription  or  draft  to  All  up  the  rank  of  the  armies. 
Organized  resistance  to  this  measure  instantly  appeared.  The  leaders  of 
the  Peace  Faction  denounced  the  law  and  all  acts  under  it,  with  arbitrary 

*  In  the  spring  of  1863  Clement  L.  Vallandighiim,  an  ex-member  of  Congress  from 
Oliio,  was  especially  busy  in  sowing  the  seeds  of  disaffection  to  the  Government  among 
the  people  of  Ohio.  General  IJurnside,  in  (;ommand  of  the  military  department  in  which 
Yallandigham  wus  operating,  had  issued  a  general  order  for  the  suppression  of  seditious 
.speech  and  action,  and  threatened  the  punishment  due  to  spies  and  traitors  to  such 
offenders.  Yallandigham  defied  the  military  power  and  denounced  the  order.  He  was 
arrested  at  his  own  house  at  Dayton,  was  tried  by  a  court-martial,  convictetl,  and  sen- 
tenced to  close  confinement  in  a  fortress  during  the  remainder  of  the  war.  This  sentence 
was  conunuted  to  banishment  within  the  Confederate  lines.  His  Southern  friends  treated 
him  so  coldly  that  he  left  them  in  disgust,  went  to  Canada,  and  tarried  awhile  Mith  Con- 
federate refugees  there.  Meanwhile  the  Democratic  State  Convention  of  Ohio  nominate<l 
Iiiin  for  governor. 


DRAFT  RIOTS  IX  NEW  YORK  CITY.  533 

arrests  for  treasonable  practices,*  as  despotic  and  unconstitutional.  An 
obscure  lawyer  in  New  York  named  McCunn,  who  had  been  elected 
■judge,  so  decided.  He  was  sustained  by  three  judges  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Pennsylvania — Lowrie,  Woodward,  and  Thompson.  Supported 
by  these  decisions,  opposition  politicians  opposed  the  draft  with  a  high 
hand.  Kindred  newspapers  and  public  speakers  joined  in  the  denun- 
ciations. The  national  anniversary  (July  4th)  was  made  the  special  occa- 
sion for  their  utterances. 

Distinguished  members  of  the  Peace  Faction  exhorted  the  people  to 
stand  firmly  in  opposition  to  what  they  called  the  "  usurpations  of  the 
Government."  One  of  the  most  exalted  among  these  opponents  of  the 
Government,  in  an  address  at  Tammany  Hall  on  July  4th,  uttered  sneers 
because  Yicksburg  had  not  been  taken,  and  taunted  the  President  with 
having  uttered  a  "  midnight  cry  for  help"  because  of  Lee's  invasion  of 
Maryland.  At  that  moment  Yicksburg  and  thirty-seven  thousand  prison- 
ers of  war  were  in  the  possession  of  General  Grant,  and  Lee  and  his 
legions,  discomfited  at  Gettysburg,  were  preparing  to  fly  back  to  Vir- 
ginia. These  two  decisive  battles  of  the  war  had  been  fought  and  won 
by  the  National  troops,  and  the  safety  of  the  Republic  was  assured  in 
spite  of  the  Peace  Faction. 

On  the  evening  of  July  3d  an  incendiary  hand-bill,  calculated  to  incite 
to  insurrection,  was  scattered  over  the  city,  and  a  morning  newspaper 
advised  its  readers  to  provide  themselves  with  a  "good  rifled  musket, 
a  few  pounds  of  powder,  and  a  hundred  or  two  of  shot"  to  "  defend 
their  homes  and  personal  liberties  from  invasion  from  any  quarter."  It 
is  believed  that  au  organized  outbreak  had  been  planned  and  would  have 
been  executed,  but  for  the  successes  of  the  Nationals  at  Yicksburg  and 
Gettysburg.  The  draft  began  in  New  York,  on  July  13th,  18G3,  in  a 
building  on  the  corner  of  Forty-sixth  Street  and  Third  Avenue.  Sud- 
denly a  large  crowd,  who  had  cut  the  telegraph  wires  leading  out  of  the 
city,  appeared,  attacked  the  building,  drove  out  the  men  in  charge  of  the 

*  Just  after  the  proclamation  for  a  conscription  appeared,  a  public  meeting  was  held  in 
Albany  to  consider  the  arrest  of  Vallandigham.  Governor  Seymour  was  invited  to 
attend.  He  declined,  but  sent  a  letter  in  which  he  expressed  his  views  very  freely.  He 
denounced  the  act  as  a  violation  of  the  most  sacred  rights  of  every  American  citizen. 
He  pronounced  the  order  which,  it  was  alleged,  had  been  violated  by  the  prisoner,  invalid. 
He  declared  that  the  governments  and  the  courts  of  some  of  the  great  Western  States  had 
sunk  into  insignificance  before  despotic  military  power.  He  said  that,  having  given  to 
the  Government  a  generous  support,  the  people  would  now  "  pause  to  see  what  kind  of  a 
government  it  is  for  which  we  are  asked  to  pour  out  our  blood  and  treasure  ;"  to 
determine  "  whether  this  war  is  waged  to  put  down  rebellion  at  the  South  or  to  destroy 
free  institutions  at  the  North." 


534  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

draft,  poured  kerosene  oil  over  the  floor  of  tlie  room,  and  very  soon  that 
and  the  adjoining  edifice  were  in  flames.  The  firemen  and  the  police 
were  driven  off.  So  began  a  violent  tumult  in  which  thousands  of  men 
and  women,  chiefly  foreigners  by  birth  and  disloyal  men  from  the  South- 
ern States,  were  engaged  for  three  full  days  and  nights.  The  draft  was 
only  a  pretext.  The  cry  against  it  soon  ceased,  and  was  supplemented 
by  shouts  of  "  Down  with  the  Abolitionists  !  Down  with  the  nigger  ! 
liurridifor  Jeff  Davis  !" 

The  mob  compelled  hundreds  of  citizens  driven  out  of  manufacturing 
establishments,  which  they  had  closed,  to  join  them,  and,  under  the  in- 
fluence of  strong  drink,  arson  and  plunder  became  the  business  of  the 
rioters.  Tiie  special  objects  of  their  wrath  were  the  innocent  colored 
people.  They  laid  in  ashes  the  Colored  Orphan  Asylum.  The  terrified 
inmates,  who  fled  in  terror,  were  pursued  and  cruelly  beaten.  Men  and 
women  were  pounded  to  death  in  the  streets,  and  the  colored  people 
were  hunted  as  if  they  were  noxious  wild  beasts.  Finally  the  police, 
aided  by  some  troops,  suppressed  the  insurrection  in  the  city,  but  not 
until  a  thousand  persons  had  been  slain  or  wounded,  fifty  buildings  had 
been  destroyed  by  the  mob,  a  large  number  of  stores  and  dwellings  not 
burned  had  been  sacked  or  plundered,  and  property  valued  at  $2,000,000 
had  been  wasted.  This  riot  was  evidently  an  irregular  outbreak  of  a 
vast  conspiracy  planned  by  disloyal  men  in  both  sections  of  the  Union. 

Governor  Seymour,  who  was  at  the  sea-shore  a  few  miles  from  New 
York,  interposed  his  personal  influence  to  quell  the  disturbance  on  the 
second  day  of  the  riot.  lie  came  up  to  the  scene  of  tumult,  and  after 
issuing  a  proclamation  declaring  the  town  to  be  in  a  state  of  insurrection, 
he  repaired  to  the  City  Hall,  and  from  its  steps  addressed  the  angry 
multitude  in  soothing  words,  telling  them  that  he  had  sent  his  adjutant- 
general  to  the  National  Capital  to  demand  a  suspension  of  the  draft  until 
a  judicial  decision  concerning  it  might  be  obtained.  His  mild  exhorta- 
tion was  unheeded,  of  course.  The  mob  while  waiting  went  on  plun- 
dering, burning,  and  murdering,  until  the  strong  arm  of  physical  force 
— military  and  police — restrained  them. 

The  governor's  "  demand  "  was  not  complied  with.  The  exigency 
was  too  vitally  important  and  the  danger  was  too  pressing  to  safely 
admit  of  delay.  To  save  the  Republic  the  army  must  be  strengthened. 
The  draft  was  resumed.  General  Dix  asked  Governor  Seymour  for 
military  aid  to  enforce  the  measure.  It  was  refused,  when  the  Secretary 
of  War  ordered  many  regiments  and  batteries  of  artillery  to  the  assist- 
ance of  the  commander  of  the  Department  of  the  East.  An  enrolment 
of  the  militia  in  New  York,  which  was  completed  in  September,  showed 


THE  NATIONAL  CURRENCY  ESTABLISHED.  535 

that  there  were  live  liimdred  and  thirty-nine  thousand  five  hundred  and 
thirty-nine  men  in  the  State  subject  to  the  draft. 

Early  in  1863  a  powerful  association  was  formed  in  the  city  of  New 
York  for  the  special  purpose  of  giving  support,  moral  and  physical,  to 
the  National  Government  in  its  struggles  with  its  foes,  secret  and  open. 
It  was  organized  on  March  30tli,  1863,  with  the  title  of  the  "  Union 
League  Club,"  and  did  noble  service  to  the  good  cause  during  the  re- 
mainder of  the  war.  This  club  was  essentially  the  child  of  the  United 
States  Sanitary  Commission. 

The  Union  League  Club  asked  Governor  Seymour  to  give  them  au- 
thority to  recruit  a  regiment  of  colored  troops.  Lie  refused,  on  the 
ground  that  he  had  not  the  power  to  do  so.  That  authority  was  imme- 
diately given  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  within  a  month  a  full  regi- 
ment was  recruited  and  placed  in  camp,  for  which  duty  the  Club  con- 
tributed $18,000.  The  regiment  received  their  colors  (presented  by  the 
loyal  women  of  the  city)  in  front  of  the  club  house.  Six  months  after 
the  riot,  when  no  colored  man  dared  to  be  seen  in  the  streets  of  New 
York,  this  regiment  marched  down  Broadway  on  its  journey  to  the  field, 
receiving  tokens  of  respect  and  honor  at  every  step. 

In  February,  1863,  Congress  passed  an  act  for  the  establishment  of  a 
national  paper  currency  that  should  circulate  at  j^ar  in  all  parts  of  the 
Union  ;  also  for  the  creation  of  national  banking  institutions.  The  author 
of  this  admirable  scheme,  which  has  worked  so  beneficently  for  the  peo- 
ple and  the  nation,  is  the  venerable  John  Thompson,  then  as  now  (1887) 
an  eminent  financier  in  the  city  of  New  York.  He  and  Mr.  Chase,  the 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  were  intimate  personal  friends.  So  early  as 
June,  1861,  Mr.  Thompson,  in  a  letter  to  the  Secretary,  proposed  the 
plan,  which  Congress  substantially  adopted.  When  the  law  was  passed 
Mr.  Thompson  showed  his  "  faith  by  his  works."  He  established  in  the 
city  of  New  York  the  first  bank  under  the  laM',  and  called  it  the  "  Chase 
National  Bank." 

As  the  war  M'ent  on  tlie  State  of  New  York  continued  to  make  strik- 
ing displays  of  its  vast  military  strength  and  other  resources.  The  year 
1864  was  a  memorable  one  in  its  history.  General  prosperity  prevailed. 
The  people  bore  the  enormous  burdens  laid  upon  them  with  cheerfulness 
and  alacrity.  Careful  of  the  credit  and  honor  of  the  commonwealth, 
the  Legislature  early  in  the  year  adopted  a  joint  resolution  that  no  dis- 
tinction should  be  made  between  the  foreign  and  domestic  creditors  of 
the  State  in  the  payment  of  interest  on  the  State  debt.  It  was  done,  and 
the  interest  was  paid  to  all  alike  in  gold  or  its  equivalent.  At  the  same 
session  provision  was  made  to  secure  at  the  general  election  the  votes  of 


53G  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

tlie  soldiers  and  seamen  who  might  be  absent  on  actual  duty  at  the  time. 
At  the  Presidential  election  in  the  fall  thousands  of  electors  engaged  in 
the  naval  and  military  service  voted  by  proxy. 

President  Lincoln  was  renominated  for  the  Chief  Magistracy  by  the 
Republicans.  General  George  B.  McClellan,  who  had  left  the  army,  was 
the  Democratic  opponent,  and  received  the  solid  vote  of  the  Peace  Fac- 
tion. But  Mr.  Lincoln  was  elected  by  an  overwhelming  majority  of  the 
votes  of  the  loyal  people. 

The  National  Government,  having  information  that  Confederates  in 
Canada,  acting  as  agents  of  the  rebel  government,  had  formed  a  con- 
spiracy to  interfere  with  the  Presidential  election  and  endeavor  to  inau- 
gurate a  counter-revolution  in  the  Northern  States,  by  sending  refugees, 
deserters  from  the  Union  armies,  aliens,  and  others  to  vote,  precautionary 
measures  were  taken.  General  Dix,  commander  of  the  Department  of 
the  East,  provided  for  the  arrest  and  summary  punishment  of  such 
offenders  against  the  purity  and  freedom  of  the  ballot  and  of  social  order. 
He  was  seconded  by  Governor  Seymour,  On  November  2d  the  Mayor 
of  New  York  City  (Gunther)  received  a  telegram  from  the  Secretary  of 
State  (Seward)  warning  him  that  a  conspiracy  atnong  the  Confederate 
agents  in  Canada  was  on  foot  to  burn  the  principal  cities  in  the  Northern 
States  on  the  day  of  the  Presidential  election. 

To  protect  the  city  of  New  York  at  that  election  about  seven  thousand 
troops  were  sent  to  the  vicinity  and  placed  on  steamboats  which  were 
anchored  in  the  surrounding  watei*s,  ready  for  prompt  action  at  any  mo- 
ment. General  B.  F.  Butler  was  sent  from  Fortress  Monroe  to  take  the 
chief  command. 

The  Confederates  and  their  Northern  friends  were  foiled  by  this 
prompt  and  energetic  action,  and  peace  and  good  order  were  maintained 
at  the  elections  throughout  the  State.  Butler  left  the  command  of  the 
troops  with  General  ILiwley  on  November  15th,  when  all  danger  seemed 
to  be  overpast.  But  ten  days  afterward  the  execution  of  a  part  of  the  con- 
spiracy was  attempted  in  the  city  of  New  Y^ork  by  setting  on  fire,  at  the  same 
hour  at  night,  of  a  large  number  of  hotels  and  Barnum's  Museum,  One 
of  the  culprits,  who  was  caught  and  hanged,  confessed  that  he  and  several 
others  had  been  sent  by  Confederates  in  Canada  to  lay  the  city  of  New 
Y^ork  in  ashes.  They  intended  to  start  the  conflagration  on  the  night  of 
the  election,  but  some  of  their  inflammable  material  was  not  then  ready. 

At  the  fall  election  in  1804  Reuben  E.  Fenton*  was  chosen  Governor 

*  Reuben  E.  Fenton  was  born  July  4th,  1819,  in  Chautauqua  County,  N.  Y.  ;  a 
descendant  of  one  of  the  noted  early  settlers  of  Connecticut.  He  worked  on  his  father's 
farm  in  the  warm  season  and  studied  in  a  I02  school-house  in  winter  until  he  was  fifteen 


PROSPECTS   OF  PEACE. 


537 


of  the  State  of  New  York  by  the  Republicans,  by  a  majority  of  over 
eight  thousand  votes.  During  that  year  the  commonwealth  had  put 
forth  its  might  in  a  surprising  manner.  It  sent  into  the  field  from 
its  farms  and  workshops  and  mercantile  life  161,604  men.  From  April, 
1861,  to  December,  1864,  the  State  had  given  to  the  military  service 
437,701  men,  of  which  number 
409,426  had  entered  the  army  and 
28,275  the  navy.  To  preserve  a 
record  of  every  man  sent  from 
New  York  to  the  field,  and  for 
a  depository  of  battle-flags  and 
other  trophies  of  the  war,  a 
Bureau  of  Military  Statistics  was 
established  at  the  State  capital, 
and  for  its  use  a  fire-proof  build- 
ing was  subsequently  erected.  Out 
of  the  enrolled  militia  of  the  State 
a  National  Guard  was  formed,  con- 
sisting of  about  forty -six  thousand 
men. 

At  the  beginning  of  1865  there 
was  a  glowing  promise  of  a  speedy 
termination   of   the  war  and   the 

re-establishment  of  a  Union  strengthened  and  powerful.  Brilliant  vic- 
tories had  been  w^on  by  the  great  armies  led  by  Generals  Grant  and 
Sherman.  The  latter  had  marched  triumphantly  through  Georgia — the 
"  Empire  State  of  the  Soutir' — from  Atlanta  to  the  sea,  and  discovered 

years  old,  when  he  received  a  Httle  academic  education.  In  early  life  he  became  exten- 
sively engaged  in  the  lumber  business.  At  the  age  of  twenty-three  he  was  elected  super- 
visor of  his  town,  and  held  the  office  eight  years.  In  1840  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Assembly,  and  in  1849  he  was  elected  to  Congress.  He  was  a  Democrat,  but  he  firmly 
opposed  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  and  fought  against  the  Kansas-Nebraska 
bill,  which  effected  it.  With  the  passage  of  that  act  by  the  joint  action  of  the  Democrats 
and  slaveholders,  Mr.  Fenton  abandoned  the  Democratic  Party,  and  became  an  active 
member  of  the  Republican  Party  at  its  organization  in  1854.  He  presided  at  the  first 
Republican  Slate  Convention  in  New  York.  In  1856  the  Republican  Party  elected  him 
to  Congress,  wherein  he  served  four  terms  successively.  In  1864  he  was  elected  Governor 
of  his  native  State.  Horatio  Seymour  was  his  opponent.  An  active  war  governor,  he 
won  the  affection  of  all  soldiers  by  the  warm  interest  he  always  manifested  in  their 
welfare  in  or  out  of  the  army.  His  general  policy  during  his  administration  was  gener- 
ally approved  by  the  best  men  of  botli  parties.  He  was  engaged  in  the  business  of  bank- 
ing at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  very  suddenly,  from  heart  disease,  in  his 
private  office  at  his  banking-house  at  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  on  August  25th,  1885.  In  person 
Governor  Fenton  was  tall  and  slender,  and  graceful  in  figure  and  movements. 


KKUBEN    K.    FENTON. 


538  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

tlie  fatal  weakness  of  the  Confederacy  ;  the  former,  at  Petersburg,  was 
destroying  the  props  of  the  Confederate  capital,  Richmond,  which  even 
then  was  tottering  to  its  fall. 

In  his  message  to  the  Legislature  (January,  1865)  (xovernor  Fenton 
congratulated  the  people  of  New  York  because  of  abounding  prosperity 
in  every  part  of  the  commonwealth,  and  the  bright  outlook  of  the  future 
for  the  nation.  lie  submitted  to  them  the  Thirteenth  Amendment  to 
the  National  Constitution  proposed  by  Congress  for  the  abolition  of 
slavery,  with  an  earnest  recommendation  for  its  prompt  adoption.  It 
was  done. 

The  congratulations  of  the  governor  were  justified  by  events.  On 
April  9th  the  main  Confederate  Army  under  General  Robert  E.  Lee  was 
surrendered  to  General  Grant  at  Appomattox  Court-IIouse,  in  Virginia  ; 
and  the  next  larger  Confederate  force,  under  General  Joseph  E.  John- 
ston, surrendered  to  General  Sherman  near  Raleigh,  in  North  Carolina, 
on  the  14-th,     These  two  events  caused  the  speedy  ending  of  the  war. 

The  telegraph  had  thrilled  the  loyal  i')eople  with  the  glad  tidings  of 
these  auspicious  events,  when  it  checked  the  exuberance  of  that  joy  by 
imparting  the  sad  news  of  the  assassination  of  the  President  of  the 
United  States  at  a  tlieatre  in  Washington,  on  the  evening  of  the  14th  of 
April,  lie  expired  the  next  morning.  The  Vice-President  (Andrew 
Johnson)  immediately  assumed  the  functions  of  the  exalted  office,  and 
the  integrity  and  strength  of  the  Government  experienced  no  shock  from 
the  dreadful  blow. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  in  May,  1865,  the  State  of  New  York  had 
furnished  for  the  conflict  473,443  men,  including  16,000  militiamen 
mustered  for  a  less  term  of  service  than  three  months.  Of  this  number 
the  city  of  New  York  gave  116,382  men  for  terms  of  one,  two,  three, 
and  four  years'  service.  The  average  cost  for  each  man,  including 
bounties,  expenditures  for  the  relief  of  their  families,  etc.,  was  $150.47. 

So  rapidly  did  the  great  armies  dissolve  and  become  a  part  of  the  civil 
life  of  the  nation,*  that  at  the  beginning  of  LS66  only  seven  regiments  of 
infantry  and  two  of  cavalry  of  the  New  York  troops  remained  in  the 
service  of  the  United  States.     In  addition  to  other  enormous  expendi- 

*  The  disbanding  of  the  victorious  armies  of  the  republic  began  in  June,  1865.  and  the 
soldiers  returned  to  their  homes.  It  was  a  most  interesting  and  rare  spectacle  for  the 
contemplation  of  the  nations.  In  the  space  of  one  lumdred  and  tifty  days  the  vast  multi- 
lu(l(!  of  defenders  of  the  Union  were  transformed  into  jieaceful  citizens,  and  resumed  the 
varied  and  blessed  avocations  of  peace.  There  had  been  enrolled  for  duty  2,656,591  men, 
of  whom  1,490,000  were  in  actual  .service.  By  mid- winter  of  1866,  750,000  men  had  been 
mustered  out  of  the  service. 


IMPORTANT  LEGISLATIVE   ACTION.  539 

tures  for  the  war,  the  State  of  New  York  disbursed  over  $35,000,000  to 
its  soldiers  in  bounties  alone  from  July  ITth,  1861,  to  January  1st, 
1866. 

The  population  of  the  State  diminished  during  the  M'ar.  There  were 
nearly  forty-nine  thousand  less  inhabitants  in  1865  than  in  1860.  There 
were  eighty  thousand  less  in  the  city  of  New  York  than  there  were  five 
years  before.  This  diminution  may  be  attributed  to  various  causes 
directly  or  indirectly  connected  with  the  war.  The  total  population  of 
the  State  at  the  close  of  1865  was  about  four  millions. 

Little  of  special  historic  importance  occurred  in  the  State  after 
the  close  of  the  war  until  the  meeting  of  the  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion, in  1867.  The  Legislature,  early  in  1866,  passed  resolutions,  by 
a  large  majority  in  both  branches  :  (1)  That  no  State  in  which  rebel- 
lion had  existed  should  be  admitted  to  share  in  the  national  legislation 
until  it  should  be  presented  in  the  attitude  of  loyalty  and  harmony  in  the 
person  of  representatives  whose  loyalty  could  not  be  questioned  ; 
(2)  that  the  nation,  by  its  professions  and  acts  from  the  beginning  of 
the  war,  and  especially  by  accepting  the  President's  proclamation  of 
emancipation,  and  an  amendment  to  the  Constitution  abolishing  slavery, 
stands  pledged  to  the  world,  to  humanity,  and,  above  all,  to  the  freed- 
men,  that  in  all  lawful  ways  the  liberty  and  civil  rights  of  every  human 
being  subject  to  the  Government  of  the  United  States  shall  be  protected 
and  enforced,  regardless  of  race,  color,  or  condition,  against  every 
wrongful  opposing  law,  ordinance,  custom,  or  prejudice  ;  and  "  that  the 
spirit  which  formed  and  organized  and  developed  to  the  present  strength 
that  policy  has  not  fulfilled  its  allotted  work  until  every  subject  of  that 
Government  stands  not  only  free,  but  equal  before  the  law." 

The  Legislature  of  1867  adopted  the  Fourteenth  Amendment  to  the 
National  Constitution  proposed  by  Congress,  which  guaranteed  equal 
rights  to  every  citizen  of  whatever  hue  or  social  condition  ;  defined  the 
status  in  regard  to  public  offices  of  men  who  had  engaged  in  the  rebel- 
lion ;  declared  the  validity  of  the  national  debt,  and  forbade  the  pay- 
ment of  any  part  of  the  Confederate  debt  by  the  nation  or  a  State. 

An  act  was  passed  for  increasing  the  State  tax  for  the  support  of 
common  schools,  declaring  that  all  the  schools  of  the  State,  including 
normal  schools,  should  be  "  free,"  and  providing  for  the  establishment 
of  additional  normal  schools  in  different  parts  of  tlie  State. 

The  Legislature  also  passed  an  act  making  eight  hours'  labor  a  legal 
day's  work.  This  did  not  apply  to  farm  laborers  or  men  hired  by  the 
week,  month,  or  year,  nor  did  it  prevent  the  making  of  contracts  for  any 
length  of  time. 


540  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

In  March  (1807)  a  convention  to  consider  a  revision  of  the  State 
Constitution  was  authorized.  Delegates  were  chosen  in  April.  The 
convention  assembled  in  the  State  Capitol  on  June  4t]i.  William 
A.  Wheeler,  of  Franklin  County  (afterward- Vice-President  of  the  United 
States),  was  appointed  President,  and  Luther  Caldwell,  of  Chemung, 
Secretary.  The  number  of  delegates  was  one  hundred  and  sixty,  of 
whom  ninety-seven  were  Republicans  and  sixty-three  were  Democrats. 
In  September  the  Convention  took  a  recess.  It  reassembled  on  Novem- 
ber 12th,  and  continued  its  sessions  into  1868,  holding  the  meetings 
after  January  1st  in  the  City  Hall,  at  Albany. 

Various  amendments  were  discussed.  Some  were  adopted,  by  the 
provisions  of  which  the  right  of  suffrage  was  conferred  on  all  male  in- 
habitants of  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  and  upward,  without  distinction 
of  color  ;  the  payment  of  the  canal  and  other  State  debts  was  secured  ; 
the  time  of  office  of  Senators  was  extended  to  four  years  ;  the  Assembly 
was  increased  to  one  hundred  and  thirty-nine  members  ;  the  Court  of 
Appeals  was  organized  with  a  chief-justice  and  six  associate  justices  ; 
the  existing  Supreme  Court  organization  was  retained,  with  certain 
additional  provisions  for  the  despatch  of  business — the  judges  to  be 
chosen  by  the  people,  and  to  hold  their  oflices  for  fourteen  years,  or 
until  they  attain  the  age  of  seventy  years.  Provision  was  also  made  for 
submitting  to  the  people  in  1873  the  question  whether  such  judges 
should  continue  to  be  elected,  or  whether  the  position  should  be  filled 
by  appointment.  The  remaining  provisions  were  substantially  the  same 
as  the  Constitution  of  1846. 

Tiie  amended  Constitution  was  submitted  to  the  people  at  the  general 
election  in  the  fall  of  1869.  The  portions  concerning  the  judiciary, 
taxation,  and  Negro  suffrage  were  voted  upon  separately.  The  whole 
amended  Constitution  was  rejected  by  the  people  by  a  negative  majority 
of  66,521  votes,  excepting  the  judiciary  portion.  That  received  an 
affirmative  majority  of  6798  votes.  The  amendment  in  favor  of  Negro 
suffrage  was  rejected  by  a  negative  majority  of  32,601  votes. 

During  the  autumn  of  1867  Cornell  University,  one  of  the  most  use- 
ful of  the  literary  and  scientific  institutions  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
was  opened,  under  favorable  auspices,  at  Ithaca.  It  was  founded  by 
Ezra  Cornell,  with  the  leading  object  in  view  of  promoting  instruction 
in  agricultural  science  and  the  mechanic  arts,  and  the  literal  and  prac- 
tical education  of  the  industrial  classes  in  the  several  pursuits  and  pro- 
fessions in  life,  without  excluding  other  scientific  and  classical  studies, 
including  military  tactics.  The  State  endowed  the  institution  with  the 
proceeds  of  nine  hundred  and  ninety  thousand  acres  of  public  lands,  its 


CORNELL  UNIVERSITY  ENDOWMENTS.  541 

share  of  the  domain  given  bj  Congress  for  such  a  purpose.  The  founder 
gave  $500,000,  and  he  and  others  afterward  added  $1,000,000  to  the 
endowment  funds.  The  institution  is  thoroughly  equipped  with  build- 
ings and  apparatus,  and  a  library  of  about  forty -six  thousand  volumes. 

At  the  November  election,  in  1868,  the  Democrats  elected  their  can- 
didate for  Governor  of  !New  York,  John  T.  Hoffman,  by  a  majority 
of  twenty-eight  thousand  votes,  while  the  Republicane  elected  a  majority 
of  the  members  of  the  Legislature.  At  the  same  time  General  Ulysses 
S.  Grant,  the  Republican  candidate,  was  elected  President  of  the  United 
States  by  a  large  majority  over  Horatio  Seymour,  the  Democratic  can- 
didate, with  Schuyler  Colfax,  Yice-President.  Mr.  Seymour  received  a 
majority  often  thousand  votes  in  his  own  State,  while  a  majority  of  the 
Congressmen  to  represent  !N^ew  York  were  chosen  by  the  Republicans. 


542 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER   XXXIX. 


The   first  administration  of  Governor  Hoffman*  (1869-71)  was  dis- 
tinguished by  few  important  events  in  the  history  of  Xew  York.     The 

Republican  Legislature  by  concur- 
rent resolution  (1869)  adopted  the 
Fifteenth  Amendment  to  the  !Na- 
tional  Constitution  proposed  by  Con- 
gress in  the  following  words  : 

"  Article  XY.  Section  1.  The 
right  of  the  citizens  of  the  United 
States  to  vote  shall  not  be  denied  or 
abridged  by  the  United  States  or  any 
State  on  account  of  race,  color,  or 
previous  condition  of  servitude. 

' '  Section  2.  The  Congress  shall 
have  power  to  enforce  this  article  by 
appropriate  legislation." 

This    resolution   was   vehemently 

opposed  by  the  Democratic  members 

of  the  Legislature,  and  was  carried  by  a  strict  party  vote  of  17  to  15  in 

the  Senate  and  72  to  47  in  the  Assembly.     The  governor  did  not  com- 


.lOHN  T.    HOFFMAN. 


*  John  Thompson  Hoffman  descended  from  Martin  Hoffman,  who  came  to  New  York 
from  Holland  in  1671.  His  grandfather  was  Philip  Livingston  Hoffman,  a  grandson  of 
Philip  Livingston,  of  Livingston  Manor.  His  father,  Adrian  Kissam  Hoffman,  after 
brief  service  in  the  navy,  took  up  his  residence  at  Sing  Sing,  N.  Y.,  where  his  only  son, 
John  T.,  was  born  January  10th,  1828.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  was  graduated  with 
lionors  at  Union  College,  N.  Y.  He  studied  law  with  the  late  General  Aaron  Ward,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  on  his  twenty-first  birthday.  A  year  before,  he  was  a  member  of 
the  State  Central  Committee  of  a  wing  of  the  Democratic  Party.  In  1849  he  removed  to 
the  city  of  New  York  and  formed  a  law  partnership,  soon  rising  to  distinction  in  his  pro- 
fession. In  1854  ho  became  a  member  of  the  Tammany  Society,  and  was  prominent  in 
local  politics.  In  1860  he  was  elected  Recorder  of  New  York— the  principal  judge  of 
criminal  jurisdiction  ;  and  in  1865  he  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city  over  .several  opposing 
candidates.  In  1868  he  was  elected  Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York  by  the  Demo- 
cratic Party  by  a  majority  of  over  twenty-seven  thousand  votes,  and  was  re-elected  in 
1870  by  a  majority  of  thirty-three  thou.sand.  In  1873  he  retirtnl  from  public  life.  Gov- 
ernor Hoffman's  administration  was  con.spicuous  for  the  creation  of  the  Constitutional 
Commis.sion  of  1872,  which  was  his  own  device.     The  Legislature  authorized  it,  and 


A  REACTIONARY   MOVEMENT.  543 

municate  this  action  to  the  proper  authority  at  Washington  until  re- 
quested to  do  so  by  the  Assistant-Secretary  of  State. 

At  the  general  election  in  ^N^ovember  the  political  aspect  of  the  State 
was  entirely  changed.  At  the  opening  of  the  sessions  of  the  Legislature 
in  1870,  the  Democrats  had  the  ascendancy  in  both  Houses.  There 
were  eighteen  Democrats  and  fourteen  Republicans  in  the  Senate,  and 
seventy-two  Democrats  and  fifty-six  Republicans  in  the  Assembly.  On 
the  first  day  of  the  session  the  notorious  William  M.  Tweed,  soon  to  be 
convicted  as  a  plunderer  of  the  public  treasury  in  New  York  City  and 
to  be  imprisoned  for  his  crimes,  offered  in  the  Senate  a  series  of  resolu- 
tions withdrawing  the  assent  of  the  State  to  the  ratification  of  the 
Fifteenth  Amendment.  After  reciting  in  the  preamble  the  proposed 
Amendment,  it  was 

"  Resolved^  Tliat  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  iSTew  York  refuses 
to  ratify  the  above-recited  proposed  amendment  to  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States,  and  withdraws  absolutely  any  expression  of  consent 
heretofore  given  thereto,  or  ratification  thereof. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  governor  be  requested  to  transmit  a  copy  of 
these  resolutions  and  preamble  to  the  Secretary  of  State  of  the  United 
States  at  Washington,  and  to  every  member  of  the  Senate  and  House  of 
Representatives  of  the  United  States,  and  the  governors  of  the  several 
States." 

The  Legislature  of  1872  rescinded  these  resolutions  by  an  overwhelm- 
ing majority. 

During  the  session  of  1870,  the  charters  of  the  cities  of  Albany  and 
New  York  were  amended.  That  of  the  latter  ostensibly  restored  self- 
government  to  the  people  of  the  city.  Thenceforward  the  Mayor,  Com- 
mon Councilmen,  Corporation  Council,  and  the  Comptroller  were  elected 
by  the  people.  A  Department  of  Public  Works  was  created,  which 
embraced  the  Street  and  Aqueduct  Departments  ;  also  a  Department  of 
Docks.  The  heads  of  these  departments,  as  well  as  of  a  Department  of 
Public  Parks,  a  Fire,  Health,  and  Police  Department,  were  appointed 
by  the  mayor  under  the  new  charter,  an  instrument  obtained  for  a  sin- 
ister purpose,  as  we  shall  perceive  presently. 

During  this  session  an  important  change  was  made  in  the  public- 
Governor  Hoffman  appointed  thirty-two  citizens,  composed  of  an  equal  number  of  Demo- 
crats and  Republicans,  to  revise  the  State  Constitution.  The  labors  of  that  commission 
were  of  vital  importance,  rendering  subsequent  reforms  in  the  administration  of  public 
affairs  practicable.  It  was  during  his  administration  that  the  exposures  of  the  "  Tweed 
Ring"  were  made.  For  his  veto  of  the  City  Charter  presented  by  the  Committee  of 
Seventy  the  governor  gave  satisfactory  constitutional  reasons. 


544  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

school  system  in  the  city  of  New  York.  The  Board  of  twenty-one 
School  Commissioners  was  dissolved  and  a  new  Board  was  created,  con- 
sisting of  twelve  members  appointed  by  the  mayor,  who  were  to  hold 
office  until  1871,  after  which  their  successors  were  to  be  elected  by  the 
people.  As  usual,  the  subject  of  common  schools  occupied  a  large  space 
in  the  governor's  annual  message.  He  reported  that  the  receipts  of  the 
Common  School  Fund  in  1868  amounted  to  $10,500,000,  of  whicli 
amount  $5,500,000  had  been  applied  to  the  payment  of  teachers'  wages 
during  that  year.  There  had  been  expended  for  the  libraries,  $26,726  ; 
for  school  apparatus,  $234,432  ;  for  the  support  of  schools  for  colored 
children,  $64,765,  and  $2,000,000  for  school-houses.  In  11,731  school 
districts,  971,500  children  had  been  taught  by  27,000  teachers.  The 
libraries  contained  an  aggregate  of  1,000,000  volumes.  The  National 
Census  for  1870  gave  to  the  State  a  population  of  4,374,703,  or  an  in- 
crease of  nearly  half  a  million  in  ten  years. 

The  elections  in  the  State  of  New  York  in  the  fall  of  1870  resulted  in 
the  success  of  the  Democratic  ticket  by  a  majority  of  about  thirty  thou- 
sand. Governor  Hoffman  was  re-elected.  The  Democrats  secured  a 
little  more  than  one  half  of  the  representatives  of  the  State  in  Congress. 
The  two  branches  of  the  Legislature  were  respectively  almost  equally 
divided  politically,  and  a  tie  was  produced  in  the  Assembly  by  the 
compulsory  resignation  of  a  member  from  New  York  City  because  of 
his  misconduct  in  the  Legislative  Chamber. 

At  midsummer  (1871)  a  serious  riot  occurred  in  the  city  of  New 
York  between  two  Irish  religions  factions — namely,  the  "  Orangemen'' 
(Protestants)  and  the  "  Ribbon  Men"  (Roman  Catholics).  As  the 
annual  parade  of  the  former  was  usually  an  incentive  to  personal  col- 
lisions, the  police  authorities  had  forbidden  it,  but  at  the  request  of 
Governor  Hoffman  the  order  was  revoked.  The  parade  took  place.  A 
large  body  of  both  police  and  military  turned  out  to  protect  the  proces- 
sion. At  one  point  a  mob  attacked  the  marching  line,  and  before  order 
was  restored  several  persons  were  killed. 

Again  the  ever-oscillating  political  pendulum  in  the  State  of  New 
York  went  to  the  Republican  side  in  the  fall,  giving  to  the  Senate 
twenty-four  Republicans  of  the  thirty-two  meml)ers,  and  to  the  Assem- 
bly ninety-seven  Republicans  and  thirty-one  Democrats.  This  result  was 
largely  occasioned  by  the  discovery  during  the  summer  of  innnense 
frauds  perpetrated  by  municipal  officei*s  in  the  city  of  New  York.  The 
conspirators  concerned  in  these  frauds  are  known  in  local  history  as  "  The 
Tweed  Ring,' '  or  the  "  Tammany  Ring."  For  several  years  the  metrop- 
olis was  virtually  ruled  by  William  M.   Tweed,  a  chair-maker  by  trade. 


PLUNDERING  OF  THE  N.   Y.    CITY  TREASURY.  545 

and  a  politician  of  the  baser  sort  by  profession.  Active,  pushing,  un- 
scrupulous, he  had  worked  his  way  up  through  petty  municipal  offices 
to  the  position  of  Supervisor  of  the  County  of  J!^ew  York,  chairman  of 
that  Board,  and  Deputy  Street  Commissioner  in  1863.  The  latter  office 
placed  him  virtually  at  the  head  of  the  public  works  of  the  city,  and  gave 
him  almost  unlimited  control  of  the  public  expenditures.  At  about  the 
same  time  he  was  chosen  Grand  Sachem  of  the  Tammany  Society,  which 
position  endowed  him  with  immense  political  power.  This  power,  by 
means  of  his  offices  in  the  municipal  government  and  the  patronage  at 
his  command,  he  was  able  to  wield  with  mighty  force.  He  took  advan- 
tage of  this  power  to  procure  for  himself  election  to  the  State  Senate  for 
three  consecutive  terms — 1867  to  1871.  Corrupt  officials  and  hungry 
politicians  swarmed  around  him.  With  three  or  four  shrewd  confidants 
— men  who  before  had  enjoyed  a  fair  reputation  for  honor  and  honesty 
— he  organized  a  system  for  plundering  the  public  treasury  unprece- 
dented in  boldness  and  extent.  It  comprehended  the  expenditure  for 
streets,  boulevards,  parks,  armories,  public  buildings,  and  improvements 
of  every  kind,  in  which  the  spoils  were  divided,  jpi'O  rata^  among  the 
conspirators.  These  spoils  consisted  of  sixty-five  to  eighty-five  per  cent 
of  the  public  money  paid  to  contractors  and  others,  who  were  encouraged 
to  add  enormous  amounts  to  their  bills,  often  ten  times  the  amount  of 
an  honest  charge.* 

To  render  plundering  more  secure,  Tweed  procured  from  the  Legis- 
lature amendments  to  the  charter  just  mentioned,  by  which  the  execu- 
tive power  of  the  city  was  vested  in  the  mayor  and  the  heads  of  depart- 
ments, who  were  appointed  by  him.  The  mayor  appears  to  have  been 
one  of  the  "  ring"  of  consj^irators,  and  appointed  Tweed  to  the  impor- 
tant office  of  Commissioner  of  Public  Works.  Tweed's  confederates 
were  placed  at  the  head  of  other  important  departments  connected  with 
the  city  finances.  The  power  of  auditing  accounts  was  taken  from  the 
supervisors  and  given  to  a  Board  of  Audit,  composed  of   the   Mayor, 

*  For  example  :  "  On  one  occasion  the  sum  of  $1,500,000  was  granted  for  pretended 
labor  and  expense  of  material,  when  a  fair  and  liberal  allowance  would  have  been  only 
$264,000.  The  sum  authorized  by  the  Legislature  to  be  expended  in  the  erection  of  a 
new  county  court-house  in  the  city  was  $250,000  ;  in  1871,  when  it  was  yet  unfinished, 
$8,000,000  had  ostensibly  been  spent  upon  it.  Whenever  any  contractor  or  mechanic 
ventured  to  remonstrate,  he  was  silenced  by  a  threat  of  losing  the  city  patronage  or  of 
non-payment  for  work  already  done  ;  and  so  conscientious  men  were  often  forced  to 
become  the  confederates  of  thieves.  A  secret  record  of  tliese  fraudulent  transactions  was 
kept  in  the  auditor's  office  under  the  title  of  "  County  Liabilities. "  The  incumbent  of 
that  office  was  a  supple  instrument  of  the  plunderers,  and  did  their  bidding." — Lossiiig's 
History  of  New  York  City,  vol.  ii.,  p.  806. 


546  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Comptroller,    Coininissioner    of    Public   Parks,    and   Commissioner  of 
Public  Works,*  who  were  the  chief  conspirators. 

The  scheme  for  plundering  the  city  treasury  was  now  complete,  and 
it  was  used  with  u  free  hand  for  the  next  fifteen  months.  In  order  to 
evade  joint  responsibility,  the  Board  of  Audit  delegated  their  power  to 
the  city  auditor,  who  was  one  of  their  willing  tools.  lie  signed  all  the 
fraudulent  bills  often  without  examining  them,  and  paid  over  to  the 
chief  conspirators  their  commission  of  sixty-five  or  eighty-five  per  cent 
on  the  amount  so  audited.  Within  the  space  of  less  than  four  months 
the  sum  of  $6,312,000  was  paid  from  the  city  treasury,  of  which 
$5,710,000  was  ostensibly  on  account  of  the  new  court-house.  At 
least  $5,000,000  of  the  $6,812,000  went  into  the  pockets  of  the  chief 
conspirators  and  their  associates. 

Their  "sin  found  them  out."  The  sheriff  of  New  York  happened 
to  place  an  honest  man  in  the  auditor's  otHce,  named  John  Copeland. 
He  stumbled  upon  the  record  of  "  County  Liabilities."  He  made  an 
exact  copy  of  it,  and  showed  it  to  the  sheriff.  The  latter  used  it  in 
endeavors  to  force  the  "  ring"  to  puy  a  claim  he  held  against  the  city. 
The  conspirators  refused  compliance  with  his  demand,  and  he  threatened 
to  publish  the  record  in  the  JVew  York  Daily  Times.  Alarmed,  they 
at  once  sent  the  auditor  to  negotiate  with  the  sheriff,  who,  they  sup- 
posed, was  at  a  sporting  tavern  in  a  remote  part  of  the  city.  Failing  to 
find  him,  the  auditor  was  returning,  when  he  was  thrown  from  his  car- 
riage and  mortally  hurt.     He  never  regained  consciousness. 

For  several  months  the  sherlif  unsuccessfully  pressed  his  claim.  At 
length  he  gave  the  damaging  document  to  the  proprietor  of  the  New 
York  Times,  and  in  July,  1871,  the  tell-tale  items  were  spread  over  its 
pages  for  the  public  eye.  Amazement  and  hot  indignation  produced 
intense  excitement  in  the  city.  Tweed,  believing  his  fortress  to  be  im- 
pregnable, sneeringly  inquired  : 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  about  it  T' 

Day  after  day  the  Times  dealt  ponderous  blows  at  the  walls  of  the 
fortress  of  the  conspirators,  each  day  adding  proofs  of  the  black  crimes 
of  the  plunderers.  Week  after  week  the  inimitable  cartoons  of  Nast  in 
Harper'' s  Weekly  struck  equally  telling  blows,  for  pictures  are  the  liter- 
ature of  the  unlearned  ;  and  the  most  illiterate  citizen  could  read  and 
understand  these  cartoons.  The  conspirators  were  soon  compelled  to 
yield. 


*  A.   Oakey  Hull,  Mayor  ;  Richard  B.    Connolly,  Comptroller  ;  Peter  B.   Sweeney, 
Commissioner  of  Public  Parks,  and  William  M.  Tweed,  Commissioner  of  Public  "Works. 


FATE   OF  THE   CHIEF  PLUNDERER.  547 

A  meeting  of  citizens  was  held  at  the  Cooper  Union  on  September 
4th,  at  which  some  of  the  principal  men  of  ISew  York  City  were 
active  participants.  An  Executive  Committee  of  Seventy,  composed  of 
leadint^  citizens,  was  appointed,  charged  with  the  duty  of  making  a 
thorough  investigation,  and  to  take  action  for  relieving  the  city  of  the 
plunderers.  The  Committee  sent  forth  an  ''  Appeal  to  the  people  of 
the  State  of  New  York,"  and  then  entered  upon  their  duties  with  vigor. 
Very  soon  the  conspirators  in  office  fled  to  Europe  or  were  brought  to 
the  bar  of  justice.  The  Attorney-General  of  the  State  authorized  the 
late  Charles  O'Conor  to  act  for  the  commonwealth.  He  employed 
able  assistants.  The  late  Governor  Samuel  J.  Tilden  rendered  con- 
spicuous service  in  the  matter.  On  the  strength  of  an  affidavit  of  the 
latter,  Tweed  was  arrested  and  held  to  bail  in  the  sum  of  $1,000,000. 
lie  was  tried  for  and  found  guilty  of  forgery  and  grand  larceny  in  1873, 
and  sentenced  to  a  long  imprisonment  in  the  penitentiary  on  Blackwell's 
Island.*  Very  soon  the  city  was  purged  of  the  plunderers.  It  was 
estimated  that  the  "  ring"  had  robbed  the  city  of  fully  $20,000,000. f 

The  Committee  of  Seventy  not  only  broke  up  the  gang  of  official  rob- 
bers, but  procured  an  amendment  to  the  city  charter,  by  which  the  legis- 
lative power  was  vested  in  a  board  of  twenty-two  aldermen.  The  mayor 
retained  the  authority  to  appoint  the  heads  of  the  several  departments, 
but  only  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen. 

The  State  Legislature  was  called  upon  in  1872  to  adjudicate  the  cases 
of  Ave  judges  who  had  been  impeached  for  corrupt  official  conduct. 
These  were  G.  G.  Barnard,  A.  CardoLw,  J.  A.  McCunn,  and  George 
M.  Curtis,  of  New  York  City,  and  II.  G.  Prindle,  of  Chenango  County. 
Thirty-nine  articles  of  impeachment  were  presented  against  Barnard, 
mostly  accusing  him  of  receiving  bribes  and  corruptly  using  his  judicial 
power.     He  was  found  guilty,  was  removed  from  the  bench,  and  was 

*  In  tlie  summer  of  1875  Tweed's  friends  procured  his  release  on  bail.  He  was  imme- 
diately arrested  on  a  civil  suit  to  recover  over  $6,000,000  which  he  had  stolen  from  the 
city  treasury.  Bail  to  the  amount  of  |3, 000,000  was  required.  He  could  not  furnish 
it,  and  he  was  confined  in  the  Ludlow  Street  Jail.  One  evening  at  twilight,  being 
allowed  to  visit  his  wife  in  charge  of  the  sheriff,  he  managed  to  escape.  He  fled  to 
Europe,  was  arrested  in  a  Spanish  port,  and  brought  back  to  New  York  in  failing  health, 
and  lodged  in  jail.  In  March,  18T6,  in  a  civil  suit  for  $6,537,000  the  jury  returned  a 
verdict  for  that  amount.  He  could  not  pay.  H'e  lingered  in  prison  until  January  12th, 
1878,  when  he  died  at  the  age  of  fift} -five  years. 

■f-  The  Tweed  Ring  were  not  the  onlj^  plunderers  of  the  city  at  that  period.  Members 
of  the  dominant  political  party  in  the  city  Legislature  (largely  for  political  purposes) 
gave  in  lands  and  money,  during  three  years  previous  to  1873,  no  less  than  $4,896,388  to 
one  denomination  of  Christians  in  the  city  of  New  York  for  the  .support  of  its  religious, 
benevolent,  and  educaiional  organizations. 


548  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

disqualified  from  ever  afterward  liolding  any  office  in  the  State  of  Kew 
York.  Cardozo  wisely  resigned,  and  so  avoided  a  trial.  McCunn  was 
found  guilty,  and  was  removed,  and  died  soon  afterward.  Curtis  and 
Prindle  were  acquitted.  The  conduct  of  the  four  city  judges  was  a  part 
of  the  great  official  conspiracy  to  plunder  the  treasury  of  the  metropolis.* 

The  colored  population,  availing  themselves  of  their  newly-acquired 
political  rights,  followed  the  example  of  the  white  people,  and  assembled 
in  conventions  in  various  parts  of  the  Union  to  express  their  views. 
The  first  State  convention  of  colored  citizens  ever  assembled  in  the 
United  States  met  at  Troy,  N.  Y.,  on  May  8th-9th,  1872.  They  ex- 
pressed their  gratitude  to  the  Republican  Party  as  their  liberator ; 
endorsed  the  administration  of  President  Grant  ;  pledged  themselves  to 
support  the  Republican  nomination  for  President ;  asked  the  Republi- 
can State  Convention,  then.about  to  assemble  at  Elmira,  to  send  a  colored 
delegate  at  large  to  the  Republican  National  Convention,  then  soon  to 
meet  at  Philadelphia,  and  demanded  the  recognition  and  the  enforce- 
ment of  the  rights  of  the  colored  people. 

The  political  aspect  in  the  State  of  New  York  and  of  the  whole 
country  in  1872  was  peculiar.  A  large  faction  of  the  Republican  Party, 
who  had  become  dissatisfied  with  tlie  administration,  had  formed  a  sepa- 
rate organization  under  the  title  of  Liberal  Republicans,  and  arranged 
themselves  in  opposition  to  the  great  historic  party  as  represented  by 
that  administration.  At  a  National  Convention  held  at  Cincinnati  on 
May  1st,  they  nominated  Horace  Greeley,  the  veteran  editor  of  the 
New  York  Tribune,  for  President  of  the  United  States.  The  Dem- 
ocratic leaders,  perceiving  little  hope  of  success  for  their  party,  sought 
and  effected  a  fusion  of  the  Democratic  and  Liberal  Republican  parties. 
Mr.  Greeley  accepted  the  nomination  from  both  parties  ;  but  President 
Grant,  who  had  been'  nominated  for  re-election,  w^as  chosen  by  a  pop- 
ular majority  of  over  seven  hundred  and  sixty-three  thousand.     Many 

*  When  Tweed  was  at  the  height  of  his  disreputable  career  a  strange  social  phenomenon 
aipjM'ared.  Dazzled  by  the  magnitude  of  city  "  improvements"  under  his  direction,  and 
without  inquiring  whence  he  procured  the  moans  for  dlsix-nsing  his  private  charities  on  a 
muiiilicent  scale,  some  of  the  most  reputable  citizens  of  New  York  publicly  proposetl  to 
erect  H  statue  of  him  as  a  public  benefactor  !  And  when  his  daughter  was  married  sixty- 
two  citizens,  some  of  them  of  high  social  position,  bestowed  ujwn  her  wedding  gifts  to 
tlie  aggregate  value  of  $70,000.  Only  one  present  was  as  low  as  $100  in  value.  Twenty- 
cue  jK'rsons  eacli  gave  presents  valued  at  $1000.  Ten  persons  gave  $2000  presents,  two, 
$2500,  and  five  gave  presents  to  the  value  of  $5000  each.  One  of  the  donors  of  the  latter 
amount  was  a  woman.  Some  of  the  most  munirtcent  gifts  were  from  persons  connected 
with  the  "  ring,"  but  who  were  then  accounted  respectable  members  of  society.  See 
Lossing's  Histoi'y  of  New  York  City,  p.  807.  A  list  of  the  names  of  those  donors  may  be 
found  in  Stone's  History  of  the  City  of  New  York,  Apix-ndix. 


A  CIVIL  RIGHTS  BILL. 


549 


straiglit-out  Democrats,  offended  by  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Greeley,  their 
hfe-long  political  antagonist,  nominated  Charles  O'Conor,  of  New  York, 
and  gave  him  over  twenty-one  thousand  votes,  though  he  declined  to 
be  a  candidate.  In  the  State  of  New  York  Grant's  majority  over 
Greeley  was  more  than  fifty-three  thousand,  and  that  of  General  John 
Adams  Dix,*  the  Rcpnblican  candidate  for  Governor  of  the  State, 
was  over  fifty-five  thousand.  A  large 
majority  of  the  Republican  Congress- 
men were  elected,  and  the  State  Legis- 
lature, at  the  beginning  of  1873,  was 
overwhelmingly  Republican.  A  greater 
portion  of  the  Liberal  Republican  fac- 
tion was  afterward  absorbed  by  their 
ally,  the  Democratic  Party,  in  the 
State  and  nation,  and  disappeared  as  a 
distinct  organization. 

In  the  spring  of  1873  a  Civil  Rights 
Bill  was  passed  by  the  Legislature,  for- 
bidding the  managers  of  theatres  and 
other  places  of  amusement  denying 
equal  enjoyment  of  the  privileges  of 
their  exhibitions  to  any  person  on  ac- 
count of  "race,  color,  or  previous  condition  of  servitude."  During 
the  same  session  a  commission  appointed  to  prepare  and  submit  to  the 
Legislature  such  amendments  to  the  State  Constitution  as  they  might 
deem  expedient  completed  their  work  and  reported  amendments  of  nine 
acts  and  two  new  acts.  These  amendments  were  referred  to  the  people 
at  the  next  fall  election,  when  they  were  all  ratified.     They  made  some 


JOHN    A.    DIX. 


*  John  Adams  Dix  was  born  at  Boscawen,  N.  H.,  on  July  24th,  1798  ;  died  at  New- 
York  on  April  27tli,  1879.  He  entered  the  army  in  1812,  a  boy  less  than  tifteen  years  of 
age  ;  was  promoted  to  captain  in  1825,  and  soon  afterward  resigned  and  studied  law.  He 
made  his  residence  at  Cooperstown,  N.  Y.,  and  was  cliosen  Secretary  of  State  in  1833  by 
the  Democratic  Party.  In  1845  lie  was  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate  to  fill  a 
vacancy.  In  1848  he  was  the  unsuccessful  Free-Soil  candidate  for  governor.  While  in 
the  Senate  he  was  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Commerce.  He  was  succeeded  in  the 
Senate  by  Mr.  Seward  in  1849.  In  1861  he  was  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  for  about  three 
months,  in  the  Cabinet  of  President  Buchanan,  during  which  time  he  issued  the  famous 
order  :  "  If  any  man  attempts  to  haul  down  the  American  flag,  shoot  him  on  the  spot  !" 
He  was  made  major-general  of  volunteers  in  May,  1861  ;  commanded  at  Fortress  Monroe 
in  1862,  and  performed  eminent  services  of  various  kinds  during  the  war.  In  1867-68 
he  was  United  States  Minister  to  France  ;  also  was  made  President  of  the  Union  Pacific 
Railroad.  In  1872  he  was  chosen  Governor  of  New  York.  In  1855  Governor  Dix  pub- 
lished A  Summer  in  Spain  and  Florence,  containing  his  reminiscences  of  travels  in  Europe, 


550  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

notable  alterations  in  the  organic  law  of  the  State.  Among  other 
things,  provision  was  made  for  securing  equality  in  the  exercise  of  the 
elective  franchise  ;  for  the  punishment  of  givers  and  receivers  of  bribes 
at  elections  ;  for  the  payment  of  a  fixed  salary  of  $1500  to  the  members 
of  the  Legislature  ;  for  changing  the  official  term  of  the  governor  and 
lieutenant-governor  of  the  State  from  two  to  three  years,  making  the  salary 
of  the  former  $10,000  a  year,  and  of  the  latter  $5000  a  year  ;  for  re- 
stricting the  Legislature  in  the  management  of  the  finances  of  the  State 
and  the  cliartering  of  banks  ;  also  for  the  prevention  of  official  corruption. 

For  some  years  a  topographical  and  trigonometrical  survey  of  the 
Adirondack  region  of  the  State  had  been  prosecuted.  In  1873  a  com- 
mission appointed  to  inquire  into  the  expediency  of  setting  apart  a  large 
portion  of  that  mountain  and  lake  district  as  a  State  Park  reported  in 
favor  of  doing  so.  It  has  been  done.  Tiie  domain  surveyed  embraces 
about  five  thousand  square  miles,  and  includes  all  the  higher  peaks  of  the 
group  and  many  lakes.  Tlie  principal  object  sought  in  the  preservation 
of  the  forests  which  clothe  the  hills  was  their  beneficial  climatic  effects 
and  the  furnishing  and  perpetuation  of  a  healthful  and  delightful  pleas- 
ure ground  for  the  people — a  vast  and  magnificent  sanitarium. 

At  the  State  election  in  the  fall  of  1873,  the  following  questions  were 
submitted  to  the  voters  for  their  decision  : 

1.  Shall  the  chief  judge  and  the  associate  judges  of  the  Court  of 
Appeals  and  the  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  be  hereafter  elected  or 
appointed  ? 

2.  Shall  the  judges  of  the  Superior  Courts  of  New  York  City  and 
Brooklyn,  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Buffalo,  and  the  several 
county  judges  throughout  the  State  be  hereafter  elected  or  appointed  ? 

The  majority  for  the  election  of  the  higher  judges  was  204,642  ;  for 
the  election  of  lower  judges,  208,985. 

Among  the  important  events  in  the  civil  history  of  the  State  during 
the  administration  of  Governor  Dix  was  the  passage  of  an  act  which 
became  a  law  on  May  11th,  1874,  for  the  compulsory  education  of  the 
children  of  the  commonwealth.  It  met  with  much  opposition.  The 
law  went  into  effect  on  January  1st,  1875.  It  requires  all  parents  and 
those  who  have  the  care  of  children  between  the  ages  of  eight  and  four- 
teen to  see  that  they  are  instructed  in  spelling,  reading,  writing,  English 
grammar,  geography,  and  arithmetic  at  least  fourteen  weeks  in  each  year, 
either  at  school  or  at  home,  unless  the  physical  or  mental  condition  of 
the  child  may  render  such  instruction  inexpedient  or  impracticable.* 

*  Eight  of  the  fourteen  weeks'  attendance  at  school  must  be  consecutive.  Any  person 
neglecting  to  comply  witli  this  requirement  is  liable  to  a  tine  of  %\  for  the  first  offence. 


LAW  FOR  THE  PROTECTION  OF  CHILDREN. 


551 


The  political  campaign  in  the  State  in  1874  was  exceedingly  interest- 
ing. A  Prohibition  Convention  assembled  at  Auburn  late  in  June,  and 
nominated  ex-Governor  Myron  H.  Clark 
for  governor.  On  the  same  day  in  the 
same  city  fifty  temperance  Republicans 
from  various  parts  of  the  State  met  and 
passed  resolutions  condemnatory  of  Gov- 
ernor Dix,  because  he  vetoed  a  so-called 
local-option  bill  for  the  repression  of 
intemperance.*  The  Liberal  Republi- 
cans met  in  convention  at  Albany  in 
September,  but  did  not  make  any  nomi- 
nations. The  Democratic  Convention 
held  at  Syracuse  in  the  same  month 
nominated  Samuel  J.  Tilden  for  Gov- 
ernor, f  The  Republican  Convention 
was  also  held  at  Syracuse  in  September, 
and  renominated  Governor  Dix  by  ac- 
clamation.    The  result  of  the  election  in  November  was  a  Democratic 


SAMUEL   J.    TILDEN. 


and  for  each  succeeding  violation,  after  having  been  properly  notified,  the  offender  shall 
jiay  $5  for  every  week,  not  exceeding  thirteen  in  a  year,  during  which  he  shall  fail  to 
comply  with  the  law.     The  fines  thus  collected  are  to  be  devoted  to  school  purposes. 

No  person  shall  employ  any  child  under  the  age  of  fourteen  years  to  labor  in  any  busi- 
ness during  school  hours,  unless  the  child  has  been  instructed,  either  at  school  or  at 
home,  for  at  least  fourteen  of  the  fifty-two  weeks  next  preceding  the  year  in  which  the 
child  shall  be  employed.  The  child  must  also  furnish  a  written  certificate  of  having 
received  such  instruction.  The  penalty  for  violating  this  provision  is  $50  for  every 
offence. 

In  every  school  district  the  trustees  are  required,  in  September  and  in  February,  to 
examine  into  the  situation  of  children  employed  in  all  manufacturing  establishments  ; 
and  manufacturers  must  furnish  a  correct  list  of  all  children  between  the  ages  of  eight 
and  fourteen  employed. 

Trustees  are  required  to  furnish  text-books  where  the  parents  or  guardians  are  unable 
to  do  so.  If  the  parent  or  guardian  is  unable  to  compel  the  child  to  attend  school,  and 
shall  so  state  in  writing,  the  child  shall  be  dealt  with  as  an  habitual  truant. 

Boards  of  instruction  and  trustees  in  cities,  school  districts,  etc.,  are  authorized  and 
directed  to  make  all  needful  provisions  and  regulations  concerning  habitual  truants,  and 
children  between  the  ages  of  eight  and  fourteen  years  found  wandering  about  the  streets 
during  school  hours,  having  no  lawful  occupation  or  business,  and  growing  up  in  igno- 
rance, and  to  provide  for  their  instruction  and  confinement  where  necessary. 

*  Governor  Dix  expressed  himself  as  favorable  to  the  principles  of  the  bill,  but  vetoed 
it  because  of  its  inconsistency  and  failure  to  meet  the  alleged  exigency.  It  professed,  he 
said,  to  leave  to  the  jxiople  the  largest  liberty,  while  It  in  reality  restricted  them  to  the 
narrowest.     This  sixbject  came  up  afterward,  and  a  local-option  bill  finally  became  a  law. 

f  Samuel  Jones  Tilden  was  an  astute  politician.     He  was  born  at  New  Lebanon, 


553  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

victory.  Mr.  Tilden  was  chosen  chief  magistrate  of  tlie  commonwealth 
by  a  plurality  of  50,317  votes.  Mr.  Tilden  took  his  seat  as  Governor 
of  the  State  of  New  York  on  January  1st,  1875. 

Columbia  County,  N.  Y.,  in  February,  1814.  His  physical  constitution  was  weak  from 
infancy.  His  fatlier  being  a  personal  and  political  friend  of  Martin  Van  Buren  and  other 
jwliticians  who  composed  the  "  Albany  Regency,"  young  Tilden  was  introduced  into 
political  circles  at  a  very  early  age.  He  studied  law  with  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  and 
became  a  sound  but  not  brilliant  member  of  the  profession.  For  a  while  he  indulged  in 
journalism,  establishing  the  Daily  Ncics  in  New  York  City  in  1844.  He  soon  returned  to 
the  bar,  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  by  the  Democrats,  and  was  a  member  of  the  conven- 
tion that  revised  the  State  Constitution  in  1846.  Mr.  Tilden  was  much  sought  after  as 
counsel  for  corporations.  He  was  a  bitter  opponent  of  the  Republican  Party,  and  blamed 
President  Lincoln  for  not  calling  out  500,000  troops  in  1861  instead  of  75,000  to  suppress 
the  rebellion.  He  and  Governor  Seymour  were  in  accord  during  the  war.  In  1874 
Tilden  was  elected  Governor  of  New  York,  and  in  1876  he  was  an  imsuccessful  candidate 
for  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States.  He  died  at  his  magnificent  seat  on  the  Hudson, 
near  Yonkers,  in  August,  1886,  leaving  a  fortune  of  fully  $5,000,000.  He  was  never 
married. 


THE   CENTENNIAL  EXHIBITION.  553 


CHAPTER   XL. 

The  year  1875  closed  the  first  century  of  the  h'fe  of  the  great 
republic  of  the  West.  The  notes  of  preparation  for  a  grand  Centen- 
nial celebration  and  an  exhibition  of  the  industries  of  all  nations  were 
then  lieard  throughout  the  land.  The  city  of  Philadelphia — the  birth- 
place of  the  republic — was  the  chosen  theatre  of  the  wonderful  display 
to  which  the  State  of  New  York  made  a  notable  contribution  from  its 
immense  treasures  of  production  of  every  sort.*  At  that  centennial 
period — the  end  of  1875 — I  propose  to  close  this  compendious  history  of 
the  Empire  State  of  the  Union.  All  events  before  that  period  have 
passed  into  the  realm  of  completed  and  permanent  history  ;  all  since 
then  are  components  of  current  history  with  ever-changing  phases,  in 
which  living  men  and  women  compose  the  persons  of  the  drama. 

The  session  of  the  Legislature  began  on  January  6th,  1875,  and 
adjourned  on  May  22d.  Among  the  more  important  acts  passed  at 
that  session  were  a  general  law  for  providing  uniformity  in  the  organi- 
zation and  administration  of  savings-banks,t  empowering  the  Super- 
intendent of  the  Banking  Department  to  grant  charters  to  such  in- 
stitutions, limiting  the  amount  of  deposits  in  the  name  of  one  person 
to  $5000,  and  prohibiting  their  loaning  money  on  personal  securities 
and  dealing  in  merchandise,  or  buying  or  selling  exchange  or  gold  and 

*  The  exhibition  was  opened  on  May  10th,  1876,  with  imposing  ceremonies.  The 
most  distinguished  guests  present  were  President  Grant  and  the  Emperor  and  Em- 
press of  Brazil.  After  prayers  a  thousand  voices  sang  a  beautiful  Centennial  Hymn 
written  by  John  G.  Whittier,  the  Quaker  poet.  The  exhibition  was  kept  open  .six  months. 
The  total  number  of  admissions  from  the  opening  until  the  closing  was  9,910,965,  and 
the  total  cash  receipts  for  admission  was  $3,813,725.  The  largest  attendance  for  a  full 
month  was  in  October,  when  2,663,911  persons  were  admitted.  Twenty-.six  nations  were 
represented  among  the  products  of  industry. 

f  The  first  bank  for  savings  in  the  State  of  New  York  was  opened  on  Saturday  even- 
ing, July  3d,  1819,  in  a  basement  room  in  Chambers  Street,  New  York  City.  It  was  the 
fruit  of  the  suggestion  and  efficient  labors  of  John  Pintard.  An  association  was  organ- 
ized by  the  choice  of  twenty-six  directors,  with  De  Witt  Clinton  at  their  head.  William 
Bayard  was  chosen  president.  The  deposit  office  was  open  from  .six  until  nine  o'clock 
that  evening,  when  $2807  had  been  received  from  eighty-two  depositors.  The  smallest 
amount  deposited  was  $2  ;  the  largest  amount  was  $300.  That  first  savings-bank  in  New 
York  is  still  a  flourishing  in.stitution,  located  in  an  elegant  banking-house  of  white  marble 
on  Bleecker  Street.  From  1819  until  1883  the  aggregate  sum  of  $162,032,515  had  been 
deposited  in  that  bank  from  490,541  persons. 


554  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

silver  ;  also  acts  for  the  punishment  for  bribery  at  election  ;  for  general 
business  incorporations  ;  for  the  prevention  of  cruelty  to  children  ;  for 
rapid  transit  in  the  city  of  New  York  ;  for  creating  a  State  Board  of 
Audit,  and  for  the  suppression  of  intemperance. 

During  the  recess  of  the  Legislature  several  committees  of  investiga- 
tion performed  their  tasks.  One  committee  investigated  the  affairs  of 
the  quarantine,  the  Board  of  Health,  and  the  management  of  emigrants 
and  emigration  at  Castle  Garden,  New  York  ;  another  sought  to  ascer- 
tain the  causes  of  the  rapid  increase  of  crime  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
and  another  to  investigate  charges  concerning  the  debtors'  prison  in  the 
county  of  New  York.  Perhaps  the  most  important  committee  of  in- 
quiry was  appointed  on  the  recommendation  of  Governor  Tilden  in  a 
special  message  for  an  investigation  concerning  the  management  of  the 
canals  of  the  State.  In  that  message  he  showed  that  for  five  years,  end- 
ing September  30th,  1874,  the  total  receipts  for  tolls  had  been  $15,058,- 
361,  while  the  expenses  for  operating  and  for  ordinary  repairs  had 
amounted  to  $9,202,434,  leaving  an  apparent  surplus  of  $5,855,927. 
During  the  same  period  the  disbursements  for  extraordmary  repairs  had 
amounted  to  $10,960,644,  causing  a  real  deficiency  of  $5,104,697.  Add- 
ing to  this  the  payment  on  the  canal  debt  and  other  outlays  on  account 
of  the  canals,  an  aggregate  of  over  $11,000,000  was  obtained  as  the 
amount  expended  by  the  State  in  five  years  for  these  works.  The  gov- 
ernor declared  that  the  expenses  for  both  ordinary  and  extraordinary  re- 
pairs had  been  greatly  in  excess  of  what  was  required,  and  that  there  had 
been  corrupt  and  fraudulent  contracts  for  work  and  materials  by  which 
the  State  Treasury  had  been  systematically  plundered,  something  after 
the  methods  employed  by  the  "  Tweed  Ring"  \\\  the  city  of  New  York. 

The  investigation  showed  among  others  as  flagrant  exhibitions  of 
fraud,  that  the  State  had  paid  on  ten  contracts  $1,560,769,  while  the 
amount  to  be  paid  upon  the  quality  of  materials  exhibited  in  the  pro- 
posals, at  contract  prices,  would  have  been  only  $424,735.  The  gov- 
ernor recommended  the  adoption  of  measures  at  once  for  ascertaining  the 
exact  financial  condition  of  the  canals.  It  was  done,  and  reforms  in 
their  management  ensued. 

There  are  thirteen  canals  in  the  State,  tM'o  of  them  belonging  to  cor- 
porations.*    Their  total  length,  with  navigable  feeders  and  lakes  and 

*  These  are  the  Erie,  Chaniphiin,  Oswego.  Chenango,  Chemung,  Cayuga  and  Senecji, 
Genesee  Valley,  Oneida  Lake,  Chenango  Extension,  Crooked  Lake  Canal  and  Ithaca 
Inlet.  The  Delaware  and  Hudson  and  the  Junction  canals  belong  to  corporations.  The 
amount  of  work  remaining  to  be  done  on  the  State  canals,  at  the  close  of  1875,  was  con- 
tracted for  at  an  aggregate  of  $892,397. 


FACILITIES   OF  TRANSPORTATION.  555 

rivers  artiticially  connected  therewith,  is  leS93  miles.  The  length  of  the 
canals  proper,  with  navigable  feeders,  is  907  miles.  The  number  of 
tons  of  freight  transported  over  these  canals  in  1874  was  5,804,588. 
The  cost  of  this  freight  transportation  was  $4,335,536,  and  the  receipts 
for  tolls  and  freights  were  $6,882,021.  The  canals  (excepting  two)  are 
the  actual  property  of  the  people  of  the  commonwealth,  and  had  cost 
them  up  to  1875,  for  original  construction  and  subsequent  enlargements, 
fully  $101,000,000,  The  aggregate  cost  of  the  canals  and  railroads  of 
the  State,  with  their  equipments,  at  that  time,  was  $735,862,282,  which 
was  equal  to  one  third  of  tiie  gross  taxable  property  of  the  common- 
wealth, real  and  personal. 

The  railroads  within  the  State  are  of  far  more  value  as  vehicles  of 
transportation  for  freight  and  passengers  tiian  the  canals.  The  total 
length  of  steam  railways  in  1875  was  5210  miles,  many  of  them  with 
double  tracks.  There  were  seventy-six  horse  railroads,  the  aggregate 
length  of  which  was  400  miles.  The  number  of  passengers  carried  on 
the  steam  railways  within  the  State  in  1874  was  34,719,018,  and  on 
liorse  railways,  228,372,112,  making  the  total  number  of  passengers 
263,091,130.  The  receipts  from  freight  carried  on  steam  railroads  within 
the  State  that  year  amounted  to  $65,085,604,  and  from  passengers, 
$25,369,850.  The  receipts  from  passengers  on  horse  railways  were 
$12,003,654,  making  a  total  for  passengers  and  freight  of  $109,342,029. 
The  cost  of  transportation  of  freight  and  passengers  on  both  steam  and 
horse  railroads  in  one  year  was  $76,027,413. 

These  railways  and  their  enormous  business  had  been  created  in  the 
space  of  forty-four  years.  The  first  railway  put  into  operation  in  the 
State,  as  we  have  observed,  was  completed  in  1831,  and  connected 
Albany  and  Schenectady  by  rail.* 

The  admirable  common-school  system  of  the  State,  so  essential  to 
the  moral,  intellectual,  and  social  welfare  of  the  people,  has  been  fre- 
quently alluded  to  in  preceding  pages.  It  has  been  the  object  of  the 
special  care  of  the  electors  and  the  Legislature,  and  a  topic  for  sugges- 

*  The  first  locomotive  engine  constructed  in  the  United  States  was  built  by  a  native 
of  New  York,  the  late  Peter  Cooper,  in  1830,  at  his  Canton  Iron  Works,  near  Balti- 
more. It  wiis  made  from  his  own  designs,  and  was  named  "  Tom  Thumb."  It  was  a 
very  small  tractor  engine — too  small  for  practical  use.  On  a  trial  trip  it  drew  a  car 
with  several  Baltimorians  in  it  from  Baltimore  to  the  Relay  House,  a  distance  of  nine 
miles. 

The  first  actual  working  locomotive  built  in  America  was  made  in  New  York  City  in 
1830  from  plans  drawn  by  V.  L.  Miller,  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  and'  used  on  a  road  be- 
tween that  city  and  Hamburg.  It  was  named  "Best  Friend."  The  first  projector  of 
a  land  carriage,  to  be  propelled  by  steam,  was  Oliver  Evans,  of  Philadelphia. 


556  THE  EMPIRE   STATE. 

tions  and  expressions  of  solicitude  by  the  chief  magistrates  of  the  com- 
monwealth, for  almost  half  a  century.  Ample  provision  has  always 
been  made  for  the  support  and  efficiency  of  the  common  schools,  and 
for  the  wide  distribution  of  their  benefits.  Every  inhabited  portion  of 
the  State  has  been  divided  into  convenient  districts,  in  each  of  which  a 
school  is  taught  some  portions  of  the  year,  is  open  to  all,  and  is  within 
the  reach  of  all.  We  have  already  observed  (page  360)  the  origin  of  the 
common-school  system  in  the  State,  and  the  methods  used  in  provid- 
ing funds  for  its  support.* 

In  his  synoptical  report  to  the  Legislature  (January  5th,  1887),  Hon. 
A.  S.  Draper,  State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  says  :  *'  The 
educational  work  in  the  State  has  been  a  wonderful  growth  and  devel- 
opment. In  1850  we  were  spending  $1,600,000  annually  in  the  support 
of  our  public  schools.  During  the  past  year  we  spent  $1-1,000,000.'* 
He  then  propounded  some  pertinent  questions  suggestive  of  needed  im- 
provement in  the  methods  of  public  instruction.  He  asked  :  "  Is  our 
education  as  practical  as  it  might  be  ?  Do  we  reach  all  the  children  we 
ought  ?  In  our  ardor  over  the  high  schools,  which  nine  tenths  of  our 
children  never  reach,  have  we  not  neglected  the  low  schools  ?  Is  there 
not  too  nnich  French,  and  German,  and  Latin,  and  Greek,  and  too  little 
spelling,  and  writing,  and  mental  arithmetic,  and  English  grammar  being 
taught  ?  Are  not  our  courses  of  study  too  complex  ?  Are  we  not  under- 
taking to  do  more  than  we  are  doing  well  ?  Are  we  educating  the  whole 
man  ?"     Some  wise  suggestions  follow. 

The  State  is  divided  into  sixty  counties.  The  first  eight  counties 
were  established  in  1683 — Duchess,  Kings,  Queens,  Orange,  Richmond, 
Suffolk,  Ulster,  and  "Westchester.  The  last  one  organized  was  "Wyom- 
ing, in  1841.  For  an  account  of  the  organization  of  each  county,  with 
a  delineation  of  the  seals  and  the  population,  etc.,  see  pages  97  and 
98,  and  A])pendix. 

The  building  of  a  new  State  House  was  authorized  in  1868,  and  work 

*  There  were  in  the  State  of  New  York  at  the  close  of  1875,  11,787  school-houses  ; 
11,289  school  districts,  exclusive  of  cities  ;  19,157  teachers  employed  for  the  legal  school 
term,  and  29,977  during  every  portion  of  the  year.  There  were  1,058,846  children  attend- 
ing public  schools,  and  185,098  of  school  age  in  private  schools.  There  were  6207  per- 
sons attending  normal  schools.  In  the  school  district  libraries  there  were  812,655 
volumes.  In  the  State  were  1,579,504  persons. between  the  ages  of  live  and  twenty- 
one  years.  The  School  Fund  proper  amolinted  on  January  l.st,  1875,  to  $3,054,772, 
and  the  revenue  from  it,  $178,818.  The  total  receipts  on  account  of  common  schools 
that  year  were  $12,516,362,  and  the  total  expenditures  were  $11,365,377.  The  amount 
paid  for  teachers'  wages  was  $7,843,231.  The  estimated  value  of  the  school-houses  and 
sites  was  $36,393,190. 


FINANCES  AND   POPULATION.  557 

upon  it  was  begun  soon  afterward.  The  limestone  and  granite  for  the 
foundation  were  procured  from  the  Lake  Champlain,  Adirondack,  and 
Mohawk  Valley  regions  of  the  State.  The  corner-stone  was  laid,  with 
imposing  ceremonies,  on  June  24:th,  1871.  Already  $2,000,000  had  been 
expended  on  the  foundation  (which  rose  seven  feet  above  the  ground), 
besides  $650,000  paid  for  the  land  on  which  it  was  erected.  It  is  built 
of  drilled  granite,  four  stories  in  height,  two  hundred  and  ninety  feet 
wide,  and  three  hundred  and  ninety  feet  long.  When  completed  it  will 
be  one  of  the  most  costly  buildings  ever  constructed  in  the  United  States 
—probably  nearly  $20,000,000. 

The  nominal  funded  debts  of  the  State  on  September  30th,  1875, 
were  $28,328,686,  less  the  amount  of  sinking  funds  pledged  for 
their  redemption,  which  was  $13,581,382,  reducing  the  actual  debt  of 
the  State  to  $1-1,747,304.  The  aggregate  amount  of  the  bonded  debts 
of  counties,  cities,  towns,  and  villages  was  very  large,  but  was  in  rapid 
process  of  extinction.  These  debts  were  largely  incurred  by  giving  aid 
to  railroads  ;  for  public  buildings  ;  for  Avar  and  bounty  expenses  ;  for 
roads  and  bridges,  and  for  water- works  and  fire  apparatus. 

Let  us  here  go  forward  five  years  from  our  intended  resting-point, 
and  take  a  general  view  of  the  Empire  State  in  1880,  as  revealed  by  the 
Tenth  Census. 

In  size  the  State  of  New  York  is  only  nineteenth  in  rank.  Its  area 
is  a  thousand  square  miles  less  than  tliat  of  North  Carolina,  and  seven 
thousand  less  than  Michigan.  Although  its  territory  includes  less  than 
one  sixty- third  of  the  whole  country,  its  inhabitants  then  formed  more 
than  one  tenth  of  the  population.  Its  twenty-five  cities  contained  be- 
tween one  fifth  and  one  fourth  of  the  entire  urban  population  of  the 
United  States.* 

One  half  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  State  lived  in  cities.  The  number 
engaged  in  agriculture  was  less  than  in  Alabama,  Georgia,  Illinois,  or  in 

*  New  York  liad  drawn  freely  from  and  given  liberally  to  the  other  States.  In  1880 
there  were  within  its  borders  natives  of  Connecticut  enough  to  make  a  city  as  large  as 
Bridgeport  ;  of  Maine,  to  repopulate  Bath  ;  of  Massachusetts,  to  repeople  L3-nn  or  Law- 
rence ;  of  Penns3ivania,  nearly  sufficient  to  twice  repopulate  its  State  capital  ;  of  New 
Jersey,  to  fill  Paterson,  and  more  natives  of  Vermont  than  in  Burlington,  Rutland,  and 
St.  Albans  together.  New  York  had  given  to  California  people  enough  to  populate  two 
cities  as  large  as  Sacramento  ;  to  Connecticut,  almost  enough  to  stock  Hartford  with 
men  and  women  ;  to  Kansas,  enough  to  make  the  three  cities  of  Atchison,  Topeka,  and 
Leavenworth  ;  to  Ohio,  more  than  enough  to  make  Columbus  or  Toledo  ;  to  Wisconsin, 
in  number  equal  to  three  fourths  of  the  population  of  Milwaukee  ;  to  Iowa,  enough  to 
till  her  four  largest  cities  ;  to  Pennsylvania,  100,000  ;  to  Illinois,  120,000,  and  to  Michi- 
gan twice  the  population  of  Detroit.  Nearly  one  fifth  of  the  American-born  population 
of  Michitran  were  natives  of  New  York. 


558  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Ohio.  In  acreage  of  improved  land  in  farms,  it  was  behind  Iowa,  Illi- 
nois, and  Ohio  ;  yet  it  is  second  only  to  Illinois  as  a  farming  State, 
taking  as  the  basis  of  comparison  the  total  value  of  all  farm  products 
during  the  year  before  the  census.  Illinois,  with  26,000,000  acres  and 
436,000  farmers,  produced  value  of  $204,000,000.  New  York,  with  less 
than  18,000,000  acres  and  377,000  farmers,  produced  $178,000,000. 
The  average  annual  yield  of  the  Illinois  farmers  was  a  little  less  than  $8 
an  acre  ;  of  the  New  York  farmers,  a  little  more  than  $10  an  acre. 

New  York  raised  more  barley  than  any  other  State  excepting  Cali- 
fornia ;  more  oats  than  any  other  State  excepting  Illinois  and  Iowa,  and 
more  rye  than  any  other  State  excepting  Illinois  and  Pennsylvania. 
Raising  more  buckwheat  than  any  other  State,  it  produced  more  than 
one  third  of  the  entire  l>uckwheat  crop  of  the  country. 

The  hay  crop  of  New  York  surpassed  that  of  any  other  State.  It  was 
more  than  one  seventh  of  the  entire  crop  of  the  country.  It  also  pro- 
duced one  fifth  of  all  the  so-called  ''  Irish"  potatoes  grown  in  the  United 
States,  and  more  than  twice  as  many  bushels  as  Pennsylvania,  the  second 
potato-producing  State  in  rank.  It  produced  more  than  four  fifths  of 
the  total  hop  crop  of  the  country,  and  more  than  ten  times  that  of  the 
State  next  in  rank. 

New  York  is  a  great  fruit-growing  State.  Its  orchards  yielded  in  the 
census  year  in  value  one  sixth  of  the  total  fruit  production  of  the 
United  States,  and  almost  twice  that  of  its  most  successful  rival,  Penn- 
sylvania. It  is  also  pre-eminently  a  dairy  State.  In  the  year  before  the 
census  it  produced  more  than  one  seventh  of  all  the  butter  of  the 
United  States,  and  nearly  one  third  of  all  the  cheese. 

New  York  is  the  foremost  manufacturing  State  in  the  Union.  It  is 
first  in  the  number  of  establishments  ;  second  in  the  amount  of  capital 
invested  ;  first  in  the  number  of  hands  employed  ;  first  in  the  amount 
of  wages  paid,  and  first  in  the  value  of  manufactured  products.  It  con- 
tained more  than  one  sixth  of  all  the  mills,  manufactories,  and  work- 
shops of  the  United  States  that  produced  $500  in  1S79.  These  estab- 
lishments represented  between  one  sixth  and  one  fifth  of  all  the  capital 
invested  in  the  mechanical  and  manufacturing  establishments  of  the 
United  States.  Those  industries  gave  employment  to  between  one  sixth 
and  one  fifth  of  all  the  hands  at  work  in  American  mills  and  shops.  The 
New  York  manufacturers  paid  more  than  one  fifth  of  the  total  wages 
given  to  workingmon  and  women  of  this  class.  The  total  value  of  the 
manufactured  products  in  the  State  was  more  than  one  fifth  of  the  total 
for  the  Union. 

Let  us  take  a  brief  glance  at  the  products  of  some  of  the  vast  and 


PRODUCTS   OF  INDUSTRY.  551) 

varied  industries  of  the  State  in  comparison  witli  the  same  products  in 
the  whole  Union,  in  1879.  New  York  produced  nearly  one  sixth  in 
value  of  all  the  agricultural  implements  made  in  the  country  ;  nearly 
one  third  of  all  the  baking  products  ;  more  than  one  half  of  the  cheese, 
and  nearly  one  half  of  the  butter  ;  between  one  third  and  one  half  of  the 
men's  clothing,  and  nearly  two  thirds  of  the  women's  clothing  produced  in 
manufactories  ;  more  than  one  fifth  of  the  foundry  and  machine-shop 
products  ;  between  one  ilfth  and  one  quarter  of  the  furniture  ;  more 
than  one  third  of  the  hosiery  and  knit  goods  ;  nearly  a  quarter  of  the 
jewelry  ;  more  than  one  third  of  the  beer  and  ale  ;  more  than  one  half 
of  the  millinery  and  lace  goods  ;  two  thirds  of  the  pianos  ;  between  one 
third  and  one  half  of  the  paints  ;  more  than  half  the  perfumery  and  cos- 
metics ;  nearly  one  third  of  the  books  and  periodicals  ;  one  quarter  of 
the  soap  and  candles  ;  nearly  one  half  of  the  refined  sugar  and  molasses  ; 
more  than  one  sixth  of  the  smoking  and  chewing  tobacco  and  snuff,  and 
between  one  third  and  one  half  of  the  cigars  and  cigarettes. 

New  York  then  (1ST9)  led  the  country  in  shipbuilding,  both  in  the 
number  of  establishments  devoted  to  the  construction  and  repair  of 
steam  and  sailing  vessels  and  boats  of  all  kinds,  and  in  the  annual  value 
of  all  the  products.  While  between  one  fifth  and  one  fourth  in  value  of 
all  American  vessels  were  built  in  the  State,  nearly  one  third  of  them 
were  owned  by  New  Yorkers, 

Of  all  the  steam  craft  owned  in  the  United  States,  nearly  one  quarter 
belonged  to  New  York,  while  the  tonnage  of  these  vessels  was  more 
than  a  quarter  of  the  tonnage  of  the  whole  country,  and  their  value 
nearly  one  third  of  the  total  value.  New  Y^ork  had  between  one  sixth 
and  one  fifth  of  the  sailing-vessels  of  America  ;  more  than  one  fourth  in 
tonnage  and  more  than  one  fourth  in  value.  Of  the  canal-boats  of  the 
country,  New  York  owned  about  five  eighths  in  value.  In  rank  it  is 
first  in  maritime  commerce.* 

Let  us  turn  from  a  consideration  of  the  pre-eminence  of  New  York  in 
agriculture,  manufactures,  and  commerce,  to  that  of  its  rank  in  intelli- 
gence and  accumulated  wealth. 

While  New  York  had  one  tenth  of  the  population  of  the  republic,  its 
expenditures  for  popular  education  were  more  than  one  eighth  of  that 
of  the  whole  Union.  So  general  were  the  blessings  of  education  dif- 
fused throughout  the  commonwealth,  that  oidy  4.2  per  cent  of  the  adult 
people  were  unable  to  read  and  5.5  per  cent  unable  to  write.  In  1875 
the  State  spent  nearly  $290,000  in  its  nine  normal  schools  for  the  edu- 

*  I  am  largely  indebted  to  a  writer  in  the  New  York  Sun,  in  1883,  for  the  analysis  and 
comparisons  of  the  statistical  facts  here  given. 


560  THE   EMPIRE  STATE. 

cation  of  teacliers  for  the  public  schools,  and  $18,000  for  the  aid  of 
teachers'  institutes.  In  the  State  were  then  nearly  250  academies  or 
academic  departments  in  Union  schools,  27  colleges  and  universities, 
7  scientific  schools,  13  schools  of  theology,  4  law  schools,  and  14 
medical  schools. 

A  trustworthy  measure  of  the  intelligence  of  a  large  community  is 
the  activity  of  its  printing-presses,  especially  those  which  distribute  in- 
telligence through  newspapers  and  periodicals.  New  York  produced 
nearly  one  third  in  value  of  the  books  published  in  the  United  States. 
It  also  issued  one  eighth  of  all  the  periodicals  published  in  the  country  ; 
also  nearly  one  eighth  of  the  newspapers  issued.  Of  the  aggregate  cir- 
culation of  the  daily  newspapers  in  the  Union,  New  York  furnished  be- 
tween one  fourth  and  one  third.  Of  the  aggregate  circulation  of  the 
weeklies  and  all  other  periodicals  in  the  United  States,  it  also  furnished 
between  one  fourth  and  one  third. 

The  assessed  valuation  of  real  estate  and  personal  property  in  the  State 
of  New  York  in  the  census  year  was  equal  in  amount  to  one  seventh  of 
the  valuation  of  the  entire  real  and  personal  property  of  the  whole 
Republic.  It  was  also  almost  exactly  the  same  in  amount  as  that  of  the 
six  New  England  States — $2,051,940,000.  One  third  of  the  registered 
bonds  of  the"  United  States  were  held  in  New  York— $210,264,250. 
But  its  enormous  share  of  the  wealth  of  the  country  cannot  be  computed 
from  facts  found  in  tiie  census  reports.  Its  financial  interests  are  every- 
where— in  railways,  in  mines,  in  farms  and  factories  in  every  State  and 
Territory. 

In  nearly  all  the  foregoing  comparisons  the  figures  of  New  York's  part 
in  the  various  forms  of  industry  are  merely  the  figures  of  its  investments 
within  its  own  borders.  Great  as  is  New  York's  ratio  to  the  United 
States  in  population,  it  is  greater  still  in  almost  every  branch  of  human 
industry,  and  in  the  prosperity  resulting  therefrom. 

New  York  is  truly  great  in  its  magnificent  and  varied  charities,  public 
and  private,  and  its  provision  for  the  promotion  of  morality  and  religion. 
Its  institutions  for  special  education — for  the  mute  and  the  blind— its 
numerous  reformatories,  asylums,  hospitals,  and  charitable  foundations 
of  every  kind,  as  well  as  penal  institutions,  are  of  the  highest  order  in 
equipment  and  management.  The  State  abounds  in  literary  and  scien- 
tific societies  ;  in  large  public  and  private  libraries  ;  in  works  and  schools 
of  art,  and  ample  appliances  for  the  intellectual  and  social  advancement 
of  every  citizen  of  the  connnon wealth,  of  whatever  race,  color,  or 
condition. 

There  were  in  the  State,  in  1875,  6320  church  organizations,  6243 


THE   HUDSON   RIVER  AND   ITS   ASSOCIATIONS. 


561 


church  edifices,  6115  clergymen,  1,177,537  church-members,  with  an 
adherent  population  of  3,934,690.  The  aggregate  value  of  church 
property  of  every  kind  in  the  State  was  nearly  $118,000,000. 

The  Hudson  River,  the  grand  and  beautiful  "  River  of  the  Moun- 
tains," as  we  have  observed  in  the  first  chapter  of  this  work,  is  clustered 
with  the  most  interesting  legendary  and  historic  associations  from  the 
Wilderness  to  the  Sea,  a  distance  of  three  hundred  miles  or  more.  Its 
upper  waters  witnessed  the  fierce  strifes  for  mastery  between  contending 
tribes  of  barbarians  before  the  advent  of  Europeans,  and  the  struggles 


VAN  RENSSELAER  MANOR  HOUSE. 

(From  a  drawing  made  in  1866.) 


for  dominion  of  the  French  and  English  in  later  times.  Then  followed 
the  victories  of  peace — the  gradual  blossoming  of  a  large  portion  of  that 
region  into  a  paradise  of  beauty  under  the  hand  of  skilled  industry. 

Tlie  tide-water  region  of  the  Hudson  for  fully  sixty  miles  from  the 
ocean  has  been  for  more  than  two  centuries  a  theatre  of  most  remarkable 
social  and  historic  events.  The  principal  of  these  have  been  briefly 
noted  in  preceding  pages. 

Among  the  social  events  on  the  borders  of  the  great  river,  the  creation 
of  "  patroons"  and  manorial  estates  and  privileges  at  the  earlier  period 


562 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


of  the  history  of  the  commonwealth  appear  the  most  conspicaous.  Of 
these  the  manors  of  Rensselaer wyck,  of  Livingston,  of  Van  Cortlandt, 
and  of  Philipse  are  most  prominent. 

The  Van  Rensselaer  Manor  and  patroonship  was,  as  we  have  observed, 
the  first  created,  and  survived  all  the  others,  its  titles  and  privileges  expir- 
ing with  General  Steplien  van  Rensselaer  in  1889.  The  grant  was  made 
to  Killian  van  Rensselaer,  of  Amsterdam,  nnder  a  charter  of  privileges 


JOHN   AND   MAKY   LIVINGSTON. 

and  exemptions  passed  in  1629.  Van  Rensselaer  had  co-partners  at 
first.  In  1685  the  Van  Rensselaer  family  became  sole  owners  of  the 
vast  estate.  The  Manor  House,  modified  several  years  ago,  stands  upon 
the  site  of  the  original  Van  Rensselaer  dwelling,  in  the  northern  suburbs 
of  the  city  of  Albany. 

The  Livingston  Manor  w^as  created  by  a  preliminary  act  of  Governor 
Dongan  in  1685.     Robert  Livingston,  the  first  of  the  name  in  America,* 


*  See  page  108.  The  common  ancestors  of  the  Livingstons  in  America  were  John 
Livingston  and  his  wife  Mary.  He  was  a  great-great-grandson  of  Lord  Livingstone, 
Earl  of  I.iinlithgow.  Scotland.  He  was  exiled,  and  went  to  Rotterdam,  in  Holland,  where 
Robert  learned  the  Dutch  langujige,  afterwanl  emigrated  to  America,  settled  at  Albany, 
as  we  have  observed,  and  became  the  tirst  Lord  of  the  Manor  of  Livingston. 

The  above  delineations  of  the  heads  of  John  and  Mary  Livingston  I  made  many  years 
ago  from  the  original  portraits  then  in  the  pos.session  of  Colonel  Henry  A.  Livingston,  of 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 


THE  MANORS  ON  THE  HUDSON. 


563 


married  the  wealthy  widow  of  Rev.  Nicholas  van  Rensselaer — Alida, 
dauorhter  of  Colonel  Peter  Schuyler,  of  Albany — in  1678.  He  bought 
of  the  Indians  sixty  thousand  acres  of  land  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Hudson  River,  opposite  the  Kaatsbergs  (Catskill  Mountains).  At  the 
time  of  the  creation  of  the  manor,  in  1715,  it  had  increased  by  subse- 
quent purchases  to  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  acres.     The 


LIVINGSTON  LOVS'EK  MANOR   HOUSE. 

patent  given  by  Dongan  was  confirmed  by  royal  authority,  with  the  title 
of  "  Manor  of  Livingston,"  and  in  1716  the  proprietor  exercised 
manorial  privileges.*  He  paid  an  annual  tribute  to  the  crown  of  three 
dollars  and  fifty  cents.  The  manor  was  afterward  divided  into  the 
Upper  and  Lower  Manor.  The  latter  was  called  Clermont.  It  was  the 
home  of  Robert  R,  Livingston,  the  eminent  chancellor.  The  manor 
house  is  not  far  from  Tivoli,  on  the  Hudson. f 


*  The  privileges  of  the  patroons  have  already  been  deflned.  Robert  Livingston,  by 
virtue  of  these  privileges,  took  his  seat  in  the  Provincial  Legislature  in  1716.  He  had 
already  built  a  substantial  manor  house  of  stone  on  a  grassy  point  upon  the  bank  of  the 
Hudson,  at  the  mouth  of  Roeleffe  Jansen  Kill,  now  Ancram  Creek. 

f  The  above  picture  is  that  of  Clermont,  or  the  Lower  Manor  House,  built  by  Chan- 
cellor Livingston,  a  little  below  the  old  Manor  House.  After  the  British  burnt  Kingston 
in  the  fall  of  1777,  they  proceeded  to  Livingston's  manor  and  burnt  both  of  the  houses,  the 
chancellor'.s  mother  then  occupying  the  older  one.  They  were  both  soon  rebuilt.  The 
chancellor  erected  a  more  spacious  and  elegant  dwelling,  and,  as  before,  called  the  place 


564 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


Stephen  van  Cortlandt,*  one  of  the  governor's  council  at  New  York, 
purchased  large  tracts  of  land  in  Westchester  County,  and  in  1697 
eighty-three  thousand  acres  were  by  royal  authority  erected  into  "  the 
lordship  and  manor  of  Courtlandt."  The  manor  and  its  privileges  were 
held  by  the  tenure  of  paying  an  annual  tribute  to  the  crown  of  five 


VAN  CORTLANDT  MANOR  HOUSE. 


dollars.  The  Van  Cortlandt  Manor  House  was  erected  at  the  beginning 
of  the  last  century  by  John  van  Cortlandt,  son  of  the  first  "  lord  of  the 
manor."  It  stands  on  the  right  side  of  the  Croton  River,  near  where 
that  stream  enters  the  Hudson. 

Late  in  the  seventeenth  centurj^  Frederick  Philipsef  bought  of  the 

Clermont.  The  house  is  yet  standing,  and  is  preserved  in  its  original  style  by  its  present 
owners,  the  Clarkson  family,  relatives  of  the  Livingstons.  It  has  a  river  front  of  one 
hundred  and  four  feet,  witli  very  extensive  and  beautiful  grounds  around  it. 

*  Stephen  van  Cortlandt  was  a  son  of  Orloff  Stevens  van  Cortlandt,  who  emigrated  to 
New  Amsterdam  in  Van  Twiller's  time.  Orloff  came  from  South  Holland,  and  was  soon 
engaged  in  public  employment,  holding  alternately  several  civil  offices.  He  was  a  burgo- 
master several  years,  and  being  "  diligent  in  business,"  becjimc  wealthy.  His  wife  was  a 
sister  of  Govert  Loockermans.  His  daughter  Maria  married  Jeremiah  van  Rensselaer, 
the  second  Lord  of  the  Manor  of  Rcnsselaerwyck.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  about  1688, 
his  son  Stephen  was  a  prosperous  merchant.  The  family  name  was  Stevens,  van 
(from)  Courtlandt,  descendants  of  the  Dukes  of  Courtlandt  or  Courland,  in  Russia.  The 
first  Lord  of  the  Manor  married  Gertrude  Schuyler,  and  died  in  the  year  1700. 

f  The  Philipse  (Phillips)  family  descended  from  the  Viscounts  Fclyps,  of  Bohemia. 
The  first  emigi'ant  to  New  Netherland,  Frederick  Philipse,  spelled  his  name  Vrederyck 


THE  PHILIPSE   MANOR. 


565 


Indians  large  tracts  of  land  on  both  sides  of  the  Po-can-te-co  Creeh,  in 
Westchester  County,  fronting  on  the  Hudson  River,  and  comprising 
about  three  hundred  and  ninety  square  miles  of  territory.  In  1693  the 
domain  was,  by  royal  authority,  erected  into  the  "  Lordship  and  Manor 
of  Philipseburg,"  with  all  its  privileges,  subject  to  an  annual  tribute  to 
the  crown   of   a  little  less   than    five  dollars.     The  manor  house  was 


PHILIPSE   LOWER   MANOR  HOUSE. 


strongly  built  of  stone  in  1680,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Po-can-te-co  at 
Tarrytown,  with  port-holes  for  cannons  in  the  high  cellar  walls,  and  was 
called  Philipse  Castle.  There  the  family  lived  until  the  lower  manor  house, 
yet  standing,  was  built  at  Yonkers  in  1745.  Its  interior  exhibits  some 
fine  specimens  of  architecture  executed  nearly  a  century  and  a  half  ago. 

Felypseu.  The  initials  of  liis  name — V.  F. — may  be  seen  on  the  wind-vane  of  the  Sleepy 
Hollow  Church,  near  Tarrytown.  He  arrived  at  New  Amsterdam  in  1658,  purchased  a 
large  estate  there  and  on  the  shores  of  the  Hudson,  and  became  one  of  ^he  founders  of 
the  city  of  New  York. 

The  last  "  Lord  of  the  Manor"  was  Frederick  Philipse,  who  was  at  one  time  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Colonial  Assembly  and  colonel  of  militia.  A+  the  breaking  out  of  the  old  war 
for  independence,  he  took  the  position  of  a  firm  supporter  of  the  Crown.  He  finally  felt 
compelled  to  abandon  his  home  and  take  refuge  with  the  British  army  in  New  York, 
whence  he  embarked  for  England.  His  estates  were  confiscated.  The  British  Govern- 
ment gave  him  about  $300,000  as  a  compensation  for  his  losses.  Colonel  Phillips  was  an 
extremely  large  man.  On  account  of  his  bulk,  his  wife  seldom  rode  in  the  same  carriage 
with  him. 


.566 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


The  city  of  New  York,  which  had  been  scathed  by  flame  and  had  lain 
prone  under  the  heel  of  British  military  power  for  more  than  seven 
years,  at  once  began  its  marvellous  march  toward  greatness  after  peace 
was  restored.  It  very  soon  became  the  chief  commercial  mart  of  the 
nation.  It  was  the  political  capital  of  the  State  for  several  years,*  and 
the  first  seat  of  the  National  Government.  At  the  close  of  the  war  it 
was,  in  population,  only  an  unusually  large  village  ;  at  the  beginning  of 
this  century  it  embraced  over  sixty  thousand  inhabitants. 

New  York  City  has  doubled  its  original  territorial  area  within  a  few 
years,  and  has  now  (1887)  fully  a  million  and  a  half  of  inhabitants.     It 


GOVERNMENT   HOUSE. 


has  become  a  mighty  magnet,  attracting  everything,  hence  its  marvellous 
growth  by  accretion.  Possessors  of  wealth,  of  genius,  and  of  enterprise 
have  come  to  it  from  all  parts  of  the  republic  to  enjoy  its  manifold  advan- 
tages of  education  for  their  children,  the  cultivation  of  aesthetic  tastes, 
the  blessings  of  scientific  instruction,  the  facilities  of  commercial  life,  the 
chances  of  winning  fortunes,  and  the  pleasures  of  almost  boundless  social 
privileges  and  enjoyments. 

Before  and  around  New  York  City  spreads  out  a  magnificent  harbor, 
spacious  enough  to  float  the  navies  of  the  world.     One  of  the  most 


*  On  the  south-east  side  of  the  Bowling  CJreen  a  spacious  and  elegant  mansion  was 
i)iiilt  in  1790,  for  the  purpose  of  a  residence  for  the  President  of  the  Unitetl  States.  It 
was  then  supposed  New  York  City  would  be  the  jxTmanent  seat  of  the  National  Govern- 
ment. When  that  Government  was  transferred  to  Philadelphia,  this  man.sion  Wiis  devoted 
to  the  use  of  the  governors  of  the  State  of  New  York,  while  tlie  city  was  the  seat  of  the 
State  Government.  In  it  Governors  George  Clinton  and  John  Jay  re-sided,  and  it  was 
known  as  the  Government  House.  It  was  built  of  red  brick,  with  Ionic  colunuis  forming 
a  portico  in  front.     The  building  stood  on  slightly  elevated  ground. 


THE  METROPOLITAN  CITY. 


667 


wonderful  results  of  modern  engineering  skill — a  suspension  bridge — 
unites  the  city  in  loving  embrace  to  Brooklyn,  its  superb  offspring,  of 
eight  hundred  thousand  inhabitants.  Near  the  portals  of  the  city 
seaward  stands  the  stupendous  statue  of  Liberty  Enlightening  the 
World,  wrought  by  Bartholdi,  of  Paris,  and  presented  by  the  people  of 
France.      She   bears   aloft  a  mighty  torch  blazing  with  electric   light, 


LIBERTY  ENLIGHTENING  THE  WORLD. 


which  spreads  illumination  over  the  broad  bay,  the  great  city,  and  its 
suburban  municipalities. 

"  New  York  City  is  now  the  metropolis  of  the  republic.  By  the  close 
of  this  century  it  will  probably  be,  in  population,  wealth,  cultivation,  and 
every  element  of  a  state  of  high  civilization,  the  second  city  in  the  world. 
To  the  eye  of  the  optimist  the  time  appears  not  far  distant  when  it  will 
be  the  cosraetropolis.  "* 


*  Lossing's  Uistoi'y  of  New  York  City,  p.  866. 


568  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

Let  us  here  take  a  brief  retrospect  of  the  life  of  the  Empire  State. 

The  Dutch,  who  first  settled  in  the  territory  of  New  York  and 
founded  the  city  by  the  sea,  gave  special  attention  to  the  nurture  of 
religion  and  learning.  As  we  have  observed  on  page  34,  a  clergyman 
and  a  school-teacher  came  from  Holland  to  Manhattan  tosrether.  It  was 
ordered  in  the  charter  of  the  Dutch  AVest  India  Company  that  the 
minister  and  schoolmaster  should  walk  hand  in  hand  in  the  high  employ- 
ment of  educating  the  head  and  heart. 

There  were  members  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church  among  the  early 
traders  at  Manhattan,  and  a  congregation  was  formed  by  Rev.  Jonas 
Michaelas  in  1628.  The  functions  of  both  minister  and  schoolmaster 
were  performed  by  him  until  he  was  succeeded  by  Dominie  Bogardus, 
in  1633,  when  Adam  Roelandsen  became  the  schoolmaster.  The  Dutch 
had  been  accustomed  to  the  blessings  of  free  schools  in  their  fatherland, 
and  they  at  once  established  one  at  Manhattan,  which  has  survived  until 
now,  and  is  a  very  flourishing  parochial  school  of  the  Collegiate  (Dutch 
Reformed)  Church  of  Xew  York  City.* 

*  This  school  is  the  oldest  educational  institution  in  the  United  States.  It  was  founded 
in  1633,  and  has  been  in  continual  operation,  excepting  from  1776  to  1783  (when  the 
British  troops  occupied  New  York),  until  now.  It  wiis  supported  by  the  Colonial  Govern- 
ment for  thirty  years.  The  conquest  of  New  Netherland  by  the  English  in  1664  did  not 
materially  affect  the  Dutch  Church  and  its  school.  The  latter  then  came  under  the  ex- 
clusive control  of  the  church.  The  petty  tyrant  Lord  Cornbury  gave  them  a  little 
temporary  trouble.  Until  1748,  when  it  was  one  hundred  and  fifteen  years  old,  the  school 
had  no  permanent  habitation.  In  that  year  a  small  house  was  built  for  it  in  Garden 
Street,  now  Exchange  Place.  A  new  and  more  spacious  house  was  erected  on  this  site 
in  1773.  Up  to  that  time  no  one  presumed  to  teach  any  but  the  Dutch  language  in  this 
school.  From  the  beginning  until  1808  it  was  under  the  exclusive  control  of  the  minis- 
ters and  deacons  of  tlie  Church.  The  first  feminine  teacher  was  employed  in  1792.  It 
was  not  until  1804  that  English  grammar  was  taught  in  this  school.  Four  years  later 
the  deacons  gave  up  the  control  of  the  school  to  the  rule  of  a  board  of  trustees.  For 
several  years  it  was  conducted  on  the  Lancastrian  plan. 

This  school  has  had,  during  its  two  hundred  and  fifty-six  years  of  existence,  only  sev- 
enteen head  teachers.  James  Forrester  was  tlie  principal  from  1810  until  1842,  when 
Henry  Webb  Diuishee  was  appointed  to  take  his  place,  and  yet  (1887)  occupies  that  exalted 
station,  having  filled  it  for  forty-three  years  consecutively.  The  present  location  of  the 
school  is  in  a  building  known  as  De  Witt  Cliapel,  at  160  West  Twenty-ninth  Street. 
That  building  was  completed  and  the  school  first  occiipied  it  in  1861. 


RELIGIOUS  DENOMINATIONS.  569 

The  doctrine  and  discipline  of  the  Reformed  Church  was  the  ''  State 
religion"  of  New  Netherland  until  the  province  was  seized  by  the 
English  in  1664,  wlien  the  Church  of  England  became  dominant, 
through  official  influence,  and  so  remained  until  the  Revolution  in 
1775.  Previous  to  the  latter  period  the  principal  denominations  in 
the  colony,  in  numbers,  as  we  have  observed,  were  the  Episcopalians 
(Church  of  England  and  Moravians),  Dutch  and  Englisli  Presbyterians, 
Independents  or  Congregationalists,  and  Lutherans.  The  latter  were 
among  the  earlier  settlers  at  Manhattan,  but  had  no  minister  ;  and  when 
they  were  numerous  enough  to  support  a  minister,  Stuy  vesant  would  not 
allow  them  to  have  one.  They  had  full  liberty  under  English  rule,  and 
built  their  iirst  house  for  worship  in  New  York  in  1671.  There  were 
large  accessions  to  their  number  from  the  emigration  of  the  German 
Palatines,  to  the  State  in  1710.* 

Although  the  Episcopalians  in  the  province  were  as  one  to  fifteen  in 
numbers  compared  w^ith  other  denominations,  attempts  were  made  from 
time  to  time  to  transplant  into  the  province  of  New  York  the  ecclesias- 
tical establishment  of  the  Anglican  Church.  To  this  end  some  of  the 
colonial  governors  bent  their  energies,  and  often  produced  violent  tem- 
porary excitements  and  permanent  uneasiness.  Bat  the  steady  and 
determined  opposition  of  the  great  body  of  the  "  dissenters,"  as  the 
other  sects  were  collectively  but  erroneously  called,  prevented  such  a 
calamity.  As  the  quarrel  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  old  war  for 
independence  waxed  hotter  and  hotter,  the  subject  assumed  a  political 
aspect,  and  one  of  the  most  significant  slogans  of  the  patriots  of  the  early 
period  of  the  Revolution  was  : 

' '  A  Church  without  c  bishop, 
A  State  witliout  a  king. ' ' 

The  political  condition  of  New  York  before  the  old  war  for  indepen- 
dence was  that  of  a  dependent  of  the  British  crown,  governed  by  the  laws 

*  Early  in  the  eighteentli  century  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Lower  Palatinate, 
lying  on  both  sides  of  the  Rhine,  in  Germany,  were  driven  from  their  homes  by  the  perse- 
cution of  Louis  XIV.  of  France.  England  received  many  of  these  Protestant  fugitives. 
In  the  spring  of  1708,  on  the  petition  of  Joshua  Kockerthal  (evangelical  minister  of  a 
body  of  Lutherans),  for  himself  and  thirty-nine  others  to  be  transported  to  America,  an 
order  was  issued  by  Queen  Anne  in  council  for  such  transportation,  and  their  natm-aliza- 
tion  before  leaving  England.  The  Queen  provided  for  them  at  her  own  expense.  This 
first  company  of  Palatines  landed  on  Governor's  Island,  in  the  harbor  of  New  York,  and 
afterward  settled  near  the  site  of  Newburgh,  on  the  Hudson,  in  the  spring  of  1709.  In 
1710  a  larger  emigration  of  Palatines  to  America  occurred,  under  the  guidance  of  Robert 
Hunter,  Governor  of  New  York,  as  we  have  observed  on  page  137. 


570  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

of  Parliament,  and  compelled  to  suffer  taxation  and  oppressive  commer- 
cial regulations  without  the  privilege  of  representation  in  the  imperial 
legislature.  The  governor  and  his  eleven  councilmen  were  appointed  by 
the  monarch,  but  their  salaries  were  paid  by  the  colonists  out  of  the 
revenue  created  by  customs  receipts.  The  freeholders  elected  a  General 
Assembly  of  representatives,  but  the  great  mass  of  the  "  commonalty" 
had  really  no  political  privileges  or  powers.  The  relative  position  of  the 
Council  in  legislation  was  that  of  the  British  House  of  Lords.  They 
also  had  some  judicial  power,  and  were  a  sort  of  Privy  Council,  with 
the  governor  at  their  head  during  sessions.  They  assumed  much  dignity. 
Each  was  entitled  "  The  Honorable,"  and  the  Council  sent  messages  to 
the  Assembly  by  one  of  their  own  members,  when  the  "  lower  house" 
would  rise  to  receive  him. 

The  General  Assembly  consisted  of  twenty-seven  members  (in  1760), 
representing  the  several  counties,  two  boroughs,  and  the  three  manors  of 
Rensselaer wyck,  Livingston,  and  Cortlandt.  They  met  in  the  Assembly 
Chamber  in  the  city  of  New  York.  Thirteen  constituted  a  quorum  for 
business.  After  they  had  taken  the  prescribed  oath  they  Avere  called 
before  the  governor,  who  recommended  their  choice  of  speaker,  who 
was,  of  course,  elected.  They  presented  him  to  the  governor  in  the 
Council  Chamber,  when  the  latter  approved  their  choice.  Then  the 
speaker  addressed  the  governor,  and  on  behalf  of  the  Assembly  prayed 
"  that  their  words  and  actions  might  have  favorable  construction  ;  that  the 
members  might  have  free  access  to  him,  and  that  they  and  their  servants 
be  privileged  with  freedom  from  arrests."  After  promising  tliese  things 
the  governor  read  his  speech  to  both  Houses,  and  gave  it  to  the  speaker 
for  the  use  of  the  Assembly.     Then  the  latter  proceeded  to  business. 

The  Assembly  made  the  British  House  of  Commons  the  model  for 
their  proceedings,  and  seldom  varied  from  it.  All  bills  were  sent  to  the 
governor,  who  submitted  them  to  his  Council.  When  they  were  signed 
by  him  they  were  published  by  being  read  to  the  people  in  front  of  the 
City  Hall,  or  State  House,  in  the  presence  of  the  governor  and  both 
Houses.  The  continuance  of  the  Assembly  was  unlimited  until  early  in 
the  administration  of  Governor  Clinton,  when  it  was  restricted  to  seven 
years.* 

*  The  pay  of  the  members  of  the  Assembly  varied  with  the  locality  represented.  It 
was  as  follows  :  City  and  county  of  New  York,  and  the  counties  of  Westchester,  Kings, 
Queens,  Richmond,  Ulster,  Duchess,  and  Orange,  mu-  shillings  a  day  ;  city  and  county 
of  Albany,  teji  shillings  ;  Suffolk  County,  nine  shillings  ;  the  borough  of  Westchester, 
the  town  of  Schenectady,  and  the  Manors  of  Reusselaerwyck,  Livingston,  and  Cortland, 
ten  shillings  a  day. 


THE  COURTS.   TRADE  AND   SETTLERS.  671 

The  laws  were  administered  by  justices,  Sessions  and  Common  Pleas 
courts  ;  a  Supreme  Court  ;  a  Court  of  Admiralty,  which  had  jurisdiction 
in  all  maritime  affairs  ;  a  Prerogative  Court,  the  business  of  which 
related  to  wills,  administrators,  etc.,  the  emoluments  of  which  were 
perquisites  of  the  governor,  who  acted  ordinarily  by  a  delegate  ;  the 
Court  of  the  Governor  and  Council,  which  was  a  sort  of  court  of  appeals, 
and  the  Court  of  Chancery,  which  was  absolutely  under  the  control  of 
the  governor.  This  court  was  an  exceedingly  obnoxious  tribunal.  All 
the  courts  were  modelled  after  those  of  the  same  grade  in  England. 

The  trade  and  manufactures  of  New  York  before  the  Revolution 
suffered,  in  common  wutli  that  of  otlier  colonies,  from  unwise  navigation 
laws  and  oppressive  restrictions  inflicted  by  Great  Britain  ;  yet  the  very 
favorable  geographical  and  topographical  position  of  its  fine  seaport  and 
commercial  mart  gave  the  province  great  advantages  over  other  colonies 
for  the  prosecution  of  foreign  trade.  Its  people  grew  rich  and  pros- 
perous in  spite  of  governmental  obstructions. 

The  population  of  the  province  at  near  the  close  of  the  colonial  period 
was  not  as  large  as  many  imagined  it  to  be.  Scarcely  one  third  part  of 
its  tillable  land  was  under  cultivation.  Its  vast  agricultural  and  mineral 
resources  were  almost  entirely  unsuspected.  Connecticut,  the  area  of 
which  was  one  tenth  that  of  New  York,  had  forty  thousand  more  inhab- 
itants than  its  immediate  neighbor  on  the  west  in  1760.  There  had 
been  many  discouragements  to  settlements  in  New  York,  the  chief  of 
which  were  the  frequent  and  fearful  incursions  of  the  French  and  Indians, 
and  the  making  of  it  a  sort  of  penal  colony  by  the  British  Government, 
which  sent  swarms  of  its  criminals  hither.* 

All  things  were  changed  by  the  results  of  the  w^ar  for  independence. 
New  York  became  a  component  part  of  a  vigorous  young  nation.  The 
fetters  which  had  so  long  bound  its  industries  and  its  commerce  had  been 
removed.  It  was  an  independent  though  not  a  sovereign  state.  It  had 
a  Constitution  which  guaranteed  to  its  citizens  political  and  religious 
freedom.  Like  a  giant  rising  from  refreshing  slumbers,  it  went  forth 
on  its  bounding  career  the  very  moment  the  clarion  of  peace  was  sounded. 
There  was  then  assured  safety  for  life  and  property  within  its  border, 

*  "  It  is  too  well  known,"  wrote  William  Livingston  in  1752,  "  that,  in  pursuance  of 
divers  acts  of  Parliament,  great  numbers  of  felons,  who  have  forfeited  their  lives  to  the 
public  for  the  most  atrocious  crimes,  are  annually  transported  from  home  to  these  planta- 
tions. Very  surprising,  one  would  think,  that  these  burglars,  pickpockets,  and  cut-purses, 
and  a  herd  of  the  most  flagitious  banditti  upon  earth,  should  be  sent  as  agreeable  com- 
panions to  us  !"  Allusion  has  been  made  to  the  character  of  the  people  of  the  province 
at  that  time  in  Chapter  XI. 


572  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

and  a  tide  of  emigration  flowed  steadily  in.  The  wilderness  speedily 
began  to  "  blossom  as  the  rose." 

Able  statesmen  and  jurists  have  been  abundant  in  New  York  from 
the  time  of  its  political  organization.  Among  tlie  most  conspicuous 
names  appear  those  of  John  Jay,  Robert  R.  Livingston,  Gouverneur 
Morris,  Alexander  Hamilton,  De  Witt  Clinton,  Chancellor  Kent, 
Ambrose  Spencer,  Samuel  Jones,  Martin  Van  Buren,  Silas  Wright, 
"William  II.  Seward,  and  Thomas  J.  Oakley. 

Literature  has  had  its  representatives  at  every  period  in  the  history  of 
the  Empire  State.  John  de  Laet,  one  of  the  most  active  of  the  directors 
of  the  Dutch  West  India  Company,  and  a  resident  of  New  Netherland 
for  a  while,  gave  to  Europe  a  History  of  the  West  Indies  (which 
included  New  Netherland)  in  164-0.  In  1670  Daniel  Denton  wrote  tlie 
first  (it  is  supposed)  Description  of  New  Yorh^  with  the  Country  of  tlie 
Indians,  in  the  English  language  ;  and  in  1697  Daniel  Leeds  issued  a 
pamplilet  at  New  York  against  the  Quakers  of  Philadelphia, 

One  of  the  most  learned  men  of  the  province  during  the  first  half  of 
the  eighteenth  century  was  Dr.  Cadwallader  Colden,  author  of  a  history 
of  the  Iroquois  Confederacy  and  many  scientific  essays.  William  Smith 
wrote  a  history  of  the  province  down  to  his  time,  which  was  published 
in  1757.  Mrs.  Ann  Eliza  Bleecker,  daughter  of  Brant  Schuyler,  wrote 
poetry  and  stories  for  the  press,  and  Dr.  Myles  Cooper,  President  of 
King's  College,  and  Dr.  Auchmuty,  on  one  side,  and  William  Livingston 
on  the  other,  were  vigorous  and  prolific  political  and  theological  con- 
troversialists with  the  pen  in  the  last  colonial  decade.  There  were  also, 
during  the  stormy  discussions  before  the  kindling  of  the  old  war  for 
independence,  younger  but  equally  able  writers,  such  as  Alexander 
Hamilton,  John  Jay,  and  Gouverneur  Morris  ;  while  James  Rivington 
was  an  able  journalist. 

The  "  Poet  of  the  Revolution"  was  Philip  Frenean,  a  native  of  New 
York  City.  Lindley  Murray,  a  resident  of  New  York  since  1753, 
published  his  English  Grammar  and  English  Reader  for  the  edification 
of  millions,  before  the  close  of  the  century.  At  that  period  William 
Dunlap,  painter,  playwright,  theatre  manager,  and  historian,  began  his 
career.  He  wrote  a  History  of  New  York,  a  History  of  the  American 
Theatre,  and  a  History  of  the  Arts  of  Design  in  America. 

Great  intellectual  activity  was  manifested  in  New  York  early  in  the 
present  century.  The  most  conspicuous  of  the  many  writers  at  that  time 
were  Washington  Irving,*  his  brother,  Peter,  and  James  K.  Paulding, 

*  Washington  Irving  was  born  in  New  York  City,  April  3d,  1783  ;  died  at  Sunny- 
side,  liis  seat  on  the  Hudson,  November  23d,  1859.     His  father  was  a  Scotch  emigrant. 


LITERARY  MEN. 


573 


their  brother-in-law.  They  were  joined  by  James  Fenimore  Cooper 
a  little  later.  Irving  began  authorship  in  1802  as  a  writer  for  his 
brother's  journal,  The  Morning 
Chronicle.  His  work  of  rare  hu- 
mor, Knickerhocker  s  History  of 
New  York^  appeared  in  1808. 
Paulding  had  lately  joined  him 
and  his  brother  in  writing  the  Sal- 
magundi papers.  His  Sketch 
Book  charmed  readers  in  both 
hemispheres.  Later  in  life  he 
became  an  eminent  biographer  and 
historian.  Cooper  began  his  lit- 
erary career  as  a  novelist  about 
1820,  and  produced  over  thirty 
volumes  of  fiction  distinctly  Am- 
erican in  character. 

Contemporary  with  Irving  and 
Cooper*  were  I)e  Witt  Clinton, 
William  L.  Stone,  Gulian  C.  Yer- 
planck,  Fitz- Greene  Halleck,   Joseph    Rodman    Drake,   and  Henry  R. 
Schoolcraft,  all  (excepting  Halleck)  natives  of  New  York.     Stone,  the 


WASHINGTON    IHVING, 


and  his  mother  an  Englishwoman.  At  tlie  age  of  nineteen  he  wrote  a  series  of  papers 
for  The  Morning  Chronicle,  over  the  signature  of  "  Jonathan  Oldstyle,"  which  attracted 
much  attention.  His  Knickerbocker')!  Hixtory  of  New  York,  a  most  liumorous  caricature 
of  the  Dutch  d}-nasty  on  Manhattan  Ishmd,  set  everybody  laughing,  and  much  irritated 
some  of  the  descendants  of  the  first  Dutch  settlers  at  New  Amsterdam.  Irving  was  tnen 
only  twenty-six  years  of  age.  He  edited  the  Analectic  Magazine  during  the  War  of 
1813-15.  Failing  health  induced  him  to  go  to  Europe,  where  he  resided  seventeen 
years,  and  gained  a  great  literary  reputation.  He  was  Secretary  of  the  American  Lega- 
tion in  London  from  1829  to  1831,  and  received  the  fifty-guinea  gold  medal  provided  by 
George  IV.  for  eminence  in  historical  composition.  In  May,  1832,  Mr.  Irving  returned 
to  New  York,  and  kept  busy  with  his  pen.  He  was  appointed  Minister  to  Spain  in  1842. 
where  he  remained  four  years.  On  his  return  he  revised  all  his  works  for  publication. 
His  last  and  greatest  work  was  a  Life  of  Washington  in  five  octavo  volumes.  The  hon- 
orary degree  of  LL.D.  was  conferred  upon  him  by  Harvard  College,  Oxford  (Eng.) 
University,  and  Columbia  College. 

*  James  Fenimore  Cooper  was  born  at  Burlington,  N.  J.,  September  15th,  1789  ;  died 
at  Cooperstown,  N.  Y.,  September  14th,  1851.  He  was  a  son  of  Judge  William  Cooper, 
one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Central  New  York.  For  six  years  he  was  in  the  United  States 
Navy,  and  in  1811  he  married  a  sister  of  the  late  Bishop  De  Lancey.  His  life  was 
chiefly  devoted  to  literature.  His  first  novel  was  Precaution,  published  in  1821,  which 
was  rather  coldly  received.  Then  followed  his  Spy,  The  Pioneers,  and  the  Leather- 
stocking  Tales  in  quick  succession,  which  gave  him  great  fame  as  an  American  novelist. 


574 


THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 


eminent  journalist,  wrote  lives  of  Brant,  Red  Jacket,  and  Sir  William 
Johnson,  the  latter  finiehed  by  his  son.  Verplanck  was  an  accomplished 
essayist  and  one  of  the  best-known  men  in  the  social  circles  of  New 
York  for  fifty  years.  Drake  was  a  gentle  poet,  of  whom  Ilalleck  at  his 
death  wrote  : 

"  None  knew  tliee  but  to  love  tliee  ; 
None  named  thee  but  to  praise. ' ' 

Schoolcraft  became  high  autliority  concerning  the  Indians.     The  name 

of  Samuel  Woodworth,  author 
of  ''The  Old  Oaken  Bucket" 
and  "  The  House  I  Live  In," 
deserves  special  mention  in  this 
connection. 

One  of  the  most  painstaking 
and  trustworthy  of  the  historians 
of  New  York  was  John  R.  Brod- 
head,*  who  died  in  1S73.  By 
direction  of  the  Legislature  of 
New  York,  as  its  agent,  he  search- 
ed the  historical  archives  of  Hol- 
land, England,  and  France  for 
documents  relating  to  the  colonial 
period  of  this  State,  and  brought 
home  copies  of  more  than  five 
thousand  valuable  papers,  which 
the  State  published  in  eleven 
quarto  volumes.  He  had  published  two  volumes  of  an  elaborate  history 
of  New  York  State,  which  he  was  preparing,  when  death  ended  his 
earthly  career.  Among  the  names  of  historians  of  portions  of  the  State, 
those  of  W.  W.  Campbell,  Jeptha  B.  Simnis,  Robert  Bolton,  Jr.,  Dr. 
Franklin  B.  Hough,  Henry  B.  Dawson,  and  Martha  J.  Lamb  appear 

Mr.  Cooper  went  to  Europe  in  1826,  and  remained  there  until  1833.  lie  wrote  a  History 
of  the  United  States  Navy,  Lives  of  American  Naval  Officers,  in  two  volumes  ;  also  wrote  a 
comedy,  which  was  performed  in  New  York  in  1850. 

*  John  Romej-n  Brodhead,  son  of  Rev.  .Jacob  Brodhead,  was  born  in  Philadelphia 
January  2d,  1814  ;  died  in  New  York  City,  May  6th,  1873.  lie  was  graduated  at 
Rutgers  College  in  1831  ;  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1835  ;  was  attached  to  the  American 
Legation  at  the  Hague  in  1839,  and  procured  for  the  State  of  New  York  copies  of  impor- 
tant documents,  mentioned  in  the  text.  Mr.  Brodhead  was  Secretary  to  the  American 
Legation  at  London  from  1846  till  1849.  On  his  return  he  began  the  preparation  of  an 
(exhaustive  history  of  the  State  of  New  York,  but  did  not  live  to  complete  it.  The  first 
volume  was  published  in  1853  and  the  second  in  1871,  which  brings  the  history  down  to 
the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century. 


JAMES    FENIMORE   COOPER. 


ARTS  AND  ARTISTS.  575 

most  conspicuous.  The  latest  and  most  trustworthy  writer  on  the 
Iroquois  Confederacy  was  Louis  Morgan,  who  died  in  1881. 

In  the  reahn  of  poetry  New  York  is  most  prominently  represented 
by  "William  Cullen  Bryant.  Though  a  native  of  another  State,  he  was 
a  resident  of  this  commonwealth  from  his  young  manhood.  George 
P.  Morris,  also  a  resident  from  the  period  of  his  young  manhood,  ranks 
among  its  best  song-writers. 

Among  scientific  writers,  Drs.  Samuel  L.  Mitchell,  David  Hosack, 
John  "W.  Francis,  John  Torrey,  Professor  James  Renwick,  and  Dr. 
John  W.  Draper  (all  but  the  latter  natives  of  Xew  York)  appear  most 
conspicuous. 

In  no  State  in  the  Union  are  the  fine  arts  more  widely  cultivated 
and  fostered  than  in  the  commonwealth  of  New  York.  Besides  the  vast 
treasures  of  art  found  in  New  York  City,*  other  cities  and  villages  and 
private  homes  in  various  parts  of  the  State  exhibit  rare  and  costly  works 
of  painters,  sculptors,  and  engravers,  while  in  every  direction  great  taste 
in  architecture  is  displayed. 

Some  of  the  more  eminent  resident  artists  of  New  York  have  not  been 
natives  of  the  State.  Colonel  J.  Trumbull  was  born  in  Connecticut  ; 
John  Wesley  Jarvis  and  Thomas  Cole  came  from  England  ;  Professor 
S.  F.  B.  Morse  (made  more  famous  than  any  others  by  his  scientific 
achievements  in  electro-magnetic  telegraphy)  was  a  native  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  A.  B.  Durand,  the  most  eminent  American  engraver  on 
steel, t  was  born  in  New  Jersey.     But  Henry  Inman  and  Charles  L. 

*  The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art  in  the  city  of  New  York,  unddt  the  direction  of 
General  L.  P.  di  Cesnola,  has  already  become  the  most  attractive  and  important  deposi- 
tory of  rare  works  of  art  on  this  continent.  Within  the  space  of  three  months,  in  the 
spring  of  1887,  it  was  enriched  by  paintings  from  the  studios  of  the  most  famous  artists 
in  the  world,  presented  to  the  institution  by  generous  citizens  of  the  metroix)lis.  The 
aggregate  value  of  these  gifts  amounted  to  almost  $1,000,000.  Other  valuable  pictures 
have  since  been  given. 

f  New  York  City  was  the  birthplace  of  Alexander  Anderson,  the  pioneer  engraver 
on  wood  in  America,  who  was  born  in  April,  1775.  His  father  was  a  Scotchman,  and 
the  publislier  of  a  small  Whig  newspaper  in  New  York  entitled  The  Constitutiorud 
Oazette.  He  tied  to  Connecticut  with  his  types  and  his  family  when  the  British  took 
New  York  in  1776.  Young  Anderson  graduated  at  the  Medical  School  of  Columbia  Col- 
lege, and  was  a  practising  physician  for  a  while  ;  but,  preferring  art,  he  devoted  himself 
to  engraving  tirst  on  type-metal  and  copper.  His  first  knowledge  of  the  use  of  wood  for 
engraving  pictures  upon  was  derived  from  a  copy  of  Bewick's  Birds.  He  had  then  com- 
pleted, on  type-metal,  about  one  half  of  the  illustrations  of  the  Looking-glass  for  the 
Mind,  when  he  abandoned  the  metal  and  made  the  rest  on  wood.  He  practised  that 
branch  of  art  all  the  rest  of  his  life.  His  last  engraving  was  left  half  finished,  when  he 
was  in  tlie  ninety-fifth  year  of  his  age.  I  have  two  of  his  first  wood-engravings  ;  also  the 
half-finished  one,  his  last.  They  were  executed  seventy -five  years  apart.  He  died  in 
Jersey  City,  N.  .J. ,  in  January,  1870. 


576  THE  EMPIRE  STATE. 

Elliott,  the  foremost  portrait  painters  of  their  day,  Robert  W.  Weir  and 
Daniel  Huntington,  eminent  portrait,  historical,  and  genre  painters,  and 
Thomas  Crawford,  the  sculptor,  were  all  born  in  the  State  of  New 
York.  Professor  Morse  was  the  chief  founder  of  the  National  Academy 
of  the  Arts  of  Design  at  New  York,  and  Mr.  Huntington  is  now  (1887)  its 
president.  General  Thomas  S.  Cummings,  who  for  a  generation  or  more 
was  the  leading  painter  of  portraits  in  miniature  in  New  York  City, 
and  was  for  forty  years  the  treasurer  of  the  Academy,  is  now,  in  the 
eighty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  the  sole  survivor  of  the  founders  of  that 
institution. 

THE    END. 


APPENDIX. 


COUNTIES   OF  THE   STATE   OF  NEW  YORK. 

On  pages  97,  98  are  given  brief  accounts  of  the  organization  of  the  ten 
counties  in  New  York  which  were  first  established,  with  delineations  of 
their  respective  seals.*  Below  may  be  found  similar  accounts  of  the 
remaining  fifty  counties  with  the  population  of  each  in  1875  and  1880. 

Allegany  County  was  formed  from  Genesee  County,  April  11th, 
1806,  A  portion  of  Steuben  County  was  annexed,  March  11th,  1808. 
Portions  of  it  were  given  to  Genesee  in  1811,  to  Wyoming  and  Living- 
ston in  1846,  and  again  to  Livingston  in  1856.  Population  in  1875  was 
41,721 ;  in  1880  it  was  41,810. 

Bkoome  County  M^as  formed  from  Tioga,  March  28th,  1806,  and  was 
so  named  in  honor  of  Lieutenant-Governor  John  Broome,  who  gave  it  a 
silver  seal.  Oswego  and  Berkshire  were  annexed  to  Tioga  County, 
March  21st,  1822.  Population  in  1875  was  47,913  ;  in  1880  it  was 
49,488. 

Cati'Araugus  County  was  formed  from  Genesee  County,  March  11th, 
1808.     Population  in  1875  was  48,477  ;  in  1880  it  was  55,806. 

Cayuga  County  was  formed  from  Onondaga  County,  March  8th, 
1799.  It  is  a  long,  narrow  county.  Its  name  is  derived  from  one  of  the 
Six  Nations.      Population  in  1875  was  61,213  ;  in  1880  it  was  65,081. 

Chautauqua  County  was  formed  from  Genesee,  March  8th,  1808.  It 
lies  upon  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  State. 
Population  in  1875  was  64,869  ;  in  1880  it  was  65,342. 


*  In  the  accounts  on  pages  97,  98  the  population  of  each  of  the  ten  counties  is  not 
given.     The  subjoined  table  will  supply  an  omission  : 


Population. 

Counties. 

Population. 

1875. 

1880. 

1875. 

1880. 

Albany 

147,530 

76,056 

509,216 

1,046,087 

85,252 

154,890 
79,184 

599,495 

1,206,299 

88,220 

Queens 

84,131 
35,241 

52,088 

90  574 

Duchess 

Richmond 

Suffolk 

38,991 

Kinjrs 

53  888 

New  York 

Ulster 

88  971         85  888 

Orange 

Westchester j    100  fifiO      108  988 

' 

' 

578 


APPENDIX. 


COUNTY  SEALS. 


APPENDIX. 


579 


COUNTY  SEALS. 


580  APPENDIX. 

Chemung  County  was  formed  from  Tioga  County,  March  29th,  1836. 
The  name  is  derived  from  the  Indian  title  of  the  principal  stream  trav- 
ersing it,  and  signifies,  it  is  said,  "  "Big  horn  in  the  water."  Population 
in  1875  was  41,879  ;  in  1880  it  was  43,065. 

Chenango  County  was  formed  from  Herkimer  and  Tioga  counties, 
March  15th,  1798.  Sangerfield  (Oneida  County)  was  taken  from  it  in 
1804,  and  Madison  County  in  1806.  It  is  an  interior  county.  Popula- 
tion in  1875  was  39,937  ;  in  1880  it  was  39,891. 

Clinton  County  was  formed  from  Washington,  March  7th,  1788,  and 
was  so  named  in  honor  of  Governor  George  Clinton.  In  1799  Essex 
County  was  taken  from  it,  St.  Lawrence  County  was  provisionally  annexed 
to  it  in  1801,  and  taken  off  in  1802,  and  Franklin  County  was  taken 
from  it  in  1808,  It  lies  upon  Lake  Champlain,  and  is  the  northeast 
county  of  the  State.  Population  in  1875  was  49,761 ;  in  1880  it  was  50,897. 

Columbia  County  was  formed  from  Albany,  April  4th,  1786.  It  lies 
on  the  east  bank  of  the  Hudson  River,  between  Duchess  and  Rensselaer 
counties,  and  extends  east  to  the  Massachusetts  line.  Population  in 
1875  was  47,756  ;  in  1880  it  was  47,928. 

Cortland  County  was  formed  from  Onondaga,  April  8th,  1808.  It 
was  named  in  honor  of  Pierre  Van  Cortlandt,  the  first  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  the  State,  who  was  an  extensive  owner  of  land  in  that  region. 
It  lies  near  the  centre  of  the  State.  Population  in  1875  was  24,500  ;  in 
1880  it  was  25,825. 

Delaware  County  was  formed  from  Ulster  and  Otsego  counties, 
March  10th,  1797.  It  lies  upon  the  headwaters  of  the  Delaware  River. 
Population  in  1875  was  42,149  ;  in  1880  it  was  42,721. 

DucuESs  County.     See  page  98  and  note,  page  577. 

Erie  County  was  formed  from  ^Niagara  County,  April  2d,  1821.  It 
lies  upon  Lake  Erie  and  Niagara  River  on  the  west  line  of  the  State. 
Population  in  1875  was  199,570  ;  in  1880  it  was  219,884. 

Essex  County  was  formed  from  Clinton  County,  March  1st,  1799.  In 
the  erection  of  Franklin  County  in  1808  a  corner  was  taken  from  Essex. 
It  is  upon  Lake  Champlain.  Population  in  1875  was  34,474  ;  in  1880  it 
was  34,515. 

Franklin  County  was  formed  from  Clinton  County,  March  11th,  1806. 
It  was  named  in  honor  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Franklin.  On  March  22d,  1822, 
a  small  portion  of  it  was  annexed  to  Essex  County.  Population  in  1875 
was  31,581  ;  in  1880  it  was  32,390. 

Fulton  County  was  formed  from  Montgomery  County,  April  18th, 
1838,  and  was  so  named  in  honor  of  Robert  Fulton.  It  lies  north  of  the 
Mohawk  River.    Population  in  1875  was  30,188  ;  in  1880  it  was  30,985. 


APPENDIX.  581 

Genesee  County  was  formed  from  Ontario,  March  30tli,  1S02.  It 
originally  comprised  all  that  part  of  the  State  lying  west  of  the  Genesee 
River,  and  a  line  extending  due  south  from  the  junction  of  the  Genesee 
and  Canaseraga  Creek  to  the  southern  line  of  the  State.  In  1806  Alle- 
gany was  taken  from  it  ;  Cattaraugus,  Chautauqua  and  N'iagara  in  1808  ; 
parts  of  Livingston  and  Monroe  in  1821  ;  Orleans  in  1824,  and  Wyoming 
in  1841.     Population  in  1875  was  32,551  ;  in  1880  it  was  32,806. 

Greene  County  was  formed  from  Albany  and  Ulster  counties,  March 
25th,  1800,  and  named  in  honor  of  General  Nathaniel  Greene,  of  the 
Revolution.  It  lies  upon  the  west  bank  of  the  Hudson  River.  Popu- 
lation in  1875  was  32,554  ;  in  1880  it  was  32,695. 

Hamilton  County  was  formed  from  Montgomery  County,  February 
12th,  1816.  It  was  named  inhonbr  of  Alexander  Hamilton.  The  terri- 
tory was  included  in  Herkimer  County  in  1791,  but  was  reannexed  to 
Montgomery  in  March,  1797.  It  occupies  the  central  portion  of  the 
great  northern  wilderness.  Its  organization  can  only  be  complete  when 
it  has  a  population  sufficient  to  entitle  it  to  a  Member  of  Assembly. 
Population  in  1875  was  3,482  ;  in  1880  it  was  3,923. 

Herkimer  County  was  formed  from  Montgomery,  February  16th, 
1791.  "  The  name,"  says  Dr.  Hough,  "  was  originally  spelled  Erg- 
hemar."  It  was  named  in  honor  of  General  Herkimer,  fatally  wounded 
at  Oriskany,  who  signed  his  name  Herkheimer,  Onondaga  County  was 
taken  from  Herkimer  in  1794  ;  Oneida  and  part  of  Chenango  in  1798  ; 
parts  of  Montgomery  County  were  annexed  to  it,  April  7th,  1817  ;  and 
parts  of  Richfield  and  Plainfield,  of  Otsego  County,  were  annexed  in 
forming  the  town  of  Winfield  in  1816.  Population  in  1875  was  41,692  ; 
in  1880  it  was  42,669. 

Jefferson  County  was  formed  from  Oneida,  March  28th,  1805,  and 
named  in  honor  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  then  President  of  the  United 
States.     Population  in  1875  was  65,362  ;  in  1880  it  was  66,103. 

Kings  County.     See  page  98  and  note  on  page  577. 

Lewis  County  was  formed  from  Oneida,  March  28th,  1805,  and  named 
in  honor  of  Morgan  Lewis,  the  Governor  of  the  State.  Slight  changes 
have  been  made  in  its  boundary.  It  lies  mostly  within  the  Black  River 
Valley.     Population  in  1875  was  29,236  ;  in  1880  it  was  31,416. 

Livingston  County  was  formed  from  Genesee  and  Ontario,  February 
23d,  1821.  In  1846  a  portion  of  Allegany  was  annexed,  and  in  1856 
another  portion.     Population  in  1875  was  38,564  ;  in  1880  it  was  39,562. 

Madison  County  was  formed  from  Chenango,  March  21st,  1806,  and 
named  in  honor  of  James  Madison,  afterward  President  of  the  United 
States.     Population  in  1875  was  42,490  ;  in  1880  it  was  44,112. 


582 


APPENDIX. 


COUNTY  SEATiS. 


APPENDIX. 


588 


COUNTY   SEAL,8. 


584  APPENDIX. 

Monroe  County  was  formed  from  Ontario  and  Genesee  counties, 
February  23d,  1821,  and  named  in  honor  of  James  Monroe,  then  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  Population  in  1875  was  134,534  ;  in  1880  it 
was  144,903. 

Montgomp:ry  County  was  formed  from  Albany  County,  March  12th, 
1772,  under  the  name  of  Tryon  County,  so  called  in  honor  of  the  Royal 
Governor,  William  Tryon.  Its  name  was  changed  on  April  2d,  1784,  in 
honor  of  General  Richard  Montgomery.  Ontario  was  taken  from  it  in 
1789  ;  Herkimer,  Oswego,  and  Tioga  in  1791  ;  Hamilton  in  1810,  and 
Fulton  in  1838.     Population  in  1875  was  35,200  ;  in  1880  it  was  38,315. 

I's'ew  York  County.     See  page  97  and  note  on  page  577. 

Niagara  County  was  formed  from  Genesee,  March  11th,  1808.  Erie 
was  taken  from  it  x\pril  2d,  1821.  It  lies  in  the  angle  formed  by  the 
junction  of  the  Niagara  River  and  Lake  Ontario.  Population  in  1875 
was  51,904  ;  in  1880  it  was  54,173. 

Oneida  County  was  formed  from  Herkimer,  March  15th,  1798.  In 
1805  Lewis  and  Jefferson  counties  were  taken  from  it,  also  a  part  of 
Oswego  County  in  1816.  In  1801  portions  of  it  were  annexed  to  Clinton 
County,  and  some  to  Madison  County  in  1836.  In  1804  a  part  of 
Chenango  County  was  annexed.  Its  name  is  derived  from  one  of  the 
Six  Nations.     Population  in  1875  was  113,967  ;  in  1880  it  was  115,475. 

Onondaga  County  was  formed  from  Herkimer,  March  5th,  1794,  and 
included  the  "  Military  Tract."  Cayuga  was  taken  from  it,  March  8th, 
1799,  Cortland,  April  8th,  1808,  and  a  part  of  Oswego,  March  Ist,  1816. 
Its  name  was  derived  from  one  of  the  Six  Nations.  Population  in  1875 
was  113,223  ;  in  1880  it  was  117,893. 

Ontario  County  was  formed  from  Montgomery  County,  January 
27th,  1789.  Its  name  was  derived  from  the  great  lake  which  originally 
formed  its  northern  border.  Steuben  County  was  taken  from  it  in  1796, 
Genesee  in  1802  ;  parts  of  Montgomery  and  Livingston  in  1821,  and 
Yates  and  a  part  of  Wayne  in  1823.  A  strip  from  Montgomery  County, 
west  of  Seneca  Lake,  was  annexed  February  16th,  1791,  and  a  small 
tract  from  Steuben,  February  25th,  1814.  Population  in  1875  was  47,- 
730  ;  in  1880  it  was  49,541. 
*  Orange  County.     See  page  98  and  note  on  page  577. 

Orleans  County  was  formed  from  Genesee,  November  11th,  1824. 
On  April  5th,  1825,  a  portion  of  Genesee  was  annexed.  Population  in 
1875  was  29,977  ;  in  1880  it  was  30,128. 

Oswego  County  (an  Indian  name)  was  formed  from  Oneida  and  Onon- 
daga, March  Ist,  1816.  It  lies  at  the  southeast  extremity  of  Lake  On- 
tario.    Population  in  1875  was  78,615  ;  in  1880  it  was  77,911. 


APPENDIX.  585 

Otsego  County  was  formed  from  Montgomery,  February  16tli,  1791. 
It  is  also  an  Indian  name.  A  part  of  Schoharie  was  taken  from  it  in 
1795,  and  a  part  of  Delaware  in  1797.  Population  in  1875  was  49,815  ; 
in  1880  it  was  51,397. 

Putnam  County,  so  called  in  honor  of  General  Israel  Putnam,  was 
fonned  from  Duchess  County,  June  12th,  1812.  It  lies  upon  the  Hud- 
son River,  between  the  counties  of  Duchess  and  Westchester,  and  ex- 
tends to  the  State  of  Connecticut.  Population  in  1875  was  15,811  ;  in 
1880  it  was  15,181. 

Queens  County.     See  page  98  and  note  on  page  577. 

Rensselaer  County  was  formed  from  Albany,  February  7th,  1791, 
and  named  from  the  Yan  Rensselaer  family.  It  inchfded  nearly  all  of 
the.  Van  Rensselaer  Manor  east  of  the  Hudson  River.  Population  in 
1875  was  105,053  ;  in  1880  it  was  115,328. 

Richmond  County.     See  page  98  and  note  on  page  577. 

Rockland  County  was  formed  from  Orange  County,  February  28th, 
1798,  and  derives  its  name  from  its  extensive  mountain  area.  Popula- 
tion in  1875  was  26,951  ;  in  1880  it  was  27,690. 

St.  Lawrence  County  was  formed  from  Clinton  County  and  parts  of 
Montgomery  and  Herkimer  counties,  March  3d,  1802.  Its  northwest- 
ern boundary  is  the  St.  Lawrence  River,  from  which  it  derives  its 
name.  It  is  the  largest  county  in  the  State,  its  area  being  2880  square 
miles.     Population  in  1875  was  84,121:  ;  in  1880  it  was  85,997. 

Saratoga  County  was  formed  from  Albany,  February  7tli,  1791.  It 
lies  in  the  angle  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  Mohawk  and  Hudson 
rivers.  It  is  an  Indian  name  for  a  place.  Population  in  1875  was 
55,233  ;  in  1880  it  was  55,156. 

Schenectady  County  was  formed  from  Albany,  March  7th,  1809. 
Population  in  1875  was  22,892  ;  in  1880  it  was  23,538. 

Schoharie  County  was  formed  from  Albany  and  Otsego,  April  6th, 
1795.  The  name  is  said  to  be  the  Indian  term  for  "  drift-wood."  A 
small  part  of  Greene  County  was  annexed  to  it  in  1836.  Population  in 
1875  was  32,419  ;  in  1880  it  was  32,910. 

Schuyler  County  was  formed  from  Steuben,  Chemung,  and  Tomp- 
kins counties,  April  17tli,  1854.  It  was  named  in  honor  of  General- 
Philip  Schuyler.     Population  in  1875  was  18,928  ;  in  1880  it  was  18,842. 

Seneca  County  was  formed  from  Cayuga,  March  29th,  1804.  A  part 
of  Tompkins  County  was  taken  from  it  in  1817,  and  a  part  of  Wayne 
in  1823.  It  derives  its  name  from  one  of  the  Six  Nations.  Population 
in  1875  was  27,299  ;  in  1880  it  was  29,278. 

Steuben  County  was  formed  from   Ontario,  March  18th,   1796,  and 


686  APPENDIX. 

named  in  honor  of  Baron  Yon  Steuben.  Parts- were  afterward  annexed 
to  Allegany  County  in  1808  ;  to  Livingston  County  in  1822,  and  to 
Schuyler  County  in  1854.  Population  in  1875  was  73,723  ;  in  1880  it 
was  77,586. 

Suffolk  County.     See  page  98  and  note  on  page  577. 

Sullivan  Counit  was  formed  from  Ulster,  March  27th,  1809,  and 
named  in  honor  of  General  John  Sullivan,  of  the  Continental  Army. 
Population  in  1875  was  34,935  ;  in  1880  it  was  32,491. 

Tioga  County  was  formed  from  Montgomery  County,  February  16th, 
1791.  In  1798  a  part  of  Chenango  was  taken  from  it ;  Broome  in  1806  ; 
a  part  of  Tompkins  in  1822,  and  Chemung  in  1836.  Population  in 
1875  was  31,744  ;  in  1880  it  was  32,673. 

Tompkins  County  was  formed  from  Cayuga  and  Seneca,  April  17th, 
1822.  A  part  of  Schuyler  County  was  taken  from  it  in  1854.  It  was 
named  in  honor  of  Governor  Daniel  D.  Tompkins,  then  Vice-President 
of  the  United  States.  Population  in  1875  was  32,915  ;  in  1880  it  was 
34,445. 

Ulster  County.     See  page  98  and  note,  page  577. 

Warren  County  was  formed  from  Washington  County,  March  12th, 
1813,  and  was  named  in  honor  of  General  Joseph  Warren,  of  the  Revo- 
lution. It  lies  on  Lake  George.  Population  in  1875  was  23,295  ;  in 
1880  it  was  25,179. 

Washington  County  was  formed  from  Albany  County,  with  the  name 
of  "  Charlotte  County"  (in  honor  of  Princess  Charlotte,  eldest  daugh- 
ter of  George  III.),  March  12th,  1772.  On  April  2d,  1784,  the  name 
was  changed  to  Washington.  Clinton  County  was  taken  from  it  in 
1788  ;  the  eastern  portion  was  ceded  to  Vermont  in  1790  ;  a  portion  was 
annexed  to  Albany  County  in  1791,  and  Warren  was  taken  from  it  in 
1813.     Population  in  1875  M^as  48,167  ;  in  1880  it  was  47,871. 

Wayne  County  was  formed  from  Ontario  and  Seneca  counties,  April 
11th,  1823.  It  lies  upon  Lake  Ontario,  and  was  named  in  honor  of 
General  Anthony  Wayne,  of  the  Revolution.  Population  in  1875  was 
49,882  ;  in  1880  it  was  54,700. 

Westchester  County.     See  page  98  and  note  on  page  577. 

Wyoming  County  was  formed  from  Genesee  County,  May  14th,  1841. 
A  portion  of  Allegany  County  was  annexed  in  1846.  Population  in 
1875  was  30,595  ;  in  1880  it  was  30,907. 

Yates  County  was  formed  from  Ontario  County,  February  5th,  1823, 
and  named  in  honor  of  Joseph  C.  Yates,  then  Governor  of  the  State.  A 
portion  of  Steuben  County  was  annexed  in  1824.  Population  in  1875 
was  19,686  ;  in  1880  it  was  21,087. 


APPENDIX.  587 


II. 
GOVERNORS   OF  NEW  YORK. 

COLONIAL. 

Cornelius  Jacobsen  May 1624 

William  Verhulst 1625 

Peter   Minuit May  4.  1626 

Walter  (or  Wouter)  Van  Twiller April.  1633 

William  Kieft Mar.  28.  1638 

Peter  Stuy vesant May  11.  1647 

Richard  Nicolls .Sept.  8.  1664 

Francis  Lovelace Aug.  17.  1668 

Cornelis  Evertse,  Jr.,  and  a  Council  of  War.  . .  .Aug.  (n.  s.)  12.     1673 

Anthony  Colve Sept.  19.  1673 

Edmund  Andros Nov.  (n.  s.)  10.     1674 

Anthony  Brockholls,  Commander-in-Chief Nov.  16.  1677 

Sir  Edmund  Andros Aug.  7.  1678 

Anthony  Brockholls,  Commander-in-Chief Jan.  (n.  s.)  13.       1682 

Thomas  Dongan Aug.  27.  1683 

Sir  Edmund  Andros Aug.  11.  1688 

Francis  Nicholson,  Lieutenant-Governor Oct.  9.  1688 

Jacob  Leisler June  3.  1689 

Henry  Sloughter Mar.  19.  1691 

Richard  Ingoldsby,  Commander-in-Chief July  26.  1691 

Benjamin  Fletcher Aug.  30.  1692 

Earl  of  Bellomont April  13.  1695 

John  Nanfan,  Lieutenant-Governor May  17.  1699 

Earl  of  Bellomont July  24.  1700 

Eldest  Councillor  present,  Pres.  of  the  Council.  .Mar.  5.  1701 

John  Nanfan,  Lieutenant-Governor May  19.  1701 

Lord  Cornbury May  3.  1702 

Lord  Lovelace Dec.  18.  1708 

Peter  Schuyler,  President May  6.  1709 

Richard  Ingoldsby,  Lieutenant-Governor May  9,  1709 

Peter  Schuyler,  President May  25.  1709 

Richard  Ingoldsby,  Lieutenant-Governor June  1.  1709 

Gerardus  Beekman,  President April  10.  1710 

Robert  Hunter June  14.  1710 


688  APPENDIX. 

Peter  Schuyler,  President July  21.  1719 

Williain  Burnet Sept.  17.  1720 

John  Montgomery April  15.  1728 

Rip  Van  Dam,  President July  1.  1731 

William  Cosby Aug.  1.  1732 

George  Clarke,  President Mar.  10.  1736 

George  Clarke,  Lieutenant-Governor. Oct.  30.  1736 

George  Clinton Sept.  2.  1743- 

Sir  Dan  vers  Osborn Oct.  10.  1753 

James  De  Lancey,  Lieutenant-Governor Oct.  12.  1753 

Sir  Charles  Hardy Sept.  3.  1755 

James  De  Lancey,  Lieutenant-Governor June  3.  1757 

Cadwallader  Colden,  President -^"g-  ^-  1760 

Cadwallader  Colden,  Lieutenant-Governor Aug.  8.  1761 

Robert  Monckton Oct.  26.  1761 

Cadwallader  Colden,  Lieutenant-Governor Nov,  18.  1761 

Robert  Monckton June  14.  1762 

Cadwallader  Colden,  Lieutenant-Governor June  28.  1763 

Sir  Henry  Moore Nov.  13.  1765 

Cadwallader  Colden,  Lieutenant-Governor Sept.  12.  1769 

Earl  of  Danmore Oct.  19.  1770 

William  Tryon July  9.  1771 

Cadwallader  Colden,  Lieutenant-Governor   April  7.  1774 

William  Tryon June  28.  1775 

James  Robertson,  Military  Governor Mar.  23.  1780 

Andrew  Elliott,  Lieutenant-Governor April  17,  1783 

The  last  two  named  are  not  recognized  by  the  State  of  New  York. 
They  served  during  the  occupation  of  New  York  City  by  the  British  from 
1776  to  1783. 

PRESIDENTS    OF   THE    PROVINCIAL   CONGRESS. 

Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston May  23.  1775 

Nathaniel  Woodhull,  President  ^w  tempore A.ug.  28.  1775 

Abraham  Yates,  Jr.,  President  j^ro  tempore Nov.  2.  1775 

Nathaniel  Woodhull Dec.  6.  1775 

John  Haring,  President  pro  tempore Dec.  16.  1775 

Abraham  Yates,  Jr.,  President  pro  tempore Aug.  10.  1776 

Abraham  Yates,  Jr. Aug.  28.  1776 

Peter  R.  Livingston Sept.   26.  1776 

Abraham  Ten  Broeck Mar.  6.  1777 


APPENDIX. 


Leonard  Gansevoort,  President  jp^ro  tempore April  18. 

Pierre  Van  Cortlandt,    President  of  Council  of 

Safety May  14. 


589 

17T7 

17Y7 


12. 


GOVERNORS    OF    THE    STATE. 

George  Clinton , July  30 

John  Jay July  1. 

George  Clinton 

Morgan  Lewis 

Daniel  D.  Tompkins 

John   Taylor,    Lieutenant-Governor   and   Acting 

Governor Mar. 

De  Witt  Clinton July  1. 

Josepli  C.  Yates Jan  1. 

De  Witt  Clinton 

Nathaniel  Pitcher,  Lieutenant-Governor  and  Act- 
ing Governor P^'eb.  1 1. 

Martin  Van  Buren 

Enos  T.  Tliroop,  Lieutenant-Governor  and  Acting 

Governor Mar 

Enos  T.  Throop Jan. 

Wilh'am  L,  Marcy 

William  11.  Seward 

William  C.  Bouck 

Silas  Wright 

John  Young 

Hamilton  Fish 

Washington  Hunt 

Horatio  Seymour 

Myron  H.  Clark 

John  A.  King 

Edwin  D.  Morgan 

Horatio  Seymour 

Reuben  E.  Fenton 

John  T.  Hoffman 

John  Adams  Dix 

Samuel  J.  Tilden 


1777 
1795 
1801 
1804 

1807 

1817 
1817 
1823 
1825 

1828 
1829 

1829 
1831 
1833 
1839 
1843 
1845 
1847 
1849 
1851 
1853 
1855 
1857 
1859 
1863 
1865 
1869 
1873 
1875 


MORE  ELABORATE   HISTORIES. 

The  reader  of  this  compendious  History  of  the  State  of  New  York 
who  may  desire  more  minute  knowledge  of  the  commonwealtli  may 
profitably  consult  the  following  works  : 

Documents  Relating  to  the  Colonial  History  of  New  York,  obtained 
abroad  by  Brodhead. 

Documentary  History  of  New  York,  edited  by  E,  B.  O'Callaghan, 
M.D. 

Brodhead's  History  of  New  York  to  1691. 

Macauley's  History  of  New  York. 

Yates  and  Moulton's  History  of  New  York  (colonial). 

Smith's  History  of  New  York  (colonial). 

Dunlap's  History  of  New  York. 

Roberts's  History  of  New  York. 

Barbor's  Historical  Collection  of  New  York. 

O'Callaghan's  History  of  New  Netherland. 

Jones's  History  of  New  York  During  the  Revolutionary  War. 

Proceedings  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society. 

Watson's  Annals  and  Occurrences  of  New  York  City  and  State. 

Colden's  History  of  the  Five  Nations. 

Schoolcraft's  Notes  on  the  Iroquois. 

Morgan's  History  of  the  Iroquois  Confederacy. 

Ruttenber's  Indian  Tribes  of  the  Hudson  River. 

The  Jesuit  Relations. 

Stone's  Biographies  of  Sir  William  Johnson,  Brant,  and  Red  Jacket. 

Stone's  History  of  Burgoyne's  Campaign. 

Lossing's  Life  and  Times  of  Philip  Schuyler. 

Campbell's  Border  Wars  of  New  York. 

Simms's  History  of  Schoharie  County  and  Border  Wars  of  New  York. 

Turner's  History  of  Pioneer  Settlements  in  New  York. 

O'Reilley's  History  of  Rochester. 

Munro's  Description  of  the  Genesee  Country. 

Watson's  History  of  Essex  County  and  of  the  Champlain  Valley. 

Palmer's  History  of  Lake  Champlain. 

Onderdonk's  Revolutionary  Incidents  on  Long  Island. 

Thompson's  History  of  Long  Island. 


MORE  ELABORATE  HISTORIES.  591 

Prime's  History  of  Long  Island. 

Stiles's  History  of  the  City  of  Brooklyn. 

Histories  of  New  York  City  by  Miss  M.  L.  Booth,  D.  T.  Valentine, 
W.  L.  Stone,  Mrs.  M.  J,  Lamb,  and  B.  J.  Lossing. 

Francis's  Old  New  York. 

Munsell's  Annals  of  Albany. 

Marshall's  Niagara  Frontier. 

Public  Documents  Relating  to  the  New  York  Canals. 

Reports  of  the  Regents  of  the  University  and  of  the  State  Superintend- 
ent of  Public  Instruction. 

Hammond's  Political  History  of  New  York. 

Dunshee's  History  of  the  Collegiate  (Dutch  Reformed)  Church  School. 

Ketchum's  History  of  Buffalo. 

Hunt's  Letters  About  the  Hudson. 

Lossing's  Hudson  from  the  Wilderness  to  the  Sea. 

Bonney's  Legacy  of  Historical  Gleanings. 

Numerous  Town  and  County  Histories. 


INDEX. 


A. 

Abercrombie,  James,  Inefficiency  of,  168  ; 
attacks  Ticonderoga,  174. 

Abraham,  Heiofhts  of,  scaled,  182. 

Abraham,  Plains  of,  180 ;  battle  on  the, 
183. 

Acadians  or  French  Neutrals,  163. 

Acland,  Major,  wounded,  278. 

Acland,  Lady  Harriet  (note),  278. 

Adams,  John,  President  of  the  United 
States,  363. 

Aix-la-Chapelle,  Treaty  at,  157. 

Albany  City  incorporated;  municipal  offi- 
cers of,  102  ;  name  changed,  89  ;  indepen- 
dent government  at,  107;  Colonial  con- 
ventions at,  107,  162  ;  Provincial  Assem- 
bly at,  108  ;  state  of  society  at,  150,  131; 
canal  celebration  at,  464 ;  charter  of, 
amended,  543. 

Albany  County,  Territory  of,  98  ;  extent  of, 
342. 

Albany  Regency,  The,  452. 

Alexander,  James,  counsel  for  Zenger,  144. 

Alexandria  Bay,  Moonlight  battle  in,  416. 

Algerine  Corsairs,  458. 

Algonquin  Indians  slain  at  Hoboken  and 
Manhattan  Island,  48. 

Allen,  Ethan,  a  bold  popular  leader,  190, 
316 ;  at  Ticonderoga,  218  ;  a  prisoner,  229; 
and  Beverly  Robinson,  317. 

Allen,  Ichabod,  killed  at  Cherry  Valley, 
291. 

Allen,  Ira,  active  in  Vermont,  317  ;  biog- 
raphy of  (note),  318,  319. 

Allen  and  Warner  before  the  Provincial 
Congress  of  New  York,  223. 

Alierton,  Isaac,  at  New  Amsterdam,  49. 

Allied  armies  besiege  Yorktown,  322. 

America,  Position  of  affairs  in,  172. 

American  Association,  The,  211,  212. 


American  naval  force  in  1813,  419. 

American  Navy,  Exploits  of  the,  397,  398. 

American  Society  for  the  Promotion  of 
National  Union,  520,  521. 

American  System,  The,  473. 

Amherst,  Jeffrey,  at  Louisburg,  173 ;  bi- 
ography of  (note),  178  ;  commander-in- 
chief  on  Lake  Champlain,  179  ;  receives 
the  surrender  of  Montreal,  184. 

Amphibious  warfare,  418,  419. 

Amsterdam  Charter  of  the  Dutch  West 
India  Co.,  Members  of  the  (note),  23  ; 
action  of  the,  63. 

Amsterdam  merchants  of  trade  at  Man- 
hattan  (note),  14. 

Anderson,  Dr.  Alexander,  first  engraver  on 
wood  in  America ;  biography  of  (note), 
575. 

Anderson,  Robert,  Major,  at  Fort  Sumter, 
522. 

Annapolis,  Convention  at,  in  1786,  336. 

Andre,  Major  John,  complots  with  Arnold, 

311  ;  arrested  as  a  spy,  312  ;  executed; 
honored  by  his  King,  315  ;  captors  of, 

312  ;  captors  of,  rewarded,  315. 
Andros,  Edmond,  biography  of  (note),  91  ; 

Governor  of  New  York  ;  imprisons  citi- 
zens, 92 ;  at  Albany  ;  sends  gunpowder, 
to  Rhode  Island,  93  ;  knighted,  94  ;  long 
rule  of,  06  ;  Viceroy  of  English-Amer- 
ican Colonies,  103 ;  arrested  in  Boston 
and  sent  to  England,  105. 

Anne,  Queen,  crowned,  129. 

Anthony,  AUard,  a  scJiepen,  62. 

Anti-Masonic  movements,  471,  472  ;  party 
dissolved,  476. 

Anti-Masonry,  Origin  of,  471,  472. 

Anti-Rentism,  499,  500. 

Argus  and  Pelican,  Battle  between  the, 
418. 

Armies,  Disbandment  of  ;  the  Union,  538. 


594 


INDEX. 


Armstrong,  John,  Gates's  aide-de-camp  on 
Bemis's  Heijflits,  276 ;  author  of  the  New- 
burgh  Letters,  328 ;  Secretary  of  War  ; 
biography  of  (note),  412 ;  Hampton  and 
Wilkinson  and.  413,  414. 

Arnold.  Benedict,  with  Allen  at  Ticonde- 
roga,  218  ;  naval  operations  of;  captures 
St.  Johns,  232  ;  joins  Montgomery  in  an 
attack  on  Quebec;  in  command  there,  230; 
naval  career  on  Lake  ('hamplain,  251; 
relieves  Fort  Schuyler,  273  ;  in  battle  on 
Bemis's  Heights,  275,  280;  wounded,  280  ; 
military  governor  of  Philadelphia  ;  mar- 
riage of  ;  convicted  of  crookedness  ;  plots 
treason,  311,  312  ;  flies  to  the  Vulture,  314; 
receives  his  stipulated  reward,  315  ;  at- 
tempt to  abduct,  315  ;  a  plunderer  in 
Virsiinia  ;  rewards  offered  for,  321. 

Arnold  and  Morgan  on  Bemis's  Heights, 
281. 

Arnold,  Mrs.,  at  her  husband's  headquar- 
ters, 313  ;  distress  of,  314. 

Articles  of  Confederation,  319. 

Axin,  a  British  vessel,  fires  on  New  York 
City,  232. 

Assembly,  Popular,  at  New  Amsterdam, 
Members  of  the,  74. 

As8eml)]y,  The  first  General  English,  at 
New  York,  P6  ;  laws  passed  by  ;  Speaker 
of,  99. 

Assembly,  Anti-Leislerian,  123. 

Assembly,  Leislerian,  125  ;  revokes  fraud- 
ulent land  grants  ;  victory  over  Absolu- 
tism, 150. 

Assembly,  The  New  York  Provincial,  pre- 
pares for  war,  104. 

Ato-tar-ho,  first  President  of  the  Iroquois 
Confederacy,  8. 

Attwood,  William,  Chief-Justice,  129. 

Auchmuty,  Rev.  Dr.,  572. 

Autosee,  Battle  of,  400. 

B. 

Bainbridge,  William,  Commodore,  898. 

Ballaton  destroyed,  308. 

Baltimore,  Attack  on   National  troops  in, 

525. 
Bank  charter,  A,  in  politics,  399,  400. 
Barn-burners,  a  political  faction,  501. 
Barneveldt,    John   Van    Olden,   Death    of 

(note),  16. 


Barney,  Joahun,  Flotilla  of,  destroyed,  435. 
Barre,  Count  de  la,  and  Governor  Dongan, 

100. 
Barre,  Col.  Isaac,  Retort  of,  in  Parliaaient 

(note),  185. 
Bartholdi's  Statue  of   Liberty   Enlighten- 
ing the  World,  567. 

Bauman,  Lt. -Colonel,  Death  of,  269. 

Baxter,  George,  commissioner  at  Hartford, 
58  ;  biography  of  (note) ;  prepares  an  in- 
dictment against  Governor  Stuyvesant, 
65. 

Bayard,  Nicholas,  Secretary  of  the  province 
of  New  York,  80 ;  imprisoned,  92 ;  op- 
poses Leisler,  107  ;  imprisoned,  109  ;  re- 
ceives grants  of  land,  125  ;  a  disturber 
of  tlie  public  peace  ;  convicted  of  high 
treason  and  reprieved,  130. 

Beaver  Dams,  Affair  at,  412. 

Beeckman,  Dr.  Gerardus,  Interview  of, 
with  Stuyvesant,  66;  imprisoned,  92; 
convicted  of  treason  and  pardoned,  110, 
111;  biography  of  (note),  110. 

Beeckman,  William,  a  schepeti,  62,  89  ;  Vice- 
Director  of  New  Amstel  ;  biography  of 
(note),  72. 

Bellomont,  Earl  of ,  Governor  of  New  York, 
120,  121  ;  administration  of.  123,  124 ; 
favors  the  Leisler  family,  134  ;  death  and 
character  of,  125. 

Bellomont  and  Livingston,  123. 

Bellows,  Rev.  H.  W.,  and  the  Sanitary 
Commission  ;  biography  of  (note),  527. 

Bemis's  Heights,  Battle.^on,  274-276. 

Bennett,  James  Gordon,  483. 

Bennington,  Battle  of,  269. 

Benson,  Egbert,  first  Attorney-General, 
260 ;  in  New  York  Legislature  ;  biog- 
raphy of  (note),  337,  338. 

Berkeley,  John,  Proprietor  of  New  Jersey, 
86. 

Beverswyck,  45. 

Biddle,  Captain  James,  439. 

Billop  House,  Peace  Conference  at  the, 
244. 

Binckes,  Jacob,  Proclamation  of,  89. 

Binnenhof,  The,  Hall  of  Representatives 
16. 

Bisshopp,  Lt. -Colonel,  Death  of,  413. 

Black  Rock,  Affair  at,  413. 

Bladensburg,  Battle  of,  436. 


INDEX. 


595 


Blakely,  Captain  Johnson,  Loss  of,  438. 

Bleecker,  Ann  Eliza,  poet,  573. 

Block,  Adrien,  Dutch  navijjator  ;  builds  a 
ship  at  Manhattan  ;  discoveries  of,  15. 

Blommaert,  Samuel,  a  patroon,  32. 

Bloodshed,  The  last,  in  the  Revolution,  326. 

Boersller,  Colonel,  at  the  Beaver  Dams, 
412. 

Bogardus,  Rev.  Everardus,  first  settled  pas- 
tor in  New  Netherland,  34,  35,  568  ;  re- 
bukes the  Governor,  53  ;  death  of,  53. 

Bolingbroke,  Lord,  plans  expedition 
against  Quebec,  136  ;  biography  of  (note), 
136. 

Bolton.  Robert,  historian,  574. 

Boom  at  Ticonderoga  and  Mount  Indepen- 
dence. 265  ;  at  West  Point,  253. 

Borgne,  Lake,  American  flotilla  on,  441. 

Boscawen,  Admiral,  173. 

Boston  massacre.  The,  202. 

Boston  Port  Bill,  Effect  of  the,  206. 

Boston,  Siege  and  purremier  ot,  234. 

Boston  tea-party,  The,  205  ;  effects  of  the, 
206. 

Bostonians,  Sympathy  for  the,  207. 

Bouck,  Wni.  C'.,  Governor  ;  biography  of 
(note),  497. 

Boundary  line  between  New  York  and 
Connecticut  ;  The  Oblong,  142. 

Boyd,  John  Parker,  at  Chrysler's  Field; 
biography  of  (note),  416. 

Braddock,  Edward,  meets  Colonial  govern- 
ors ;  death  of,  163. 

Bradford,  William,  and  the  New  York 
Gazette,  143. 

Bradley,  Attorney-General  of  New  York, 
145,  152-154. 

Bradstreet,  John,  provisions  the  garrison 
at  Oswego,  168 ;  biography  of  (note), 
174  ;  captures  Fort  Frontenac,  175  (note), 
176. 

Bradstreet,  Simon,  English  commissioner  at 
Hartford  in  1650,  58. 

Brandt  (or  Brant),  Joseph,  organizes  scalp- 
ing parties  ;  desolates  Sjjriugfield  and  the 
Schoharie  Valley,  290  ;  Sir  John  Johnson 
and  the  Butlers,  allies  of,  291  ;  (note) 
humanity  of,  291,  292. 

Brauilywine  Creek,  Battle  at,  286. 

Brant,  John,  at  Queenstown  battle,  395  ; 
at  the  Beaver  Dams,  412. 


Brasher,  Abraham,  110. 

Breyman,  Colonel,  commands  riflemen, 
275;  mortally  wounded,  281. 

Brewster,  Elder  Wm.,  leads  the  "Pil- 
grims," 24. 

British  expedition  up  the  Hudson,  297. 

British  plan  for  dividing  the  Colonies,  238. 

British  posts  in  Soutli  Carolina  captured, 
324. 

British  troops.  Depredations  of,  in  South- 
East  Virginia  ;  join  Clinton  at  New  York, 
297  ;  occupy  only  Charleston  and  Savan- 
nah in  the  South,  325  ;  evacuate  Savan- 
nah, 326  ;  evacuate  New  York,  331. 

Brock,  General  Sir  Isaac,  on  Queenstown 
Heights,  394  ;  death  of.  395. 

Brockholla,  Anthony,  Acting-Governor,  94. 

Brodliead,  John  Romeyn,  historian,  574 ; 
biogniphy  of  (note),  574. 

Brooklyn,  Settlers  at  (note),  26. 

Brown,  Jacob,  charged  with  the  defence  of 
the  Northern  portion  of  New  York  ;  biog- 
raphy of  (note),  390  ;  invades  Canada, 
422. 

Brown,  Colonel  John,  in  the  rear  of  Bur- 
goyne's  army,  275  ;  killed  in  battle  at 
Stone  Arabia  ;  biography  of  (note),  307. 

Brown,  John,  Raid  of,  at  Harper's  Ferry, 
515. 

Brugh,  Johannes  Van,  Alderman,  85  ;  bur- 
gomaster, 89. 

Brunei,  Isambert,  and  the  Champlain Canal, 
349. 

Bryant,  Wm.  C,  Notice  of,  482,  575. 

Buchanan,  James,  President  of  the  United 
States,  511. 

"  Bucktails  "  and  "  Clintonians,"  453. 

Buel,  Jesse,  Notice  of  ;  biography  of  (note), 
447. 

Buffalo,  Destruction  of,  417;  in  1813; 
growth  of,  469. 

Bull  Run,  Battle  of  ;  effect  of  battle  of, 
526. 

Bunker  Hill,  Battle  of,  220. 

Burgoyne,  General  Sir  John,  in  Canada, 
240  ;  biography  of  (note),  263  ;  embarks 
on  Lake  Champlain,  264  ;  feasts  the  Ind- 
ians ;  arrives  at  Crown  Point ;  proclama- 
tion of,  265  and  note,  266  ;  takes  Forts 
Ticonderoga  and  Independence,  266, 
267  ;  pushes  on  to  the  Hudson  River,  268  ; 


596 


INDEX. 


fights  the  Americans  near  the  Hudsuu, 
274-281 ;  encamps  on  Saratoga  Heights, 
274 ;  awaits  tidings  from  Clinton  ;  i)re- 
pares  for  hattle,  277 ;  capitulation  and 
surrender  of,  281. 

Burgoyne's  invasion  of  New  York,  263- 
284  ;  troops  of,  sent  to  Virginia,  282. 

Burnet,  Governor  William,  Character  of; 
biography  of  (note),  139 ;  administra- 
tion of,  139-141. 

Burning  vessels  at  Forts  Clinton  and  Mont- 
gomery, 284. 

Burns's  CoflFee-House  (note),  198. 

Burr,  Aaron,  Adroit  management  of,  364  ; 
biography  of  (note);  Vice-President  of 
the  United  States,  364  ;  President  of  the 
State  Constitutional  Convention,  370 ; 
Democratic  Candidate  for  Governor,  373  ; 
quarrel  and  duel  with  Hamilton,  373, 
374  ;  mysterious  expedition  of ;  tried  for 
treason  and  acquitted  ;  political  death 
of,  375. 

Burrites.  Tlie,  379. 

Burton,  Mary,  and  the  Xegro  Plot,  153,  154. 

Bute,  Earl  of.  Prime  Minister,  192  ;  ruinous 
policy  of,  193. 

Butler,  Colonel  John,  in  the  Wyoming 
Valley,  292-294. 

Butler,  Walter,  at  Cherry  Valley,  291. 

Butler,  Colonel  Zebulon,  commands  in  the 
Wyoming  Valley,  293. 

C. 

Campaign  of  1755,  163  ;  of  1756,  167  ;  of 
1758,  173  ;  of  1759,  178,  179. 

Campbell,  Samuel,  Family  of,  made  cap- 
tive at  Cherry  Valley,  293. 

Campbell,  Lt. -Colonel,  attacks  Fort  Mont- 
.  gomery,  283. 

Campbell,  William  W.,  historian,  574. 

Canada,  Invasion  of,  undertaken  in  1690, 
115 ;  unsuccessful  attempt  to  conquer, 
in  1711,  134,  135  ;  surrendered  to  the 
English,  184  ;  alliance  with,  or  conquest 
of,  222  ;  preparations  to  invade,  in  1775, 
237,228;  end  of  invasion  in  1776,  240; 
Revolutionary  movements  in,  489. 

Canajoharle  settlement  desolated,  306. 

Canal  companies  organized,  348. 

Canals  in  the  State,  469,  654. 


Cape  Breton  surrendered  to   the  English, 

156. 
Carleton,  Major,  leads  a  marauding  party 

to  Lakes  Ciiamplain  and  George,  308. 
Carleton,    Sir  Guy,    succeeds    Sir    Henry 
Clinton  in  command,  323. 

Caroline,  Destruction  of  the,  490. 
Carroll,  Charles,  commissioner  in  Canada, 
239. 

Carteret,  George,  Proprietor  of  New  Jersey, 
86. 

Castine,  Baron  de  (note),  100. 

Centennial  celebration  and  exhibition,  553. 

Cesnola,  L.  P.  di  (note),  575. 

Chamber  of  Commerce  (note),  369. 

Champlain,  Samuel,  in  Northern  New 
York  ;  biography  of  (note),  9  ;  in  war 
with  Northern  Indians,  9,  10  ;  in  war 
with  the  Iroquois,  18. 

Champlain  Canal  (note),  462. 

Chancery,  New  Court  of,  established,  129. 

Chandler,  General,  at  Stony  Creek,  410. 

Charles  II.,  Death  of,  101. 

Charter  of  Liberties  and  Privileges,  97. 

Charter  of  Privileges  and  Exemptions,  31. 

Charter  of  Special  Privileges  granted,  31. 

Chase,  Samuel,  on  a  Committee  in  Canada, 
239. 

Chauncey,  Isaac,  Commander-in-chief  on 
Lake  Ontario,  392,  401  ;  biography  of 
(note),  401  ;  blockades  the  British  squad- 
ron at  Kingston,  431. 

Chauncey  and  Yeo  on  Lake  Ontario,  415. 

Cherry  Valley,  Massacre  at,  291,  292. 

Chesapeake  and  Shannon,  Battle  between 
the,  417,  418. 

Chief- Justice  of  New  York  (Pratt)  appointed 
Ijy  the  crown,  189. 

Children,  cruelty  to,  Law  for  the  preven- 
tion of,  554. 

Chippewa,  Battle  of,  424. 

Cliristian  Commission,  Tlie,  528,  529. 

Christianity  of  an  Indian  chief  proven 
(note),  124. 

Christiansen,  Captain,  14  ;  voyages  of,  to 
Manhattan  Island  and  Albany,  15. 

Christina,  Fort,  41. 

Christina.  Queen,  41. 

Chrysler's  Field,  Battle  at,  416. 

Churches  in  New  York  in  1750,  188. 

Cincinnati,  Society  of  the.  329,  330. 


INDEX. 


597 


City  Hall,  First,  in  New  Amsterdam  (note), 
63. 

Civil  Rights  Bill,  549. 

Clark,  Myron  H.,  Governor,  510  ;  biography 
of  (note),  510,  511 ;  and  Virginia  authori- 
ties, 512. 

Clarke,  Sir  George,  Lieutenant-Governor  ; 
biography  of  (note),  152. 

Clay,  Henry,  and  the  "  American  System," 
473. 

Clinton,  De  Witt,  Appeal  of,  234  ;  first  ap- 
pearance of,  in  political  life,  366  ;  duel 
of,  with  Swartwout,  372  ;  biography  of 
(note),  385  ;  and  the  Erie  Canal,  386 ; 
candidate  for  the  Presidency  of  the 
United  States,  400  ;  character  of,  445  ; 
triumph  of,  452  ;  elected  Governor,  453  ; 
removed  from  office  of  Canal  Commis- 
sioner, 460  ;  weds  the  Lakes  to  the  Sea  ; 
death  of.  473. 

Clinton,  George,  first  Governor  of  the 
State.  262  ;  and  the  Highland  Forts,  283  ; 
leads  troops  to  Ticonderoga,  305  ;  leads 
troops  to  the  Mohawk  Valley,  307;  re- 
elected Governor,  353  ;  Vice-President 
of  the  United  States,  381  ;  biography  of 
(note),  398. 

Clinton,  James,  and  the  Highland  Forts, 
283  ;  biography  of  (note),  384. 

Clinton,  Sir  George,  Governor;  biography 
of  (note),  154  ;  arrives  at  New  York,  155  ; 
and  the  Assembly,  158,  159  ;  administra- 
tion of,  158. 

Clinton,  Sir  Henry,  at  Sandy  Hook,  234 ; 
march  of,  upon  Forts  Clinton  and  Mont- 
gomery ;  attacks  them,  383  ;  evacuates 
Philadelphia ;  in  battle  at  Monmouth 
Court-House,  295  ;  biography  of  (note), 
297  ;  sails  for  Charleston  ;  captures  that 
city,  308;  deceived  by  misleading  letters, 
322. 

Clinton's  courier  hung  as  a  spy,  285. 

Coalition,  A  political,  346. 

Cochran,  Admiral,  433. 

Cockburn,  Admiral,  Marauding  expeditions 
of,  418,  419. 

Coerten,  Myndert,  arrested,  110. 

Coffee,  General  John,  in  the  Creek  War, 
400. 

Colbert,  French  Minister,  91. 

Cflden,  Cad  wall  ader,  remarks  on  the  Five 


Nations  (note),  8  ;  a  member  of  the  Gov- 
ernor's Council,  139 ;  and  the  Society 
Library,  187;  Acting -Governor,  189; 
hung  in  eflUgy,  and  property  destroyed  by 
a  mob,  196  ;  notice  of,  572. 

Cole,  Thomas,  artist,  575. 

College  of  Nineteen,  The,  23,  31,  32,  52  ; 
changes  the  government  of  New  Nether- 
land,  53  ;  gives  a  burgher  government 
to  New  Amsterdam,  62. 

Collegians  in  New  York  (note),  188. 

Collegiate  (Dutch  Reformed)  Church 
School,  and  two  prominent  principals  of 
the  (note),  568. 

Colles,  Christopher,  on  the  canal  system  ; 
biography  of  (note),  347. 

Collier,  Sir  George,  commands  a  flotilla  in 
the  Hudson  River,  279. 

Collyer,  Vincent,  and  the  Christian  Com- 
mission, 529. 

Colonial  Congress  at  Albany,  107,  115. 

Colonial  Convention  at  Albany,  161. 

Colonial  Governors,  Conference  of,  at  An- 
napolis, 163. 

Colored  Orphan  Asylum,  New  York,  de- 
stroyed by  a  mob,  534. 

Colve,  Captain  Anthony,  Governor  of  New 
York  ;  sketch  of  (note),  89  ;  vigilance 
of,  90. 

Commissioners  of  Congress  sent  to  Canada, 
239. 

Commissioners  of  Indian  Affairs  (note), 
140. 

Committee  of  One  Hundred  (note),  217. 

Committee  of  Safety,  523. 

Committees  of  Correspondence,  210. 

Committees  of  Fifty-one  and  Vigilance, 
Feud  between  the,  208, 209. 

Common  School  Fund,  Appropriations  for 
a,  376  ;  and  the  Roman  Catholic  Schools, 
496,  497  ;  condition  of  the,  360,  361,  and 
note  ;  notice  of  the,  555,  556. 

Common  Schools,  Appropriations  for,  376. 

"Common  Sense  "  and  its  effect,  236,  237. 

Comptroller,  OfBce  of,  created,  363. 

Compulsory  Education,  550  ;  and  note  on, 
551. 

Confederate  agents  conspire  to  burn  New 
York  City,  536. 

"  Confederate  States  of  America" — a  league 
of  politicians  and  a  misnomer,  521. 


598 


INDEX. 


Confederation,  Articles  of,  Weakness  of 
the,  337. 

Confiscation  and  Attainder  Acts,  261  ;  per- 
sons affected  by  the  (note),  262. 

Congress,  called,  Session  of,  526. 

Congress,  The  First  Continental  ;  mem- 
bers of,  from  New  York,  210. 

Connecticut,  Depredations  on  the  coasts  of ; 
towns  in,  burned,  298. 

Connecticut  Valley,  Contentions  for  occu- 
pfltion  of  the,  35. 

Consolers  of  the  sick.  Duties  of  the,  82. 

Constitutiim  of  the  State  of  New  York 
formed,  257  ;  adopted,  258  ;  published 
(note),  258  ;  first  revision  of  the,  370  ; 
government  organized  under  the,  4o9, 
460;  third  revision  of  the,  503,  504; 
amendments  to,  ratified,  549,  550. 

Constitution  and  Guerriere,  Battle  between 
the,  397. 

(Jontiiiental  Army,  Disbandment  of  the, 
328  ;  last  survivors  of  the,  329  and  note  ; 
quotas  for,  furnished  by  States  (note),  329. 

Continental  Congress,  The  firnt  meetinnr  of 
the,  210  ;  resolutions  of  defiance  ;  work 
of  the,  211  ;  effect  of  proceeiiings  of  tlK, 
212;  powers  of  the,  219  ;  disarms  Tories, 
233 ;  flight  of  the,  to  Lancaster,  287. 

Continental  paper  money,  Counterfeit,  319. 

Convention  of  the  State  of  New  York  ;  as- 
sembles at  Kingston,  256  ;  forms  and 
adopts  a  constitution,  258  ;  members  of 
the  new  (note),  256, 

Conway,  General,  Sketch  of  (note),  287. 

"Conway's  Cabal,"  287. 

Cook,  Lemuel,  Biography  of  (note),  329. 

Cooper,  James  Fenimore,  573 ;  biography 
of  (note),  573. 

Cooper,  Mylt'S,  D.D.,  President  of  King's 
College,  213,  572. 

Cooper,  Peter,  builder  of  the  first  Ameri- 
can locomotive  engine  (note),  555. 

Coote,  Richard,  Lord  Bellomont,  Governor  ; 
biography  of  (note),  120. 

Cornbury,  L')rd,  Governor,  Character  and 
career  of,  129-132. 

Cornell  University,  540. 

Cornwall  County,  Location  of,  98. 

Cornwallis,  Earl,  in  battle  of  Long  Island, 
244;  in  command  in  South  Carolina; 
invades    North    Carolina,    309  ;    chases 


Greene  ;  at  Guilford  Court-House ; 
marches  to  the  sea-coast,  324 ;  in  com- 
mand in  Virginia,  321,  324  ;  at  Yorktown, 
321  ;  surrender  of,  322  ;  effect  of  the  sur- 
render of,  323. 

Corrupt  judires.  547. 

Cortlandt,  Oloff  Stevens  Van,  in  the  Coun- 
cil of  Nine,  61  ;  burgomaster,  85. 

Cosby,  Governor,  Character  of,  142  ;  con- 
flirt  of,  with  Van  Dam  and  others, 
143. 

Council  of  Appointment,  Composition  of 
the,  259  ;  actions  of  the,  459  ;  powers  of 
the,  505. 

Council  of  Eight,  49,  50 ;  send  a  memorial 
to  the  States  General  concerning  the 
conductor  Kieft,  50,  51. 

Council  of  Nine,  61. 

Council  of  Plymouth  send  a  colony  to  Cape 
Cod  Bay,  24. 

Council  of  Revision,  Composition  of  the, 
259  ;  (note),  454. 

Council  of  Safety,  Members  of  the,  260. 

Cousseau,  Jacques,  Alderman,  85. 

Covington,  General,  at  Chrysler's  Field, 
416. 

Cow  Bay,  Arms  of  Holland  at,  pulled 
down,  42. 

Couwenhoven,  Peter  Wolfertsen  Van,  a 
schepen,  63. 

Craney  Island,  Conflict  at,  418. 

Crawford,  Thomas,  sculptor,  576. 

Credit  system.  Collapse  of  the,  481,  485; 
effects  of  the,  486. 

Creek  Indians,  War  against  the,  406,  407. 

Creek  Nation,  Ruin  of  the,  407. 

Crittenden  Compromise,  The,  520. 

Croghan,  Major  George,  at  Sandusky,  404. 

Croton  Aqueduct.  The,  486. 

Crown  Point,  Expedition  against,  164; 
fort  built  at,  179 ;  capture  of,  219  ; 
possessed  by  the  British,  252. 

Cruger,  John,  Biography  of  (note),  369. 

Cumberland  County  claimed  by  Vermont, 
316. 

Cummings,  Tlmmas  S.,  artist,  576. 

Cunningham,  William,  British  Provost 
Marshal  (note),  230. 

Curler  or  Corlear,  Arendt  Van,  commissary 
at  Rensselaerwyck,  rescues  Jesuit  mis- 
sionary, 46  ;  biography  of  (notr),  49. 


INDEX. 


599 


Curler,  Jacob  Van,  coaimands  Fort  Good 
Hope,  35. 

D. 

D'Anville,  Due,  Expeditiou  of,  lo6. 

D' Aubrey,  Colonel,  commands  French  and 
Indians,  179. 

Davis,  Jefferson,  President  of  tiie  "Con- 
federate States  of  America,"  521 

Dawson,  Henry  B.,  historian,  574. 

Day,  Benjamin  H. ,  publisher  of  the  first 
"  penny  paper,"  483. 

Deane,  James.  Indian  interpreter,  289. 

Dearborn,  Henry,  commander  of  the  North- 
ern Department ;  biography  of  (note), 
392 ;  resolves  to  invade  Canada,  408  ; 
resignation  of,  412. 

Debt,  Imprisonment  for,  abolished,  478. 

De  Bougainville,  Errand  of,  182. 

Decatur,  Commodore  Stephen,  398  ;  com- 
mander of  the  President,  439  ;  huuibles 
theBarbary  Povtrers  ;  biography  of  (note), 
458. 

Declaration  of  Independence,  237  ;  read  to 
the  array  at  New  York  ;  approved  by 
the  Provincial  Congress,  238. 

De  Grist,  Paul  K.  Van,  a  schepen,  62. 

De  Heister,  leader  of  German  troops,  244. 

Delavall,  Thomas,  Councilman,  84. 

De  Laet,  historian  (note),  63,  592. 

De  Lancey,  James,  Chief-Justice,  143  ; 
presides  at  the  trial  of  Zenger,  145  ;  and 
Governor  Clinton,  158  ;  biography  of 
(note),  158;  Acting-Governor,  159  ;  death 
of,  186  ;  to  Lords  of  Trade,  180  ;  and 
Society  Library,  187. 

De  Lancey,  Oliver,  in  the  Assembly  ;  biog- 
raphy of  (note),  213. 

Delaware  River,  Settlers  on  the,  26  ;  Wash- 
ington crossing  the,  254. 

Dellius,  Dominie,  obtains  land  by  fraud, 
126. 

De  Milt,  Anthony,  schout,  89  ;  imprisoned, 
92. 

Democratic  Party  overthrown,  49  ;  schism 
in  the,  373  ;  disruption  of  the,  516. 

Democratic  Society  song  of  "  God  Save  the 
Guillotine,"  sung  at  meeting  of  (note), 
357. 

De  Nonville,  Dongan  and,  102  ;  invades  the 
Iroquois  country,  102,  103. 

De   Peyster,    Abraham,  Associate- Justice  ; 


biography  of  (note),  129  ;  and  the  Society 
Library,  187. 

De  Peyster,  Johannes,  Alderman,  85  ;  notice 
of  (note),  85  ;  burgomaster,  89,  92. 

Dermer,  Captain,  at  Manhattan,  23. 

De  Ruyven,  Secretary,  receiver  of  revenues, 
90. 

De  Sille,  Nicasius,  Vice-Director-General, 
07. 

Detroit,  Surrender  of,  184,  185. 

De  Vries,  David  Pietersen,  plants  a  colony 
on  Delaware  Bay,  33  ;  leaves  the  colony, 
50  ;  prophetic  words  of,  51. 

De  Witt,  a  Dutch  navigator,  14. 

De  Witt,  Simeon,  and  the  Erie  Canal,  383, 
384 ;  surveyor-general,  460. 

Dieskau,  bJaron  de,  defeated  and  wounded 
at  Lake  George,  166. 

Dincklagen,  Lubbertus  Van,  causes  there- 
call  of  Van  Twiller,  38  ;  Provisional  Gov- 
ernor, 51 ;  joins  in  a  memorial  to  the 
States-General,  62. 

Dix,  John  Adams,  and  School  District 
Libraries,  487;  famous  Order  of,  517,  518  ; 
Governor  ;  biography  of  (note),  549. 

Donck,  Adria«n  Van  der,  one  of  the  Coun- 
cil of  Nine  ;  imprisoned  by  Stuyvesant, 
61  ;  preseiits  the  memorial  of  the  Council 
of  Nine  to  the  States-General,  62. 

Dongan,  Thomas,  Governor,  96  ;  biography 
of  (note),  96  ;  foreign  relations  of,  99, 
100  ;  refuses  to  obey  the  King,  101 ;  is 
dismissed,  102. 

Downie,  Commodore,  at  Plattsburgh,  428. 

Draft,  The,  533. 

Draft  Riots  in  New  York,  533,  534. 

Drake,  Joseph  Rodman,  573. 

Draper,  A.  S.,  Superintendent  of  Public 
Instruction,  556. 

Draper,  John  W.,  572. 

Drummond,  Lt. -General,  with  Wellington's 
veterans  in  Canada;  commands  the  British 
forces  in  Canada,  424. 

Duane,  James,  District  Judge,  346  ;  first 
Mayor  of  New  York  City  after  the  Rev- 
olution, 350. 

Ducliess  County,  Territory  of ;  name  of 
(note),  89. 

Dudley.  Guilford  D.,  401. 

Dudley,  Joseph,  Chief-Justice  of  New  York 
(note),  116. 


000 


INDEX. 


Duke  of  York,  Character  of,  92. 

Duke's  County,  LocatioQ  of,  98. 

Duke's  laws,  The  (note),  85. 

Dunlap,  Rev.  Mr.,  at  Cherry  Valley,  291. 

Dunlap,  Wm. ,  artist  and  historian,  572. 

Dunmore,  Lord,  Governor,  203. 

Duquesne,  Fort,  162. 

Durand,  A.  B.,  artist,  575. 

Dutch,  The,  on  Manhattan,  surrounded  by 
Indians,  18  ;  liberality  of  the,  40  ;  Chris- 
tian charity  of  the,  46  ;  embassy  of  the, 
to  New  Plymouth,  and  its  results,  57  ; 
embassy  of,  to  Maryland,  68,  69  ;  retake 
New  York,  88,  89. 

Dutch  West  India  Co.,  The,  chartered  ; 
features  of  the  charter ;   powers  of  the, 

22  ;   favored   by  the  States-General,  22, 

23  ;  organization  of  the,  23  ;  send  colo- 
nists to  New  Netherland,  25,  27  ;  success 
of  the,  30  ;  offer  an  asylum  to  the  op- 
pressed  in  New  Netberland,  71. 

E. 

East  and  West  Jersey,  04. 

Eelkens  defies  Van  Twiller,  34. 

Election  Riots  in  New  York  City,  483-485. 

Elliott,  Charles,  artist,  575. 

pjjliott,  Captain  Jesse  D.,  captures  vessels 
near  Buffalo,  402. 

Embargroes  and  Orders  in  Council,  378- 
381. 

Empire  State,  the.  Retrospect  of  the  life 
of,  568-576  ;  religious  denominations  in 
568,  569  ;  political  condition  of,  569,  570  ; 
courts  of ;  trade,  manufactures  and  popu- 
lation of,  571 ;  statesmen,  jurists,  literary 
men,  and  arts  and  artists  in,  572-57J. 

Emuckfau,  Battle  of,  406. 

England,  Monarchy  restored  in  ;  a  royal 
state  trick,  71  ;  Revolution  in,  and  its 
effect  in  America,  105. 

English-American  Colonists,  Character  and 
condition  of,  185. 

English,  The,  in  America,  161. 

English,  The,  in  America,  encroach  on 
Dutch  domain,  42. 

Enterprise  and  Borer,  Battle  between,  418. 

Episcopacy  in  the  Colonies,  185-189. 

"  Equal  Rights"  Partyj  Action  of  the  ;  dis- 
solution of  the,  482. 


Brie  Canal,  Genesis  of  the,  382, 884  ;  begin- 
ning of  the  construction  of  tlie,  384,  385  ; 
preliminary  measures  adopted  ;  meeting 
in  favor  of  the  (note),  450 ;  ridiculed  and 
I  opposed,  451 ;  first  boat  on  the,  453  ;  in- 
fluence of  the  ;  prophecy  concerning  the 
(note),  468  ;  celebration  of  the  opening  of 
the,  463-468. 

Erie,  Fort,  Capture  of,  by  Americans,  422, 
423  ;  siege  of,  and  sortie  from,  426. 

Esopus    (Kingston),    Settlement     at,    26; 
trouble  with  the  Indians  at,  68. 

Estaing,    Count   de,   commands  a   French 
naval  force  on  the  American  Cf)a8ts,  295. 

Europe,  Condition  of,  in  1814,  420. 

Eutaw  Spring,  Battle  at,  325. 

Evertsen,  Admiral  Cornelia,  88 ;  proclama 
tion  of,  89. 

Expedition  against  Canada,  115,  415-417. 


Falmouth  (now  Portland),  burned,  252. 

Fashions  in  New  York  changed,  476. 

Faulkner,  Major,  at  Craney  Island,  418. 

Federal  Celebration  at  New  York,  351  ; 
consequences  of  the,  352. 

Federal  Party,  Chief  leaders  of  tlie,  in  New 
York,  346  ;  overthrow  of  the,  379  ;  second 
overthrow  of  the,  386. 

Federalist,  The,  388. 

Federalists  and  Anti-Federalists,  337. 

Fenton,  R.  E.,  Governor;  biography  of 
(note),  536  ;  and  the  Thirteenth  Amend- 
ment of  the  National  Constitution,  538. 

Field,  Cyrus  W.,  erects  a  monument  at 
Tappan,  315. 

Field,  David  Dudley,  and  the  Women's 
Relief  Association,  527. 

"  Fields,  Tlie."  Great  meeting  in,  addressed 
by  young  Hamilton,  208. 

Fillmore,  Millard,  Vice-President  of  the 
United  States,  507. 

Financial  scheme.  A,  denounced  (note), 
201. 

Fish,  Hamilton,  Governor,  Biography  of 
(note),  507. 

Fitzroy,  Lord,  Reception  of  ;  marries  Gov- 
ernor Cosby's  daughter  (note),  144. 

Five  Nations,  Grant  of  land  by  the,  to  the 
English.  12«. 


INDEX. 


601 


Fletcher,  Benjamin,  Governor,  117  ;  in  con- 
flict with  the  Assembly;  at  Hartford,  118. 

Forbes,  General  Joseph,  Tardy  movements 
of,  176. 

Forman,  Joshua,  and  the  Erie  Canal,  383, 
474. 

Forsythe,  Major  Benjamin,  at  Ogdens- 
burg,  401,  408. 

Fort  Amsterdam  built,  29  ;  treaty  witli  Ind- 
ians at,  53  ;  taken  by  British  troops  and 
named  Fort  James,  78. 

Fort  Casimer  built,  59  ;  captured  and 
named  Fort  Trinity,  66. 

Fort  Christina,  41. 

Fort  Clinton  captured  by  the  British,  283, 
284. 

Fort  Duquesne,  Capture  of,  177. 

Fort  Edward,  built  by  General  Lyman, 
165. 

Fort  Good  Hope,  26. 

Fort  James,  Name  of,  changed  to  William 
Henry,  89. 

Fort  Lee,  243  ;  commanded  by  General 
Greene,  248  ;  abandoned,  250. 

Fort  Montfjomery  captured  by  the  British, 
283,  284. 

Fort  Nassau  on  the  Delaware,  26. 

Fort  Necessity,  Surrender  of,  162. 

Fort  Niagara  captured  by  the  English,  179, 
180. 

Fort  Orange  built,  26,  48  ;  surrendered  and 
named  Albany,  78. 

Fort  Plain,  290  ;  settlement  desolated,  306. 

Fort  Schuyler  besieged  by  St.  Leger,  269  ; 
garrison  of,  270;  relieved  (note),  273. 

Fort  Washington  captured  by  the  British, 
249. 

Fort  William  Henry,  166  ;  winter  expedi- 
tion against  (note),  171  ;  massacre  at, 
171,  172. 

Forts  Mifflin  and  Mercer  captured  by  tin- 
British,  289. 

Forty  Fort,  Surrender  of,  294. 

France,  Treaty  of  Alliance  with,  294. 

Francis,  Dr.  J.  W.,  Notice  of,  575. 

Franklin,  Dr.  B. ,  commissioner  in  Canada, 
239. 

Fraser,  General,  commands  grenadiers ; 
fatally  wounded  ;  death  and  burial  of 
(note),  280. 

Fraunce,  Samuel  (note),  331. 


Free  Colonists,  Commercial  privileges  ex- 
tended to,  44. 

Free  School  District  Libraries  established, 
487. 

Free  School  Society,  376 ;  members  of  the 
(note),  376. 

Free  Schools  established  by  law,  505,  506  ; 
law  for,  repealed,  507,  508, 

Free-will  Offerings  of  the  loyal  people 
during  the  Civil  War,  529. 

Fremont,  John  Charles,  candidate  for  the 
Presidency  of  the  United  States,  511. 

French,  Activity  of  the,  in  seeking  power  ; 
settlements  of  tlie,  160  ;  aggressive  move- 
ments of  the,  161. 

French  emigrants,  Effect  of,  on  New  York 
society,  358. 

French  forces  at  Newport,  S09. 

French  and  Indian  War,  The,  162-184. 

French  Neutrals — Acadians,  163. 

French  Revolution,  Influence  of,  in  Amer- 
ica, 353. 

French  vessel  driven  from  Manhattan  Har- 
bor, 26. 

Frenchtown,  Massacre  at,  404. 

Freneau,  Philip,  "  Poet  of  the  Revolution," 
592. 

Friends  or  Quakers,  Attitude  of,  during  the 
Civil  War  (note).  524. 

Frontenac,  Count  Louis,  Governor  of 
Canada  ;  conduct  toward  the  Five  Na- 
tions ;  builds  a  fort,  91  ;  invades  New 
York,  114;  performs  an  Indian  war- 
dance,  116  ;  invades  the  Iroquois  country, 
118.  119;  death  of,  119. 

Fry,  Colonel  Joshua,  commands  Virginia 
troops,  162. 

Fulton,  Robert,  and  navigation  by  steam  ; 
biography  of  (note),  877. 

G. 

Gabry,  Timothy,  Alderman,  85. 

Gage,  Thomas,  fortifies  Boston  Neck,  215. 

Gaines,  General  E.  P.,  succeeds  General 
Ripley,  435. 

Galphin  Fort,  Capture  of,  325. 

Gardiner,  Lyon,  settles  on  Gardiner's  Isl- 
and, 42. 

Gaspe,  Burning  of  the  (note),  204. 

Gates,  General  Horatio,  supersedes  General 


602 


INDEX. 


Schuyler  ;  on  Bemis's  Heights,  274  ;  con- 
duct of,  276  ;  jealousy  of,  displayed, 
277 ;  receives  thanks  and  a  gold  medal 
from  Congress,  282. 

General  Congress,  A,  recommended,  207  ; 
delegates  to,  from  New  York,  appointed, 
209. 

Genet,  Edmund  C,  Minister  of  the  French 
Republic,  353  ;  arrival  of,  354  ;  fits  out 
privateers,  354,  355  ;  recer)tion  of,  at 
Philadelphia  ;  banquet  in  honor  of  (note), 
355  ;  conduct  of,  356  ;  reception  of,  at 
New  York  ;  recalled  ;  remains  in  America 
and  marries,  357. 

George  III.,  First  arbitrary  act  of,  toward  the 
Colonies,  189;  ascends  the  throne,  192. 

Germain,  Lady  Betty,  Remark  of,  373. 

German  mercenaries  in  Canada,  240. 

Gerry,  Elbridge,  Vice-President  of  the 
United  States,  398. 

Qheel,  Maximilian  Van,  a  schepen,  62. 

Glover,  General,  on  Bemis's  Heights,  280. 

Godyn,  Samuel,  a  patroon,  32. 

Golden  Hill,  New  York  City,  Skirmish  on, 
200. 

Gorham  and  Phelps,  purchase  land  in  New 
York  State,  335. 

Gouverneur,  Abraham,  Leisler's  secretary, 
imprisoned,  110;  pardoned,  111. 

Graham,  James,  first  Recorder  of  New  York 
(note),  100. 

Granger,  Francis,  Anti-Masonic  candidate 
for  Governor,  476. 

Grant,  British  General,  in  battle  of  Long 
Island,  244. 

Grant,  Mrs.,  of  Laggan's  description  of 
social  life  at  Albany  (note),  151. 

Grasse,  Count  de,  in  the  West  Indies,  321  ; 
before  Yorktown  with  a  French  fleet, 
322. 

Great  Britain  and  Holland,  War  between, 
86;  declares  war  against  France  in  1756, 
167  ;  causes  of  war  between,  and  the 
United  States,  387  ;  United  States  de- 
clares war  against,  387,  388 ;  opposition 
to  the  war  with,  388. 

Greeley,  Horace,  candidate  for  the  Presi- 
dency of  the  United  States,  548. 

Green  Mountain  Boys,  191  ;  at  Ticondero- 
ga,  218 ;  at  Crown  Point,  219 ;  employ- 
ment of,  in  the  army,  223. 


Greene,  General  Nathaniel,  in  command  on 
Long  Islaad  ;  sick,  243  ;  in  South  Caro- 
lina, 323  ;  famous  retreat  of,  324  ;  fights 
Cornwallis  at  Guilford  ('ourt-H<»u8e  ;  de- 
feated near  Camden  ;  marcli  of,  toward 
Ninety-Six,  324  ;  siege  of  Ninety-Six,  by  ; 
on  the  High  Hills  of  Santee  ;  battle  of, 
at  Eutaw  Springs  ;  rewards  given  to,  325. 

Grinnell,  Moses  H.,  at  a  war-meeting ; 
biography  of  (note),  522. 

Grotius  condemned  to  imprisonment,  20. 

Guilford  Court-House,  Battle  at,  324. 

Gustavus  Adolphus  of  Sweden  killed  at 
Lutzen,  41. 

II. 

Hague,  Residence  of  Counts  of  Holland  at 
the,  16. 

Hale,  Nathan,  Fate  of  (note),  246. 

Halleck,  Fitz-Greene,  573,  574. 

Hamilton,  Andrew,  defends  Zenger,  145  ; 
address  of,  to  the  jury,  146  ;  triumph  of, 
and  honors  to,  146,  147. 

Hamilton,  Alexander,  speaks  at  ' '  The  Great 
Meeting ' '  in  Tlie  Fields,  208  ;  at  Arnold's 
headquarters,  313 ;  in  the  National  Con- 
vention,  336  ;  biograpliy  of  (note),  337  ; 
the  chief  writer  of  The  FtderaliHt,'d^'6; 
in  the  State  Convention  at  Poughkeep- 
sie,  in  1788,  341  ;  Secretary  of  the 
United'  States  Treasury,  346;  helps  in 
tiie  establishment  of  the  Board  of  Re- 
gents in  New  York,  362  ;  death  of,  375  ; 
allusion  to,  572. 

Hamilton  and  Burr,  373,  375 ;  duel  be- 
tween, 374,  375. 

Hampton,  General  Wade,  in  Northern  New 
Yor  ;  ;  character  of,  413,  415. 

Hard-Cider  Campaign,  The,  494. 

Hardy,  Commodore  Charles,  Character  of, 
419. 

Hardy,  Sir  Charles,  Governor  of  New 
York,  160  ;  leaves  the  province,  186. 

Harlem,  Village  of,  founded,  69. 

Harlem  Plains,  Battle  on,  247. 

Harper,  James,  Mayor  of  New  York,  485. 

Harper's  Ferry,  John  Brown's  raid  at,  515. 

Harrison,  Richard,  United  States  Attorney 
for  New  York,  346. 

Harrison,  General  Wm.  Henry,  marches 
for  the  recovery  of  Michigan,  403,  404  ; 


INDEX. 


603 


builds  Fort  Meigs,  404  ;  wins  a  battle 
at  the  Tliames,  and  recovers  Michigan, 
406  ;  becomes  President  of  the  United 
States,  494. 

Hartford,  Conference  at,  between  the  Dutch 
and  English,  in  1050  ;  and  the  result,  58, 
59. 

Hartford  Convention,  The,  in  1814,  443, 
444. 

Hathorn,  Colonel,  commands  troops  at 
Minisink,  301,  302. 

Hatteni,  Arendt  Van,  burgomaster,  62. 

Haviland,  Colonel,  at  Montreal,  184. 

Hawley,  Jesse,  and  the  Erie  Canal,  383. 

Hawley,  Jesse.  Superintendent  of  Public 
Instruction,  440  ;  removal  of,  454. 

Heath,  General  William,  in  command  in 
the  Highlands,  248. 

Heathcote,  Caleb,  Biojrraphy  of  (note),  182, 
133. 

Hell-Gate,  23. 

Hendrick,  King,  at  Lake  Georfje  ;  and 
William  Johnson,  165  ;  death  of,  166. 

Hendricksen,  Captain,  before  the  States- 
General,  16,  18  ;  exploring  voyage  of, 
18. 

Herkimer,  Nicholas,  commands  Tryon 
County  militia,  270  ;  defeated  at  Oris- 
kany  ;  biograpliy  of.  271  ;  death  of,  272. 

Heyn,  Admiral,  Exploit  and  death  of,  30. 

Hi-a-wat-ha,  Death  of  daughter  of,  4 ;  ser- 
vices and  departure  of,  4,  5. 

Hickey,  one  of  Washington's  Life  Guard, 
Crime  and  execution  of,  S36. 

Hobkirk's  Hill.  Battle  of.  324. 

Hoboken,  Massacre  of  Indians  at,  48. 

Hoffman,  John  T.,  Governor,"  541  ;  bio;:- 
raphy  of  (note),  542. 

"  Holder  of  the  Heavens,"  Legend  of,  3.  4. 

Holland,  Prosperity  of,  anticipated  ;  social 
condition  of,  19-21. 

HoUandare,  Peter,  52. 

Holmes,  Captain,  puts  a  house  on  the  site 
of  Hartford,  38. 

Holt's  Journal,  Devices  on,  211,  212. 

Hone,  Philip,  Mayor  of  New  'York  ;  biog- 
raphy of  (note),  464. 

Hongers,  Hans,  14. 

Hopkins,  Commodore  Esek,  Exploits  of, 
252. 

Honiet'KnA  Peacock,  Battle  between,  417. 


Horseshoe  Bend,  Battle  of,  407. 

Hotliam,  Commodore,  on  the  Hudson  River, 
283. 

Hough,  Franklin  B.,  historian,  574. 

Howe,  Lord,  on  Lake  George,  173,  174 ; 
death  of,  174  ;  biography  of  (note).  175. 

Howe,  Admiral  Richard,  before  New  York 
with  a  fleet ;  a  peace  commissioner.  242. 

Howe,  General  William,  goes  to  Halifax 
from  Boston,  235  ;  before  New  York  with 
troops  ;  joined  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton, 
342  ;  in  battle  on  Long  Island,  244 ;  at 
White  Plains,  248  ;  captures  Fort  Wash- 
ington, 249  ;  in  battle  of  Brandywine 
Creek,  280  ;  takes  Philadelphia,  287 ; 
succeeded  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  295. 

Howe  and  WasUington  confront  each 
other  in  New  Jersey,  286. 

Hubbardton,  Battle  of.  267. 

Hudson,  Henry,  Biography  of  (note) ;  seeks 
a  northeast  passage  to  India,  10,  11  ; 
discovers  New  York  Bay,  11  :  voyages 
on  the  river  that  bears  his  name,  12 ;  de- 
tained in  England,  13  ;  perishes  in  Polar 
waters,  14. 

Hudson  Highlands,  Obstructions  of  the 
river  in  the,  253. 

Hudson  River,  Names  of  the  (note),  13; 
first  trading  vessels  in  the,  14  ;  associa- 
tions of  the,  501  ;  manors  on  the,  561- 
565. 

Hughes,  Archbishop,  and  the  Common 
School  Fund,  497  ;  biography  of  (note), 
496. 

Hughson,  John,  a  victim  of  the  "  Negro 
Plot"  afifair,  153. 

Huguenots  in  New  York,  148. 

Hull,  Captain  Isaac,  397. 

Hull,  General  William,  in  Michigan  ;  sur- 
renders Detroit,  389. 

Hunkers,  a  political  faction.  501. 

Hunt,  Washington,  Governor;  biography 
of  (note);  administration  of,  508. 

Hunter,  Robert,  Governor ;  character  of, 
137,  138  ;  brings  Palatines  to  New  York, 
137  ;  administration  of,  137,  138. 

"  Hunters'  Lodges"  suppressed,  491. 

Huntington,  Daniel,  President  of  the  Na- 
tional Academy  of  the  Arts  of  Design, 
576. 

Hutchings,  William,   one  of  the  last  two 


604 


INDEX. 


survivors  of  the  Continental  Army  (note), 
320. 

Hutchinson,  Anne,  Sketch  of  (note),  49. 

Hyde,  Sir  Edward  (Lord  Cornbury),  Gov- 
ernor of  New  York,  129. 

I. 

Independence,  Yearninjrs  of  the  peoph;  for  ; 

Paine's  plea  for,  23()  ;   resolutions    for, 

adopted  ;    Declaration   of,  adopted,  237, 

238. 
Indian  Affairs,  Board  of  Commissioners  of, 

93,  227. 
Indian  Fort  (note),  17  ;  Champlain's  attack 

on  the,  17,  18. 
Indian  tribes  iu  New  York,  3. 
Indian  war,  A  fierce,  kindled  by  Kieft,  49. 
Ingoldsby,  Richard,  demands  possession  of 

the  fort  at  New  York,  109.  110;    notice 

of,  117  ;  Acti n<i -Governor  of  New  York, 

134  ;  biography  of  (note),  186. 
Inraan.  Henry,  artist,  575. 
Investigating   Coniniittee,  concerning  tlie 

Erie  Canal,  Work  of  the,  554. 
Iroquois  Confederacy,  Origin  of  the,  3-5  ; 

Indian  name  of  the,  G  ;  polity  of  the.  6-9  ; 

totemic  system  of  the,  7  ;  customs  of  the, 

8,  9  ;  final  disappearance  of  the,  334. 
Irvinyr,  Peter,  Reference  to,  572. 
Irving,   Washington,  Biography  of  (note), 

572. 
Izard,    General   George,    on   the    Niagara 

frontier  ;  biography  of  (note),  426. 


Jackson,  Andrew,  at  war  with  the  Creek 
Indians,  406 ;  at  Pensacola,  Mobile,  and 
New  Orleans,  441 ;  gains  a  victory  at 
New  Orleans  ;  honors  awarded  to,  442  ; 
President  of  the  United  States,  474. 

James  II.  King  of  England,  and  the  New 
York  "Charter  of  Liberties,"  101;  at- 
tempts of,  to  make  the  Roman  Catholic 
the  State  religion  ;  and  French  Jesuit 
missions  in  New  York,  103,  104  ;  flies 
to   France,104. 

James,  Major,  Country  residence  of,  deso- 
lated, 196. 

Jarvis,  J.  Wesley,  artist,  575. 


Jay,  John,  and  the  State  Constitution,  257, 
258  ;  biography  of  (note),  257  ;  first  Chief- 
Justice  of  the  State,  260 ;  one  of  the 
writers  of  The  Federalist,  338  ;  Chief- 
Justice  of  the  United  States  Supreme 
Court,  346  ;  Governor  of  New  York,  363  ; 
a  political  writer,  572. 

Jay,  William,  Notice  of;  biography  of 
(note),  451.     • 

Jay's  treaty  considered,  358,  359  ;  burned 
by  the  populace;  treatment  of,  at  Charles- 
ton, 359. 

Jefferson,  Thomas,  writes  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  227  ;  his  suspicions  of 
the  Federalists,  253,  254  ;  his  opinion 
of  Hamilton  ;  leader  of  the  Republican 
Party,  354  :  Vice-President  of  the  United 
States,  363  ;  President  of  the  United 
States,  366. 

Jersey,  The,  a  prison  ship  (note),  149. 

Jesuit  missions  in  America,  90 ;  active  in 
New  York,  140  ;  influence  of  the,  160. 

Joguea,  Father,  Notice  of,  46. 

Johnson,  Guy,  Indian  agent,  224  ;  holds 
Indian  C9uncils,  225,  22(5. 

Johnson,  Sir  John,  at  Johnson  Hall,  227  ; 
gives  his  parole;  biography  of  (note), 
231  ;  breaks  his  parole,  240  ;  flight  of,  to 
Canada  ;  commissioned  a  brigadier-gen- 
eral, 241;  leads  Canadians  and  Indians, 
264,  303;  desolates  his  home  neighbor- 
hood, 305 ;  desolates  Stone  Arabia,  308. 

Johnson,  Lady,  conveyed  to  Albany,  241. 

Johnson,  William,  at  a  conference  at  Al- 
bany, 157  ;  Indian  commissioner  in  com- 
mand of  provincial  troops,  164,  165 ; 
and  King  Hendrick  (note),  165  ;  in  bat- 
tle at  Lake  George  ;  builds  Fort  Will- 
iam Henry,  166 ;  knighted,  166.  167 ; 
captures  Fort  Niagara,  179  ;  at  Montrt>al, 
184  ;  biography  of  (note),  224. 

Johnson,  William,  and  the  rebellion  in 
Canada  ;  biography  of,  490. 

Johnson,  William  Samuel,  first  President 
of  King's  College  ;  biography  of  (note), 
188. 

Johnson  and  Lyman  contrasted,  167. 

Johnson's  Royal  Green,  270  ;  defeated  and 
dispersed.  271. 

Johnston,  Colonel,  British  commander  at 
Stony  Point,  300. 


INDEX. 


605 


Jones,  Captain  Jacob,  wins  a  naval  victory, 

397. 
Jones,  JoUn  Paul,  wins  a  naval  victory,  305. 
Jones,  Samuel,  Chief-Justice  ;   biography 

of  (note),  474. 
Joris,    Captain   Adriaens,   commands    the 

New   Netherland,  25  ;  constructs  a  fort 

on  the  site  of  Albany,  26. 
Journalism,  Revolution  in,  482,  483. 
Jumonville,  French  commander,  slain,  162. 

K. 

Kalb,  Baron  de,  in  South  Carolina,  309. 

Keane,  General,  defeated  below  New  Or- 
leans, 441. 

Kent,  James,  and  Colonel  Burr.  373  ;  Chan- 
cellor, portrait  of  ;  biography  of,  448. 

Kentuckians,  War-cry  of  the,  404. 

Kidd,  William,  commands  a  privateer,  121 ; 
becomes  a  pirate  and  is  hanged  ;  treasure 
of,  122. 

Kieft,  Governor  William,  succeeds  Van 
Twiller  ;  De  Vries's  opinion  of,  39  ;  ener- 
getic rule  of ;  builds  a  harherg  and  church, 
40  ;  snubbed  by  the  people  ;  calls  heads 
of  families  to  a  consultation,  43-46 ; 
makes  war  on  the  Indians  ;  sends  sol- 
diers ajraiust  fugitive  Indians  at  Hobo- 
ken,  48;  asks  the  Commonalty  to  appoint  a 
committee  of  conference,  49  ;  recalled  ; 
threatened,  51  ;  departure  and  death  of, 
53. 

King  George,  Equestrian  statue  of,  199. 

King  George's  War,  155. 

King,  John  A.,  Governor,  Biography  of 
(note),  513  ;  recommends  the  extension 
of  the  right  of  suffrage  to  colored  men, 
514. 

King  Philip's  War.  93. 

King  William's  War,  114. 

King,  Rufus,  United  States  Senator  ;  biog- 
raphy of  (note),  341. 

King's  (now  Columbia)  College,  founded 
and  chartered,  187,  188. 

Kings  and  Queenscounties,  Territory  of,  98. 

King's  Mountain,  Battle  on,  309. 

Kingston  (note),  262  ;  burned  by  the  Brit- 
ish, 286. 

Kip,  Jacob,  Secretary  of  New  Amsterdam, 
63  ;  aldemian  ;  imprisoned,  92. 


Klock's  Field,  Battle  at,  308. 

Kuowlton,  Colonel,  Death  of,  247. 

Knyphausen,  General,  leader  of  German 
troops,  244  ;  in  command  of  Germans  at 
the  capture  of  Fort  Washington,  249. 

Konick,  Frederick  de,  commander  of  Stuy- 
vesant's  flag-ship  in  the  Delaware,  67. 

Kregier,  Martin,  burgomaster,  62. 


La  CoUe  Mills,  Battle  at,  421. 

Lafayette,  Marquis  de,  joins  the  American 
army,  286  ;  appointed  to  commission  an 
expedition  against  Canada  ;  loyalty  to 
Washington  ;  deceived  by  Gates,  288, 
289 ;  in  Virginia,  321  ;  in  New  York, 
the  nation's  guest,  461. 

Lake  Champlain,  British  force  on,  in  1776, 
252  ;  military  affairs  near,  414. 

Lake  Erie,  Naval  battle  on,  405,  406. 

Lamb,  John,  an  active  Sor.  of  Liberty,  205  ; 
addresses  the  people,  206  ;  biography  of 
(note),  206  ;  removes  cannons  from  the 
fort  at  New  York,  282  ;  home  of,  attack- 
ed by  a  mob,  352. 

Lamb,  Martha  J.,  historian,  574. 

Lancastrian  and  Pestalozzlau  systems  of 
education,  488,  489. 

Lansing,  John,  Chancellor,  371. 

Lee,  Charle.s,  sent  by  Washington  to  New 
York,  234  ;  disobedience  and  treason  of, 
253. 

Lee,  Gideon,  Mayor  of  New  York  ;  wound- 
ed by  rioters,  484. 

Lee,  Colonel  Henry,  in  South  Carolina, 
324. 

Lee,  Richard  Henry,  offers  resolutions  for 
independence,  237. 

Leggett,  William,  Notice  of ;  biography 
of  (note),  482. 

Legislative  reforms,  471. 

L'Hommedieu,  Ezra,  and  popular  educa- 
tion  ;  biography  of,  362. 

Leisler,  Jacob,  helps  the  Huguenots,  105  ; 
chosen  chief  ruler,  temporarily,  106 ; 
organizes  a  provisional  government,  107  ; 
tenders  the  fort  and  his  power  to  the 
royal  governor  ;  arrested,  110 ;  con- 
demned to  death,  111  ;  executed,  112. 

Leisler  and  Milborne,  Property  of,  confis- 


G06 


INDEX. 


cated,  nnd  afterward  restored,  112  ;  re- 
mains of,  lie  in  state  at  the  City  Hall, 
and  buried  in  a  cemetery,  124. 

Leislerians  or  Democrats  in  political  con- 
trol, 129. 

Lemon  slaves'  case.  The,  512. 

Levi,  General  de,  attempts  to  recover  Que- 
bec, 183,  184. 

Lewis,  Morgan,  Governor ;  biography  of 
(note).  874. 

Liberty  Pole  erected,  199. 

Liberal  Republican  Party,  548. 

Life  Guard  of  Washington  tampered  with  ; 
orij^in  of  the  (note),  235. 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  President  of  the  United 
States,  511  ;  calls  for  troops,  522;  re- 
elected President,  536  ;  assassination  of. 
538. 

Lincoln,  General  Benjamin,  joins  General 
Gates,  275  ;  attack  of,  on  Savannah,  305  ; 
surrenders  Charleston,  308. 

Liquor  Bill,  Proliibitory,  vetoed,  510. 

Literature  Fund  established,  36L 

Livinjfston,  Gilbert,  in  Constitutional  Con- 
vention at  Poughkeepsie,  34L 

Livingston,  John  and  Mary,  562. 

Livin<jston,  Philip,  and  the  Society  Library, 
187  ;  President  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress ;  biography  of  (note),  221. 

Livingston,  Robert,  Secretary  of  the  Board 
of  Commissioners  of  Indian  Affairs,  93  ; 
controls  the  Provincial  Convention;  ac- 
cused of  uttering  treasonable  words,  and 
goes  to  New  England,  108,  109  ;  engages 
in  a  privateering  scheme ;  a  friend  of 
Kidd,  121,  122  ;  changes  his  political 
position,  122. 

Livingston,  Robert  R.,  first  Chancellor  of 
the  State  of  New  York,  264;  adminis- 
ters the  o8th  of  office  to  Washington  ; 
biography  of  (note),  345  ;  Minister  at  the 
French  Court,  371;  becomes  a  Repul)lican, 
364  ;  assists  Fulton  in  hia  steam  naviga- 
tion scheme,  377  ;  and  the  Manor  House, 
563. 

Livingston,  Walter,  first  Speaker  of  the 
New  York  Assembly,  262. 

Livingston,  William,  a  political  and  theo- 
logical writer,  189,  213  ;  prophetic  ap- 
peal of,  201  :  on  immigrants  into  New 
York  (note),  571,  573. 


Livingstons  in  America,  Ancestors  of  the, 
562. 

Livingston's  Manor  desolated , 286  ;  account 
of  the,  562. 

Loco-foco  Party,  Origin  of  the  name  of  the, 
481. 

Txing  Island,  English  settlements  on,  43  ; 
revolt  on,  73  ;  preparations  for  battle  on, 
243  ;  landing  of  British  troops  on  ;  battle 
on,  244  ;  expedition  against  Tories  on, 
315. 

Loudoun,  Lord,  succeeds  Shirley  in  com- 
mand of  troops  ;  biography  of  (note)  ; 
sends  Abercrombie  to  America,  167  ;  on 
expedition  against  Louisburg,  170  ;  bad 
conduct  of,  169,  170. 

Louisburg,  J^spedition  against,  155,  156  ; 
capture  of,  173. 

Lovelace,  Francis,  Governor  ;  biography  of 
(note),  87  ;  character  of,  88. 

Lovelace,  Lord  John,  (iovernor,  calls  a  new 
Assembly,  133. 

Loyalists,  Flight  of,  from  New  York  ;  con- 
fiscation of  property  of  the ;  return  of  the, 
330. 

Lundy's  Lane,  Battle  of,  425. 

Luyck,  ^gidius,  burgomaster,  89  ;  im- 
prisoned, 92. 

Lyman,  General  Phineas  ;  biography  of 
(note),  164  ;  lieutenant  of  General  Wm. 
Johnson  ;  builds  Fort  P^dward,  165  ; 
gains  the  victory  at  Lake  George,  166. 

M. 

McArthur,  Duncan,  Raid  of,  433. 

McCrea,  Jane,  Tragedy  of,  267. 

McDonnell,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  attacks 
Ogdenbburg,  408. 

Macdonough,  Thomas, on  LakeChamplain, 
414,  415  ;  commands  in  a  naval  battle  on 
Lake  Champlain ;  biography  of  (note), 
429. 

McDougall,  Alexander,  issues  an  offensive 
hand-bill  ;  imprisoned,  and  regarded  as 
a  martyr,  202. 

McDougall,  Sir  Duncan,  General  Paken- 
ham's  aide,  443. 

McEvers,  James,  stamp-distributor,  re- 
signs, 186. 

McHenry,  Fort,  Bombardment  of,  437. 


INDEX. 


607 


Mackinaw,  Attempt  to  take  Fort,  432. 
McKenzie,  Wm,  Lyon,  and  the   insurrec- 

tioQ  in  Canada,  489,  490. 
McLeod,  Trial  and  acquittal  of,  491. 
McLane,   Secretary  Ijouis,  writes  Jackson's 

nullification  proclamation  (note),  480. 
Macomb,    Alexander,    an    extensive  land- 
owner in  Northern  New  York,  335. 
Macomb,  General,  in  command  at  Platts- 

burgb,   437-431 ;     biography   of   (note), 

430. 
Macomb   and   Macdonough,    recipients    of 

honors,  431. 
McNeil,  Major,  in  battle  of  Chippewa,  424. 
Madison,  James,  one  of  the  writers  of  The 

Federnlkt,  338  ;  elected  president  of  the 

United  States,  381  ;  re-elected,  398. 
Maiden  burned,  406. 
Manning,   Captain  John,   surrenders  New 

York  to  the  Dutch  ;  punished  (note),  89. 
Manhattan  Island,  1,  13  ;  purchase  of,  from 

the  Indians,  27. 
Manhattan,  Village  of ;  an  Indian  murdered 

near,  29  ;  flight  of  settlers  to,  30. 
Manhattan  Water-works  and  Bank,  365. 
Map  of  New  Netherland,  36,  37. 
Marauding   expedition   on   the   shores    of 

Connecticut,  264. 
Marcy,  Wm.   L. ,  captures  a  British  flag, 

401  ;    Comptroller    of    the    Slate,   460 ; 

Governor  ;  biography  of  (note),  479. 
Marin,  M.,  a  French  officer,  156,  170. 
Marion,  Francis,  the  "  Swamp  Fox,"  309. 
Mary,  Queen,  Death  of,  129. 
Maryland,    Dutch   Embassy    sent   to,  68  ; 

invasion  of,  468. 
Massachusetts,  First  emission   of   bills  of 

credit  of,  116  ;  claims  of,  to  New  York 

territory  adjusted  ;  (note),  335. 
Massasoit  and  his  family  (note),  93. 
Matthews,  Mayor,  of  New  York,  and  a  plot 

against  Washington,  236. 
May,  Captain  Jacobsen,  and  the  Walloons, 

25. 
Mayflower,  The,  lands  emigrants  at  Cape 

Cod,  24. 
Medal,  A  descriptive  French,  116. 
Megopolensis,  Dominie,  with  Stuyvesant, 

against  the  Swedes,  67. 
Meigs,  Colonel  R.  J. ,  Exploit  of,  in  Long 

Island,  316. 


Meigs,  Fort,  relieved,  404. 

Melyn,  Corntlis,  Notice  of  (note),  51,  62. 

Mennonites  settle  near  Swaanendael ; 
plundered  and  ruined,  72. 

Mercer,  Colonel,  in  command  at  Oswego, 
168  ;  surrenders,  169. 

Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art  (note),  575. 

Michigan  recovered,  403,  406. 

Mifflin  and  Mercer,  FortS:  captured,  287. 

Militia  of  New  York,  Arrangement  of  the, 
389. 

Milborne,  Jacob,  sent  to  Albany,  107,  108  ; 
addresses  the  people ;  leaves  Albany, 
108  ;  condemned  to  death  and  executed, 
111.112. 

Miller,  Colonel  James,  Exploit  of,  at 
Lundy's  Lane,  425. 

Mlnisink,  Raid  upon  the  settlement  of,  301. 

Minuit,  Peter,  Director  of  New  Netherland  ; 
purchases  Manhattan  Island,  27 ;  Gov- 
ernor of  New  Sweden  ;  defies  Kieft,  41  ; 
death  of,  52. 

Minute  Men,  Organization  of,  207. 

Mitchell,  Samuel  L.,  Speech  of,  at  the 
canal  celebration  ;  biography  of  (note), 
466  ;  notice  of,  575. 

Monckton,  Robert,  Governor,  192» 

Monmouth,    Battle  of,  295. 

Monongahela,  Battle  of,  163. 

Montcalm,  Marquis  de,  French  commander, 
captures  Oswego,  168 ;  biography  of 
(note)  ;  dances  with  the  Indians.  170  ; 
captures  Fort  William  Henry,  171  ;  in 
command  at  Quebec,  181,  183  ;  death  of, 
183. 

Montgomery,  John,  Governor,  Character  of; 
administration  of,  141  ;  death  of,  142. 

Montgomery,  Richard,  at  Albany,  227; 
biography  of  (note),  228  ;  advances  upon 
St.  Johns,  328,  229 ;  captures  it  and 
Montreal,  229  ;  attacks  Quebec  ;  death  of, 
230. 

Montmorenci,  Falls  of,  Battle  near,  181. 

Montreal,  Indians  gathered  at,  170  ;  cap- 
tured, 229. 

Moody,  Sir  J.  Henry,  patentee  of  Graves- 
end  (note),  49. 

Moody,  Lady  Deborah,  Sketch  of  (note),  49. 

Mooers,  General  Benjamin,  commands 
militia ;  biography  of  (note),  427 ;  in 
battle  of  Plattsburgh,  430. 


608 


INDEX. 


Moore,  Sir  Henry,  Governor ;  administra- 
tion of,  193  ;  death  of,  201. 

Morgan,  General  Daniel,  defeats  Tarleton 
at  the  Cowpens  ;  rewarded ;  joined  hy 
Greene,  323 ;  in  battle  on  Bemis'a  Heights, 
275. 

Morgan,  Edwin  D.,  Governor;  biography 
of  (note),  514 ;  conservative  position  of, 
518, 519;  energetic  action  of,  in  upliolding 
the  National  Government,  525,  526. 

Morgan,  Louis,  historian,  575. 

Morgan,  William,  and  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, 471,  472. 

Morris,  George  P.,  575. 

Morris,  Gouverneur,  Remarks  of,  concern- 
ing Zenger's  trial  (note),  147  ;  biography 
of  (note),  382  ;  a  politicHl  writer,  572. 

Morris,  Lewis,  Chief  Justice,  143. 

Moravian  Towns,  Battle  near  the,  406. 

Morse,  Samuel  F.  B.,  artist  and  scientist, 
500,  575. 

Mott,  Samuel,  to  Governor  Trumbull,  228. 

Mott,  Valentine,  and  Women's  Relief  Com- 
mittee, 529. 

Mount  Defiance,  taken  possession  of  by  the 
British,  266. 

Mount  Independence,  Garrison  of ;  sur- 
render of,  265. 

Munro,  Colonel,  surrenders  Fort  William 
Henry,  171. 

Murray,  General,  181  ;  in  possession  of 
Quebec,  1?3,  184. 

Murray,  Lindley,  author  of  English  Gram- 
mar and  Reader,  572. 

Mutiny  Act  extended  to  New  York ;  op- 
posed by  the  Assembly,  200  ;  and  the 
people,  201. 

N. 

Nancy,  a  tea-ship,  returns  to  England,206. 

Nanfan,  John,  Lieutenant-Governor  ;  dis- 
solves the  Assembly,  128. 

Nassau,  Fort,  below  the  site  of  Albany, 
built,  15  ;  abandcmed,  18. 

National  affairs.  Critical  state  of,  514-516. 

National  Capital  threatened,  525  ;  isolated, 
526. 

National  Convention  at  Philadelphia  frames 
a  new  Constitution,  336,  337. 

National  Constitution  framed,  336,  337 ; 
adopted    by    New    York,    341  ;    XVth 


Amendment  of  the,  adopted,  542,  and 
withdrawn,  543. 

National  currency.  A,  established,  535. 

National  Government,  The,  warned  of  dan- 
ger, 436  ;  weakly  administered,  521. 

Native  American  Party,  The,  485. 

Naval  movements  on  Lake  Champlain, 
251. 

Naval  events  on  the  ocean,  417,  418,  and 
438,  439. 

Navigation,  Steam,  on  the  Hudson  River, 
377. 

Navy,  First  Continental,  222,  252. 

New  Amstel  founded  and  perished,  72. 

New  Amsterdam,  59  ;  organized  as  a  city  ; 
municipal  officers  of,  62 ;  emigrants  from 
New  England  at,  63,  64  ;  popular  assem- 
bly at,  64  ;  city  seal  of,  sent  to,  66  ; 
menaced  with  destruction  by  Indians,  67, 
68 ;  social  aspects  of,  69,  70 ;  described, 
79  ;  social  condition  of  the  people  of, 
80-82. 

Neutrality,  Proclamation  of,  354. 

New  England  coasts.  Events  on  the,  433. 

New  Hampshire  Committee  of  Safety, 
Action  of  the,  228. 

New  Hampshire  Grants,  The,  190,  191  ; 
events  on  the,  316. 

New  Haven  Colony,  The,  58. 

Needham,  Robert,  councilman,  84. 

Negro  Plot  in  1712,  138;  in  1741,  152, 
154. 

Newburgh  Letters  or  Addresses,  The,  327  ; 
action  of  Washington  on  the,  328. 

New  Gottenburg,  Fort,  52. 

New  Jersey,  Latin  name  of,  78 ;  given  to 
Berkeley  and  Carteret,  86  ;  Washington's 
flight  across,  253. 

New  Netherland,  Province  of,  created,  28  ; 
government  of,  under  Dutch  rule,  79. 

New  Plymouth,  Relations  between,  and 
Manhattan,  56,  57  ;  Dutch  mission  to, 
57. 

New  Sweden,  41. 

Newspapers  in  New  York,  211. 

New  York  City,  Government  of,  85  ;  name 
of,  changed  to  New  Orange,  89 ;  city 
and  county  of,  97;  political  divisions  of 
(note),  99  ;  state  of  society  at,  151  ;  im- 
portant social  events  in,  186 :  British 
invasion   of  ;    great   fire   in    1776,    247 ; 


INDEX. 


009 


evacuation   of,    by    the   British    troops, 

331  ;  Washington  with  civil  officers  en- 
ters ;  civil  government  re-established  in, 
331 ;  the  foundations  of  its  greatness  laid, 

332  ;  residence  of  the  National  Govern- 
ment at  ;  inauguration  of  President 
Washington  at,  344  ;  condition  of,  one 
hundred  years  ago,  350,351  ;  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  nineteenth  century,  367,  368 ; 
benevolent  institutions  in,  369;  churches 
in,  370 ;  patriotic  popular  movements 
at,  434  ;  grand  canal  celebration  at,  463- 
468  ;  Mayor  first  elected  by  the  people  ; 
conservatism  of  the  merchants  of  the, 
520;  charter  of,  amended,  543;  plun- 
dered by  the  "Tweed  Rintr,"  545-547; 
other  plunderers  (note),  547  ;  attractive 
features  of,  566,  567  ;  harbor  of,  567. 

New  York  Province  ;  area,  topography, 
and  canals  of,  1  ;  farms,  population, 
manufactories,  birthplace  of,  2 ;  Indian 
tribes  in,  3  ;  first  political  organization 
of  the;  conduct  of  divine  worship  in  the, 
84 ;  laws  imposed  upon  the  people  of 
the,  85 ;  divided  into  counties,  87,  88  ; 
consolidated  with  New  England,  103  ; 
violence  of  party  spirit  in  ;  social  con- 
dition of,  148, 149  ;  state  of  political  so- 
ciety in,  204  ;  delejfiite  of,  in  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  210,  215;  Provincial 
Congress  of,  215,  216  ;  members  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  (note),  216  ;  pa- 
triotic efifbrts  of  the,  217,  218 ;  condi- 
tion of,  221  ;  important  events  in,  256. 

New  York  State,  First  Constitution  of, 
adopted  ;  features  of  the,  259,  260  ;  choice 
of  State  offict^ra  of,  262  ;  session  of  Legis- 
lature of  ;  claims  to  the  soil  of,  333  ;  seals 
of  (note),  333,  334  ;  reserves  the  right  to 
collect  import  duties,  335  ;  advocates 
more  power  for  Congress  in  the  matter  of 
revenue,  330  ;  Legislature  of  first,  sanc- 
tions a  movement  toward  the  formation 
of  a  National  Constitution  (note),  336; 
Constitutional  Convention  of,  338,  339  ; 
members  of  the,  339  ;  ratifies  the  Na- 
tional Constitution  ;  first  member  of  the 
National  Congress  from,  341  ;  political 
divisions  of,  342 ;  early  settlements  in 
the  interior  of,  342,  343  ;  emigrants  from 
New  England  to,  342  ;  political  parties  in, 


343  ;  power  of  the  Governor  of  ;  num- 
ber of  voters  in,  346  ;  inland  navigation 
of,  347 ;  recuperation  of,  349;  ruling 
families  in,  371  ;  defences  of,  380 ;  meas- 
ures for  defence  of,  provided ,  448  ;  popu- 
lation, resources  and  influence  of,  458 ; 
new  era  in  history  of,  462  ;  condition 
of,  517  ;  Legislative  action  of,  517-519  ; 
prompt  response  of,  to  the  President's  call 
for  troops,  522 ;  patriotism,  generosity 
and  faith  of,  526  ;  contributions  of  men 
and  money  for  the  Civil  War,  in  1864, 
by,  537,  538 ;  decrease  of,  in  population 
during  the  war  ;  patriotic  resolutions  of 
the  Legislature  of  ;  adopts  the  XlVth 
Amendment  to  the  National  Constitution; 
a  free  school  system  for,  539  ;  revised 
Constitution  of,  rejected,  540  ;  political 
divisions  of,  556  ;  new  State  House  of ; 
funded  debts  of  ;  population  of  (note), 
557 ;  industrial  products  of,  558,  559 ; 
rank  of,  in  intelligence  and  wealth,  559, 
560  ;  church  organizations  in,  560. 

New  York  on  the  New  Hampshire  Grants, 
Relation  of.  189-191. 

Niagara,  Fort,  Artillery  duel  at,  402. 

Niagara  frontier  in  Canada  seized  by  the 
Americans,  410  ;  desolation  of  the  Niag- 
ara frontier,  417. 

Nicola,  Colonel,  proposes  a  kingship  for 
Washington,  327. 

NicoUs,  Matthias,  Secretary  of  the  province 
of  New  York  ;  provincial  council  of,  84  ; 
Speaker  of  the  Provincial  Assembly,  84. 

Nicolls,  Richard,  commands  an  expedition 
against  New  Netherland ;  surrender  of 
the  province  to,  75-78 ;  Governor  of ; 
biography  of  (note),  87. 

Nicholson,  Francis,  Lieutenant-Governor, 
deserts  his  post,  107. 

Nine,  Council  of.  The,  56  ;  papers  of,  seized 
by  Stuyvesant ;  sends  a  memorial  and 
remonstrance  to  the  States-General ;  asks 
for  a  burgher  government,  61,  62. 

Ninety-Six,  Fort,  Siege  of,  325. 

Nonimportation  League,  197. 

Normal  College  at  New  York  (note),  497. 

Normal  School  at  Albany,  488. 

North,  Lord,  Retirement  of,  323. 

North  Point,  Battle  of  ;  death  of  General 
Ross  at,  437. 


610 


INDEX. 


Northern  New  York,  Events  in,  430,  421. 
Nullification  movement  suppressed,  480. 
Nuptials  of  the  lakes  and  the  sea,  466. 

O. 

Oblong,  The,  142. 

O'Conor,  Charles,  and  the  "  Tweed  Ring," 
547. 

Ogden,  Robert,  196. 

Ojrdensburg,  Attacks  upon,  401,  408. 

Ohio  country,  Conflicting  claims  to  the, 
161. 

Onondaga  country  protected,  138 ;  expe- 
dition against  the,  301. 

Onrust  {Restless),  first  ship  built  on  Man- 
hattan Island,  15. 

Ontario,  Lake,  Vessels  on,  390,  891. 

Oranjjeburg,  British  forces  at,  and  retreat 
from,  325. 

Orange  County,  Territory  of,  98. 

Ordinance  for  special  privileges,  15. 

Osborne,  Sir  Dan  vers.  Governor,  159. 

Oswego,  Capture  of,  by  the  British,  421. 

Otis,  James,  opposes  Writs  of  Assistance, 
194. 

Oxenstierna,  Count  of,  sends  a  Swedish 
colony  to  the  Delaware,  41. 

P. 

Paine,  Thomas,  writes  "Common  Sense," 

236. 
Paine,  Judge,   decision  of,  in  the  Lemon 

case.  Effects  of  the,  512,  513. 
Pakenham,  General,  commands  the  British 

at  New  Orleans,  441  ;  death  of,  442. 
Palatines  sent  to  New  York,  137. 
Paoli  Tavern,  Massacre  near,  286. 
Papineau,  Joseph,  and  the  insurrection  in 

Canada,  489. 
Paris,  Treaty  of,  185. 
Parliament,  Arbitrary  acts  of  the,  201. 
Partisan  and  personal  warfare,  372. 
Paterson,   General,     on   Bemis's   Heights, 

280. 
Patricians  and  Tribunes,  204. 
Patroon  estates.  Features  of  the,  31. 
Patroons,  New  charter  for,  granted,  44. 
Paulding,  James  K.,  Notice  of,  572. 
Pauw,  Michael,  a  patroon,  32. 
Peace  commissioners,  Foolish  acts  of,  242, 

246. 


Peace  commissioners  appointed  by  Parlia- 
ment, 295. 

Peace  faction,  The,  420,  443  ;  movements 
of  the,  and  Vallandigham,  532,  533. 

Peace  with  Great  Britain,  442  ;  rejoicing 
for  the  return  of,  449 ;  treaties  of, 
signed,  323. 

Pelgrave,  Paul  (note),  14. 

Pemaquid,  Indian  runner  from,  to  Fronte- 
nac,  116. 

Penn,  William,  receives  a  grant  of  terri- 
tory, 94,  95. 

Pensacola,  British  driven  from,  441. 

People's  Party,  460. 

Pepperell,  William,  captures  Louisburg; 
biography  of  (note),  150. 

Perry,  Oliver  Hazard,  on  Lake  Erie,  405, 
406 ;  biography  of  (note),  405  ;  in  an  at- 
tack on  Fort  George,  410  ;  wins  a  naval 
victory,  405,  406. 

Petition  to  the  King,  214. 

Phelps  and  Gorliam  purchase  lands,  335, 
343. 

Philadelphia  menaced,  435  ;  National  Con- 
vention at,  in  1787,  336,  337. 

Philipse,  Adolph,  143. 

Phil  ipse,  Frederick,  last  "  Lord  of  the 
Manor,"  50  ;  and  Society  Library,  187. 

Philipse,  Family  and  Manor  of,  564,  565. 

Phillips,  General  William,  Burgoyne's 
lieutenant,  275 ;  with  Arnold  in  Virginia, 
321. 

Phipps,  Sir  William,  naval  commander, 
115  ;  before  Quebec,  116  ;  also  note. 

Pierce,  Franklin,  President  of  the  United 
States,  509. 

Pike,  Zebulon  M.,  attacks  York  ;  biog- 
raphy of  (note),  409  ;  death  of,  410. 

Pilgrims,  The,  found  New  Plymouth, 
24. 

Piquet,  Father,  156. 

Piracy  during  Fletcher's  administration, 
120. 

Pitt,  William,  Prime  Minister,  172  ;  ener- 
getic and  wise  action  of,  173  ;  superseded 
by  the  Earl  of  Bute,  192 ;  statue  of, 
erected  at  New  York,  199. 

Plattsburgh,  Naval  battle  near,  429  ;  battle 
on  land  at ;  Americans  victorious  at ; 
British  retreat  from,  430  ;  "  The  siege  of 
Plattsburgh,"  a  song  (note),  431. 


INDEX. 


611 


Plockboy,  Peter,  leader  of  tbe  Mennonites, 

72. 
Plowden,   Sir    Edmund,  Absurd  claim  of, 

53. 
Point  Levi,  English  batteries  at,  181. 
Political  division  of  the  State,  556. 
Political  parties  and  schemes,  379. 
Political  and  theological  discussions,  213. 
Pontiac'.s  conspiracy,  185,  186  (note). 
Poor,  General  Enoch,  in  battle  on  Bemis's 

Heights,  278. 
Pope,  The,  and  James  II.,  103,  106. 
Popular  education,  Apathy  of  the  people 

concerning  (note),  495. 
Porter,  Captain  David,  Famous  cruise  of, 

418. 
Porter,  General  Peter  B.,  at  Black  Rock, 

413  ;  at  Chippewa,  423. 
Poughkeepsit!,    Flight   of   Legislature   to, 

from  Kingston,  386. 
Prence,  Thomas,  at  Hartford,  1650,  58. 
Press,  Freedom  of  the,  vindicated,  147. 
Prevost,   Sir   George,   in  Canada,   408 ;  at 

Sacketi's  Harbor,  411,  412;  invades  New 

York  ;   advances  ujwn  Piatt sburgh  ;  bi- 
ography of  (note),  438  ;  hasty  retreat  from 

Plattsburgh,  430,  431. 
Prideaux,  General,  besieges  Fort  Niagara  ; 

death  of,  179. 
Prince  of  Wales,  Alleged  birth  of,  103. 
Princess,  The,  wrecked,  53. 
Princeton,  Battle  at,  355. 
Printz,  John,   Governor  of  New  Sweden 

instructions  to,  52  ;  friendly  relations  of, 

with  Stuyvesant,  59  ;  succeeded  by  John 

Hisingh,  66. 
Prisons  and  prison-ships,  249. 
Privateers,  American,  439,  440. 
Privateering  association,  130. 
Privy  Council,  The  British  (note),  169. 
Proctor  and  Tecumtha  at  Forts  Meigs  and 

Stephenson,  404. 
Provincial  Congress,  Migration  of  the,  250. 
Public   Instruction,    State  Superintendent 

of,  created,  510. 
Public   property.   Seizure   of,   by   patriots, 

315. 
Public  School  Society  and  ward  schools  in 

New  York  City  consolidated,  510. 
Public-school  system  in   New  York  City, 

544. 


Putnam,  Israel,  Rescue  of  (note),  173 ;  in 
command  on  Long  Island,  344  ;  com- 
mands the  Highland  forts,  383. 

Q. 

Quaker  Hill,  Battle  of,  296. 

Quakers  at  New  Amsterdam,  71. 

Queen  Anne's  War,  133. 

Queen  Esther,  294. 

Queenstown,  Battle  of,  393-396. 

Quebec,  Surrender  of,  refused  (note),  116  ; 

expedition  against,  180  ;   siege  of,  181- 

183,  330. 

R. 

Railways  in  the  State,  and  their  work, 
555. 

Randall,  S.  S.,  and  school  district  libraries, 
487-495  ;  Deputy  Superintendent  of  Com- 
mon Schools,  509. 

Randolph,  Peyton,  President  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  210. 

Rangers  of  Putnam  and  Rogers  (note), 
172. 

Raritan  Indians  attacked  by  the  Dutch, 
43. 

Rawden,  General,  defeats  Greene  at  Hob 
kirk's  Hill  ;  abandons  Camden,  324. 

Rebellion,  Beginning  of  the,  517. 

Red  Jacket,  First  public  appearance  of, 
334  ;  commands  the  Indians  ;  biography 
of  (note),  423. 

Regents,  Board  of,  363. 

Reid,  Captain  S.  C,  and  the  General  Arm- 
strong, 440. 

Rensselaer,  Killian  Van,  a  patroon,  33; 
power  of,  45. 

Rensselaerwyck,  Colonie  of,  33,  44,  46. 

Renwick,  James,  Notice  of,  575. 

Representative  Assembly  at  New  Amster- 
dam ;  defies  Governor  Stuyvesant ;  names 
of  members  of  the  (note),  65. 

Representative  Council,  A  first,  in  New 
Netherland,  46,  47  :  name  of  the,  47. 

Republican  Party,  Formation  of  the,  511  ; 
character  of  the,  513. 

Republicanism  appears  in  New  Nether- 
land, 64. 

Retreat  of  the  American  army  from  Long 
Island,  345  ;  to  Harlem  Heights,  347. 


61^ 


INDEX. 


Revolution    in     England,    Effect    of,     in 

America,  105. 
Rhode  Island,  D'Estaincrat ;  military  events 

on,  29G  ;  evacuated  by  the  British,  305. 
Rial],  General,  commands   the   British   at 

Cliippewa,  423,  424 ;  retreats  to  Queens- 
town,  424. 
Rice,    Victor    M.,  first  Superintendent  of 

Public  Instruction,  510. 
Richmond  County,  Territory  of,  98. 
Riedesel,  General,  commands  German  mer- 
cenaries, 240,  264  ;  on  Bemis's  Heights, 

270. 
Riedesel,  Baroness  de,  Slietch  of  (note),  264. 
Rilier,    Richard,    Duel    of ;     biography  of 

(note),  372. 
Riot  between  religious  factions,  544. 
Ripley,  General,  on  the  Niajjara  frontier, 

422-435  ;  superseded  by  General  Gaines, 

425. 
Risingh,  John,  Governor  of  New  Sweden, 

66. 
River  Indians  imposed  upon  by  Kieft  and 

traders,  42. 
Rivington,    James,    abuses  the  "  Sons  of 

Lilierty  ;"  printing-house  of,  destroyed; 

biography  of  (note),  233  ;  notice  of,  572. 
Robinson,  Beverly,  Correspondence  of,  with 

Ethan    Allen,   317,    318;    biography    of 

(note),  318. 
Robinson,  .Rev.  John,  and   emigration  to 

America,  21. 
Rochambeau,   Count  de.  Arrival  of,  with 

French  troops,  ?09  ;  biography  of  (note), 

320  ;  leads  French  troops  to  the  Hudson 

River,  321. 
Rochester,  Growth  of,  469  ;  Pagan  rites  at, 

in  1813  (note),  470. 
Rodgers,     Commodore    John,     at     Sandy 

Hook  ;    biography  of  (note),   397 ;    long 

cruise  of,  418. 
Roelandsen,  Adam,  first    schoolmaster    at 

New  Amsterdam,  34,  568. 
Rogers,  Major  Robert,  Biography  of  (note), 

84. 
Roman  Catholic  priests.  Hanging  of,  au- 
thorized by  law,  126. 
Ross,  General,  commands  British  troops  in 

Maryland,  435  ;  death  of,  437. 
Royal  commissioners  with  Colonel   Nicolls 

at  New  Amsterdam,  75. 


Ruggles,  Timothy,  in  Stamp  Act  Congress, 

196. 
Ryswyk,  Treaty  at,  123. 

S. 

Sackett's  Harbor,  Hostilities  at,  391,  411. 

Safety  Fund  System,  474. 

St.  Clair,  General,  in  command  at  Ticon- 
deroga,  265  ;  abandons  Fort  Ticonderoga 
and  escapes,  266. 

St.  Johns,  Capture  of,  229. 

St.  Leger  invades  the  Mohawk  Valley ; 
operations  there,  264-270,  273  ;  notice  of 
(note),  273. 

St.  Regis,  First  trophy  of  the  war  (1812- 
1815),  taken  at,  401. 

Sandford,  Nathan,  Chancellor,  459. 

Sanitary  fairs  and  the  results,  528. 

SaratogH,  Debtruction  of,  156. 

Savage,  John,  Chief- Justice,  459. 

Savings-banks  established,  553. 

Schenectady,  Destruction  of,  114. 

Schmidi,  Claas,  murdered,  43. 

Schoharie  Valley,  Forts  in  the,  290  ;  deso- 
lation of  the,  306. 

School  System,  the  Common,  Improve- 
ments in,  suggested,  471. 

Schoolcraft,  Henry  R.,  authority  on  Indian 
life,  573. 

Schuyler,  Captain  John, menaces  Montreal, 
115. 

Schuyler,  Mayor  Peter,  opposes  Milborne, 
108  ;  influence  of,  over  the  Indians,  134  ; 
goes  to  England  with  Indian  sachems; 
biography  of  (note),  135  ;  and  the  germ 
of  the  Society  Library,  187. 

Schuyler,  Philip,  Life  and  property  of, 
destroyed  at  old  Saratoga,  157. 

Schuyler,  Philip,  at  Oswego  ;  leader  of  the 
Opposition  in  the  Assembly,  213,  214  ; 
Commanding  General  of  the  Northern 
Department,  222  ;  looks  after  the  Tories 
in  the  Mohawk  Valley  ;  expedition  of, 
to  Johnstown  ;  disarms  the  Tories,  231 ; 
authorized  to  invade  Canada,  223  ;  oper- 
ations of,  in  the  Mohawk  Valley,  224; 
at  Fort  Edward  ;  proclamation  of,  267, 
268  ;  ol)8tructs  the  march  of  Burgoyne, 
267;  indignant  because  of  injustice  at  a 
council    of  war,    273 ;    property  of,  de- 


INDEX. 


613 


stroyed  by  the  British  army  (note) ;  en- 
tertains Burgoyne  at  Albany,  281 ;  letter 
of,  to  Governor  Clinton,  317  ;  first  New 
York  member  of  the  National  Senate, 
341  ;  father  of  the  canal  system  of  New 
York,  347  ;  journal  of,  in  1802,  349. 

Scott,  John,  a  disturber  of  the  peace  in 
Long  Island,  73. 

Scott,  Jolin  Morin,  member  of  a  Council 
of  Safety,  260 ;  the  first  Secretary  of 
State,  262. 

Scott,  Winfield,  on  Queenstown  Heights, 
395  ;  at  the  capture  of  Fort  George,  410  ; 
in  command  at  the  battle  of  Chippewa, 
424 ;  at  battle  of  Lundy's  Lane,  424, 
425. 

Seal,  The  Great,  of  the  province  of  New 
York  (note),  109  ;  seals  of  the  State 
(note),  141. 

Sears,  Isaac,  a  leading  "  Son  of  Liberty  ;" 
biography  of,  208  ;  arrest  of,  216  ;  de- 
stroys Rivington's  printing-house,  233, 

Seneca  Nation,  The,  desolated  by  Sulli- 
van, 304. 

Seventh  Regiment,  National  Guard,  quells 
riots,  485  ;  goes  to  the  field,  528. 

Seward,  William  H.,  in  the  State  Senate, 
476 ;  Governor ;  biography  of  (note), 
493  ;  first  encounter  of,  with  the  slave 
power,  493. 

Seymour,  Horatio,  Governor  ;  biography  of 
(note),  509  ;  vetoes  a  prohibitory  liquor 
bill,  510  ;  and  the  Draft  Riots,  534. 

Sharp,  Jacob,  gives  books  for  a  public 
library,  187. 

Sharpe,  Governor,  of  Maryland,  commands 
Colonial  forces,  103. 

Sheaffe,  General,  succeeds  Brock  in  com- 
mand, 395. 

Shirley,  General  William  ;  biography  of 
(note),  155  ;  contemplates  conquests,  157; 
meets  Braddock  in  conference,  163 ; 
commands  an  expedition  against  Forts 
Niagara  and  Frontenac,  which  was  aban- 
doned; succeeds  Braddock  in  command, 
167. 

Shute,  Swen,  commands  Swedish  soldiers 
at  Fort  Casimer,  66. 

Simms,  Jeptha  R.,  historian,  574. 

Six  Nations,  the,  Conference  of,  with  Shir- 
ley, 157 ;  council  with  the  (1778),  289  ; 


boundary  of  the  territory  of  the,  defined  ; 
cession  and  sales  of  the  lands  of,  334. 

Skene,  Philip,  Biography  of,  267. 

Skenesborough,  Flight  of  Americans  to, 
from  Ticonderoga,  266. 

Slave  trade.  The,  138. 

Slavery  in  New  York,  Abolition  of,  recom- 
mended, 363,  451  ;  final  abolition  of,  in 
the  United  States,  531. 

Slechtenhorst,  Brandt  Van,  commissary  at 
Rensselaerwyck,  defies  the  authority  of 
Stuyvesant  ;  sketch  of  (note),  60. 

Sloughter,  Governor  Henry,  109  ;  signs 
the  death-warrant  of  Leisler  and  Mil- 
borne,  112. 

Smith,  William,  on  Lord  Cornbury  (note), 
132  ;  letter  of,  to  Colonel  Schuyler  (note), 
209  ;  historian  of  New  York,  572. 

Smith,  William,  counsel  for  Zenger,  144. 

Smith,  William  S.,  Marshal,  346. 

Smythe,  General,  Absurd  conduct  of,  403. 

Social  phenomenon,  A  strange,  548. 

Society  Library,  Founding  of  the  ;  names 
of  the  founders  of  the,  187. 

Sons  of  Liberty,  The,  work  for  Zenger, 
145  ;  members  of  the  association  of  the 
(note),  195  ;  activity  of  the,  217. 

South  Carolina,  Partisan  leaders  in,  309  ; 
rebellious  position  of,  516. 

Southvvick,  Solomon,  399;  biography  of 
(note),  447. 

Spiegel,  Laurens  Van  der,  sehepen,  89. 

Spencer,  Ambrose,  Biography  of  (note), 
452. 

Spencer,  John  C,  Superintendent  of  Com- 
mon Schools  ;  biography  of,  494 

Stamp  Act  proposed  and  opposed,  194-198  ; 
effects  of  the,  197  ;  repeal  of  the,  198. 

Stamp  Act  Congress  at  New  York,  190. 

"Star  Spangled  Banner,  The,"  Origin  of 
the  song  of  (note),  437. 

Stark,  John,  reconnoitres  Ticonderoga, 
175. 

State  Constitutional  Convention,  Distin- 
guished members  of  the,  455. 

State  Government  put  into  operation,  260- 
262  ;  plan  of,  arranged  by  a  committee 
(note),  260. 

State  Constitution,  Revision  of  the,  455- 
457. 

State  Lotteries,  459. 


014 


INDEX. 


State  Park,  A.  550. 

Staten  Island,  Colonies  on,  43  ;  claimed  by 
Lady  Carteret,  95. 

States-General  of  Holland,  15. 

Statesmen  and  jarists,  575. 

Steamship,  Tlie  first,  tljat  crossed  tlie  At- 
lantic Ocean ;  of  war,  tlie  first  (note), 
378. 

Steenwyck,  Cornelia,  Mayor  and  wise  coun- 
cillor; biography  of  (note),  88,  89;  im- 
prisoned, 92. 

Stephens,  Alexander  11.,  and  the  Southern 
Confederacy,  521. 

Stephenson,  Fort,  Defence  of,  404. 

Steuben,  Baron  von,  in  Virginia  ;  biography 
of  (note),  320,  321. 

Stewart,  Captain  Charles,  and  the  Constitu- 
tion frigate  ;  biography  of  (note),  438. 

Stewart,  Colonel,  British  commander,  re- 
treats from  Orangeburg  and  fights  at 
Eutaw  Springs  ;  retreats  to  Charleston, 
325. 

Stirling,  Lord,  Charter  given  to,  42. 

Stirling,  General  Lord,  in  battle  on  Long 
Island,  244;  made  prisoner;  biography 
of  (note),  245. 

Stone  Arabia  desolated,  308. 

Stojie,  William  L.,  reporter  in  the  State 
Constitutional  Convention  in  1821,  455  ; 
historian  of  the  canal  celebration  ;  biog- 
raphy of  (note),  463  ;  historian  and  jour- 
nalist, 574. 

Stony  Creek,  Battle  of,  410,  411. 

Stony  Point,  Capiure  of,  by  Wayne,  299, 
300. 

Stony  and  Verplanck's  Points  captured  by 
the  British,  297,  298. 

Strieker,  General,  in  battle  of  North  Point, 
437. 

Stuart  Kings,  The,  chartered  slave-trading 
companies  (note),  138. 

Stuyvesant,  Peter,  Biographical  sketch  of 
(note),  53 ;  character  of  ;  Director-Gen- 
eral of  New  Netherland  ;  reception  of, 
at  Manhattan,  54 ;  policy  of,  defined  ; 
energetic  administration  of  public  affairs 
by,  55 ;  calls  a  popular  convention  ; 
friendly  relations  with  neighbors  de- 
sired by,  56  ;  attempts  a  settlement  of 
disputes  with  New  England,  at  Hart- 
ford,  58 ;    demolishes   Fort    Nassau  on 


the  Delaware  ;  builds  Fort  Casimer ;  im- 
proves the  capital  of  New  Netherland  ; 
names  the  capital  New  Amsterdam,  59  ; 
I  has  trouble  with  Van  Slechtenhorst  and 
the  Council  of  Nine,  60,  61 ;  threatens 
}  to  abolish  The  Council  of  Nine,  02  ;  sum- 
I  moued  before  the  States-General,  63  ; 
withstands  the  Representative  Assembly, 
65 ;  interview  of,  with  Beeckman  ; 
ordered  to  retake  Fo:t  Casimer,  66  ;  con- 
quers New  Sweden,  07  ;  opposed  to  re- 
ligious toleration ;  i)er8ecutes  Quakers, 
71  ;  alarmed  by  Captain  Scott's  state- 
ments ;  orders  an  election  of  delegates 
to  a  Provincial  Assembly,  74  ;  stubborn 
resistance  to  the  demands  of  English  in- 
vaders, 75-78  ;  receives  a  letter  from  the 
English  commander  ;  urged  to  surrender ; 
tears  up  tlie  letter  in  a  passion  ;  the  peo- 
ple demand  it,  76  ;  its  fragments  gath- 
ered up,  77  ;  yields  to  the  pressure  of 
f  rit-nds  ;  surrenders  the  city  and  province, 
78  ;  death  and  sepulture  of,  83. 

Stuyvesant  and  the  Dutch  West  India 
Company,  82. 

Suffolk  County,  Territory  of,  98. 

Sullivan,  General  John,  succeeds  General 
Thomas  in  Canada,  240 ;  in  battle  on 
Long  Island  and  made  prisoner,  243 ; 
biography  of  (note),  302  ;  expedition  of, 
in  Central  New  York,  303,  304. 

Sumter,  Fort,  attacked  and  evacuated,  521. 

Sumter,  Thomas,  the  ' '  South  Carolina 
Game  Cock,"  309. 

Sun,  The,  the  first  one-cent  newspaper  pub- 
lished, 483. 

Surrender  of  Burgoyne,  Effect  of  the,  282. 

Sutherland,  Jacob,  Assistant  Justice,  459. 

Swaanendael,  Colony  of  ;  extinction  of,  33. 

Swartwout,  General,  in  battle  at  Chrysler's 
Field,  416. 

Swartwout,  John,  Duel  of,  with  De  Witt 
Clinton,  372. 

Swift.Joseph  G.,  at  Chrysler's  Field,  416. 

T. 

Talcott,  S.  A.,  first  Attorney -General,  460. 
Talladega,  Battle  of,  406. 
Tallashatchee,  Battle  of,  406. 
Tallmadge,  Benjamin,  on  Long  Island,  315. 


INDEX. 


615 


Tallmadge,  James,  in  State  Constitutional 
Convention,  1846,  503. 

Tallmadge,  Nathaniel  P.,  United  States 
Senator,  479. 

Tammany  Society,  Aims  and  character  of 
the  ;  history  of  the  (note),  360. 

Ta-reng-a-wa-gou,  Holder  of  the  Heavens, 
3. 

Tariff  System,  473. 

Tawasentha  Creek,  Treaty  at,  with  Indians, 
19. 

Taxation  and  Representation,  56,  193,  194. 

Taylor,  President  Zachary,  Death  of,  507. 

Tea  Act  introduced  into  Parliament,  203. 

Tea,  Importation  of,  opposed,  204-206  ;  ac- 
tion concerninp;,  at  New  York,  205,  206  ; 
destroyed  at  New  York  and  Boston,  206. 

Tecumtha,  Death  of,  406. 

Tenbroeck,  Abraham,  in  the  Assembly, 
214  ;  in  battle  on  Bemis's  Heights,  278. 

Ternay,  Admiral,  at  Newport,  309. 

Texas,  Annexation  of,  501 ;  intention  con- 
cerning, 502. 

Thames,  Battle  at  the,  406. 

Thomas,  General  John,  in  command  in 
Canada  ;  deatli  of,  240. 

Thompson,  John,  and  the  National  cur- 
rency, 535. 

Throop,  Enos  T.,  Governor;  biography  of 
(note),  478. 

Ticonderoga,  Attack  upon,  and  repulse, 
174  ;  capture  of,  218  ;  evacuated,  266. 

Tienhoven,  Cornells  Van,  schout ;  biog- 
raphy of  (note),  62. 

Tiger,  Block's  ship,  burned.  15. 

Tilden,  Samuel  J.,  and  the  "  Tweed  Ringr," 
547  ;  Governor,  551,  552 ;  biography  of, 
551 ;  institutes  investigations  concerning 
the  canal,  554. 

Tinicum  Island,  capital  of  New  Sweden, 
52. 

Tompkins,  Daniel  D.,  Biography  of  (note), 
280  ;  character  of,  445 ;  declines  the 
oflBce  of  Secretary  of  War  ;  Vice-Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  449. 

Tompkins,  Governor,  and  Rufus  King 
(note),  234. 

Toombs,  Robert,  and  Mayor  Wood,  521. 

Topping,  Thomas,  councilman,  84. 

Torrey,  John,  575. 

Toryism,  Prevalence  of,  in  New  York,  233. 


Townshend,  General,  181  ;  assumes  com- 
mand of  the  army,  183. 

Towson,  N.,  at  battle  of  Chippewa,  422, 
424. 

Transportation  facilities  of  the  State,  555. 

Treaty  of  Alliance,  Celebration  of  the  an- 
niversary of  the,  364. 

Treaty  at  Westminster,  1674,  90. 

Trenton,  Battle  at,  254 

Trinity  Church,  Organization  of  ;  vestry, 
men  of  (note),  119. 

Troops,  British,  at  New  York,  Conflicts 
with  the,  200. 

Trumbull,  Governor  Jonathan,  sends  troops 
to  Lake  Champlain,  223. 

Trumbull,  John,  artist,  575. 

Tryon,  Governor  William,  attempts  con- 
ciliation, 191  ;  notice  of,  203  ;  reception 
of,  at  New  York,  220  ;  on  board  the  Ada  ; 
his  council  (note),  232  ;  corresponds  with 
leading  Tories,  233  ;  on  board  the  Duchess 
of  Oordon,  235  ;  leads  marauding  expe- 
ditions, 264;  allusion  to,  in  "McFingal" 
(note),  298. 

Tryon  County,  Extent  of,  342. 

Tuscaroras  the  sixth  nation  of  the  Iroquois 
League,  10  ;  join  the  Iroquois,  137. 

Tusten,  Colonel,  at  Minisink,  301. 

* '  Tweed  Ring,"  The,  at'  acked  by  the  press 
its  overthrow,  546,  547. 

Tweenhuysen,  L.,  14. 

Twelve,  Committee  of,  47,  48. 

Twiller,  Walter  Van,  Director  of  New 
Netherland  ;  description  of,  33,  34  ; 
scolded  from  the  pulpit,  34  ;  absurd  con- 
duct of,  34  ;  recalled,  38  ;  no  memorial 
of ;  biography  of  (note),  39. 

U. 

Ulster  County,  Territory  of,  98. 

Underbill,  John,  assists  the  Dutch,  50. 

Union,  Conspiracy  to  destroy  the,  515,  516. 

Union  Defence  Committee  formed  ;  mem- 
bers of  the  (note),  523  ;  doings  of  the, 
523,  524. 

"  Union  Mechanics,"  Action  of  the,  260. 

Union  League  Club  ;  raises  a  regiment, 
535. 

Union  of  the  Colonies  proposed,  161  ;  re- 
sult of  (note),  162. 


616 


INDEX. 


United  Colonies  of  New  England,  93. 

United  Provinces,  The,  19. 

United  States  Bank,  Removal  of  Govern- 
ment deposits  from  the,  480,  481. 

United  States  Sanitary  Commission  formed, 
527,  528. 

Ury,  John,  a  victim  of  the  Negro  Plot  de- 
lusion, 153,  154. 

Usselincx  sujrgests  a  Dutch  West  India 
Company,  22  ;  proposes  a  Swedish  settle- 
ment on  the  Delaware  River,  40. 

V. 

Valley  Forge,  American  army  at,  287, 
438. 

Van  Buren,  Martin ;  biography  of  (note), 
445  ;  Governor  of  New  York  ;  Secretary 
of  the  United  States,  474 ;  appointed 
Minister  to  England  ;  rejected  by  the 
Senate  ;  President  of  the  United  States, 
480  ;  tlie  Free  S  )il  Party  and,  507. 

Van  Cortlandt,  Mayor,  Joy  of,  manifested, 
103. 

Van  Cortlandt  Manor,  5G4. 

Cortlandt,  Orlofif  Stevens  van  ;  biography  of 
(note),  564. 

Van  Cortlandt,  Pierre,  first  Ijieutenant- 
Governor  of  the  State,  262  ;  re-elected 
Lieutenant-Governor,  353. 

Van  Dam,  Rip,  Acting-Governor  of  the  prov- 
ince, 142  ;  conflict  of,  with  Governor 
Cosby,  143  ;  suspended  from  the  Council 
Board, 151. 

Van  Dyck  kills  an  Indian  woman,  and  is 

•   slain,  67,  68. 

Van  Krieckenbeeck,  Daniel,  at  Fort  Or- 
ange, 29  ;  makes  war  on  the  Mohawks 
and  is  killed,  30. 

Van  Ness,  William  P.,  Burr's  second  in  his 
duel  veith  Hamilton ;  attacks  the  Living- 
ston family,  373. 

Van  Rensselaer  Manor,  32,  33,  562. 

Van  Rensselaer,  Robert,  leads  militia  in 
the  Mohawk  Valley,  307,  308. 

Van  Rensselaer,  Stephen,  Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor, 3G3;  in  command  of  the  militia, 
389  ;  on  the  Niagara  frontier,  393  ;  biog- 
raphy of  (note),  395  ;  at  the  canal  cele- 
bration, 463. 

Van  Rensselaer,  Stephen,  Jr.,  500. 


Van  Ruyven,  Stuyvesant's  secretary  (note), 
78. 

Van  Schaick,  Colonel,  pursues  Sir  John 
Johnson,  305. 

Varick,  Richard,  at  a  meeting  of  Federal- 
ists ;  biography  of  (note),  358. 

Vaudreuil,  Governor  of  Canada,  and  the 
Indians,  170  ;  at  Montreal  ;  surrenders 
the  city  and  the  province,  184. 

Vaughan,  General,  commands  troops  at  the 
capture  of  the  Highlands'  forts,  283  ;  at 
the  burning  of  Kingston,  286. 

Verazzano,  John,  Claim  of,  to  the  discov- 
ery of  New  York  Bay  (note),  11. 

Vermilye,  Johannes,  arrested,  110. 

Vermont,  191  ;  leaders  in,  coquetting  with 
the  British  authorities  in  Canada,  308, 
317,  318  ;  an  independent  State,  316 ; 
authorities  of  New  York  alarmed  con- 
cerning, 317  ;  becomes  a  State  of  the 
Union,  319. 

Ver  Planck,  Gelyn,  schepen,  89. 

Verplanck,  Gulian  C,  513,  574. 

Verplanck's  Point,  Headquarters  at,  327. 

Vestrymen  of  Trinity  Church  (note),  119. 

Vigilance  Committee  of  New  York  City, 
203  ;  of  the  State  of  New  York,  260  ; 
operations  of  the,  261. 

Vincent,  General,  commands  British  forces, 
410. 

"  Virginia  dynasty,"  The,  449. 

Vulture,  The,  and  Andre  and  Arnold,  311. 

W. 

Walker,  Adniiral  Sir  Hoyenden,  commands 

an  expedition  against  Quebec  and   fails, 

136. 
Wallace,  Hugh,  receives  Governor  Tryon, 

221. 
Walloons,  History  of  the  (note) ;  settle  ia 

New  Netherland,  25. 
Walters,  Robert,  Associate-Justice,  129. 
Wampum,  Uses  of  (note),  19. 
War,  Preparations  for,  by  the  Americans, 

207. 
War-meeting,  A  great,  in  New  York  City, 

522. 
Warner,  Seth,  before  Congress,  222. 
Warrington,  Captain,  Cruises  of,  438,  439. 
Washington,  George,  Mission  of,  161,  162  ; 


INDEX. 


617 


Major,  builds  Fort  Necessity ;  fights 
French  troops,  and  surrenders,  162,  163; 
Colonel,  in  command  of  Virginia  forces, 
169  ;  General,  reception  of,  at  New  York, 
230  ;  a  plot  to  destroy,  235,  236  ;  response 
to  appeal  of,  243  ;  retreat  of,  across  New 
Jersey,  250  ;  crosses  and  recrosses  the 
Delaware  River;  captures^  the  Britisli 
forces  at  Trenton,  254  ;  gains  a  victory 
at  Princeton  ;  in  winter  quarters  at  Mor- 
rlstown,  255  ;  Howe  and,  confront  each 
other  in  New  Jersey,  286 ;  discovers 
Arnold's  treason,  314  ;  headquarters  of, 
at  Newburgh,  326,  327  ;  final  parting 
with  his  officers,  331  ;  resigns  his  com- 
mission ;  retires  to  Mount  Vernon,  332  ; 
presides  over  the  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion, 336;  letter  of,  to  General  Schuyler, 
343  ;  elected  first  President  of  the  United 
States,  344  ;  inaugurated,  345  ;  interest 
of.  in  the  canal  system,  347  ;  death  of, 366. 

Washington  (the  National  Capital),  menaced 
in  1814  ;  attacked,  and  public  and  pri- 
vate property  at,  destroyed,  436. 

Waterbury,  General,  captured  on  Lake 
Champlain,  252. 

Watson,  Elkanah,  promotes  canal  projects, 
347,  348  ;  biography  of  (note) ;  explora- 
tions and  labors  of,  348,  349. 

Wayne,  General  Anthony,  attacked  near 
the  Paoli  Tavern,  286 ;  takes  Stony  Point ; 
biography  of  (note),  299. 

Webb,  General,  Conduct  of,  at  Fort  Ed- 
ward, 171. 

Webl>,  James  Watson,  revolutionizes  jour- 
nalism ;  biography  Of  (note),  482  ;  de- 
fends his  castle,  484. 

Weed,  Thurlow,  journalist  ;  biography  of 
(note),  475. 

Wellington's  veterans  sent  to  Canada,  420, 
441. 

Wells,  William,  councilman,  84. 

Wells,  Mr.,  killed  at  Cherry  Valley,  291. 

Wentworth,  Benning,  Governor,  grants 
lands,  189,  190. 

Westchester  County,  Territory  of,  97  ;  a 
British  force  invades,  248. 

Weston,  William,  and  the  New  York 
canals,  349. 

West  India  Company,  Prompt  action  of 
the,  to  save  New  Netherland,  51. 


West  Point  Military  Academy  founded, 
375. 

Whig  Party,  history  of  its  name,  477,  478- 

Whiskey  Insurrection,  358. 

White,  Hugh,  in  Central  New  York,  342. 

White  Plains,  Battle  at,  248. 

Whitemarsh,  American  army  at,  287. 

Wilkinson,  General  James,  in  command  of 
the  Army  of  the  North  ;  biograpliy  of 
(note),  414  ;  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  415- 
417  ;  leaves  the  army,  421. 

Willett,  Marinus,  Sortie  of,  at  Fort  Schuy- 
ler, 271  ;  mission  of,  to  General  Schuyler  ; 
biograpby  of,  272  ;  in  expedition  against 
the  Indians,  301. 

Willett,  Thomas,  commissioner  at  Hart- 
ford in  1650,  58;  first  Mayor  of  New 
York,  85. 

William  of  Orange  invades  England  ;  be- 
comes joint  monarch  with  his  wife,  Mary, 
104  ;  death  of,  129. 

WiUia7n,  the  first  English  trading  vessel 
on  the  Hudson  River ;  driven  off  by  the 
Dutch,  34,  35. 

Williams,  Colonel  Ephraim,  killed  near 
Lake  George,  166. 

Williams,  Major,  a  Britisli  officer  made 
prisoner  on  Bemis's  Heights,  278. 

Williams,  Thomas,  arrested,  110. 

Wiltwyck  founded,  72 ;  desolated  by  Ind- 
ians, 73. 

Winchester,  General  James,  at  French- 
town,  403. 

Winder,  General  W.  H.,  at  Stony  Creek 
Battle,  410 ;  commands  troops  in  the  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia ;  biography  of  (note), 
458  ;  commands  at  the  Battle  of  Bladens- 
burg,  436. 

Winslow,  General,  leads  provincial  troops 
toward  Canada,  115. 

Wolfe,  General  James,  Amherst's  lieu- 
tenant, 173  ;  commands  expedition 
against  Quebec,  180  ;  on  the  St.  Law- 
rence River  (note)  ;  incidents  of  the 
death  of,  183. 

Women,  Patriotism  of  the,  524. 

Wood,  Fernando,  Mayor  of  New  York, 
recommends  the  secession  of  New  York 
City,  519,  520. 

Woodhull,  Colonel  Nathaniel,  in  the  As- 
sembly, 214. 


618 


INDEX. 


Woodwortb,  John,  Associate- Justice,  459. 

Woodwortli,  Samuel,  Poem  of,  434  ;  notice 
of,  574. 

Wool,  General  John  E.,  Energetic  action 
of,  525,  526. 

Woolsey,  Melancthon,  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  390. 

Wooster,  General  David,  encamped  at 
Harlem,  220  ;  succeeds  Arnold  in  com- 
mand at  Quebec  ;  biographj'  of  (note), 
230. 

Wright,  Silas,  Comptroller  of  the  State  ; 
biography  of  (note),  475  ;  Governor,  and 
the  school  fund,  500. 

Writs  of  Assistance,  Opposition  to,  194. 

Wyoming  Valley,  Invasion  of,  293,  294. 


Yates,  J.  Van  Ness,  Secretary  of  State,  459. 
Yates,  Joseph  C,  Governor  of  New  York  ; 
biography  of  (note),  459. 


Yates,  Judge  Robert,  Patriotism  of,  343. 

Yellow  fever  in  New  York,  352. 

Yeo,  Sir  James  Lucas,  on  Lake  Ontario ; 
biography  of  (note),  411. 

York,  Duke  of,  receives  a  gift  of  all  New 
Netherland  from  his  brother.  King 
Charles  ;  Lord  High  Admiral  ;  sends  a 
force  to  seize  the  domain,  74. 

York  (Toronto),  Expedition  against,  409, 
410. 

Young,  John.  Governor  of  New  York.  505  ; 
an  advocate  of  popular  education,  506. 

Young,  Samuel,  Secretary  of  State  ;  re- 
fuses to  comply  with  an  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature, 498. 


Z. 


Zenger,  John  Peter,  issues  the  New  York 
Weekly  Journal,  a  tribune  of  the  people  ; 
attacks  official  authorities  ;  trial  of,  for 
libel,  144,  147  ;  acquitted,  147. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 

Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 

1 

iMi3    * 

W 

RECEIVED 

M5    '67-11  AM 

LOAN  DhPT. 

'-s^utiZr.v^B'          v^^q2B'^ 

M46964 


-Ti 


u 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


